Happy times are always short.
After the two finished their musical performance to their hearts’ content, Barbatos put away his lyre and winked at Morgan.
“Since you’re here, why don’t I take you on a tour of Mondstadt?”
Morgan looked at him: “On foot?”
“Of course not.” Barbatos gave a thumbs up and pointed smoothly to his side.
Dvalin glanced at Barbatos, his expression quite complex: “Using me as a mount again?”
“How can you call it a mount?” Barbatos said righteously.
“Dvalin often patrols the entirety of Mondstadt and knows where the scenery is most beautiful.
Isn’t this asking you to be a guide?”
Dvalin rolled his eyes.
But he still lowered his body, letting the two climb on.
Morgan stepped onto Dvalin’s back.
The texture was unexpectedly not the cold scales of a traditional dragon, but fluffy and soft, making one want to roll around in it.
He reached out and pressed down; it felt super good.
Snezhnaya also had war beasts raised by fairies, but a Wind Dragon like Dvalin was indeed his first encounter.
“Hold on tight,” Dvalin said.
He flapped his wings and took off.
The feeling of riding a dragon on the wind was indescribable.
The refreshing breeze brushed against his cheeks, and the rolling hills of Mondstadt rose and fell below like a spread-out green rug.
Flying southwest from Starsnatch Cliff, passing over the Thousand Winds Temple, overlooking the sparkling Falcon Coast.
Flying west past Windrise, that towering tree cast a huge shadow in the sunlight.
Further ahead was Cider Lake, which guarded the city of Mondstadt, its water crystal clear to the bottom.
Finally, flying up over Springvale, smoke curled from chimneys, and one could vaguely see the townspeople walking outside their houses.
“It’s completely different from the snowy scenery of Snezhnaya,” Morgan said.
“Worthy of being the Crown of the North.”
Barbatos smiled, the wind flowing past them, carrying the scent of Cecilia.
“Speaking of which,” Barbatos suddenly began, “Istaroth mentioned you to me.”
Morgan turned his head to look at him.
“She said your arrival is like a butterfly flapping its wings.
The wings flapped in Snezhnaya will stir up a storm capable of changing fate in other regions.”
Morgan raised an eyebrow: “Oh, you’re not avoiding her name now?”
“Oh my, you really startled me back then,” Barbatos waved his hand.
“I couldn’t say it in front of so many people.
Now we are high in the sky, with no one else but you, me, and Dvalin.
Besides, the wind is also willing to help me keep secrets.”
He paused and continued: “Istaroth asked me to get along well with you.
She said you can change the fate of the world.”
Morgan crossed his arms and looked at him.
“No wonder you were so familiar from the start.
We’re meeting for the first time.”
He had a good impression of Barbatos entirely because he had played that game called allogene in his previous life and knew the Anemo Archon was a good person.
Venti was his good partner for exploring Teyvat; for those hard-to-reach oculi and places he was too lazy to solve puzzles, the Anemo Archon’s wind currents were simply the best tool for exploration.
If it were during the Archon War, and a Archon dared to sneak into his camp, what he would be offering wouldn’t be wine, but a barrage of ice spears.
However, these words certainly could not be said.
“Change the world…” Morgan pondered for a moment.
“If you expect me to shake the Order established by the Primordial One, to be honest, it’s very difficult.”
Barbatos opened his eyes wide.
“Wow, are you that bold?
As expected of someone from outside.”
“Hmm?” Morgan looked at him.
“Isn’t that what you meant by rebellion?”
“Uh…” Barbatos scratched his face.
“I meant changing some tragedies within the scope of the Order.”
He looked into the distance.
“Istaroth said that because of you, some things in Mondstadt have been changed within a certain range.
Although she couldn’t be too specific, I have a vague feeling about it too.”
The two stared at each other.
Dvalin looked up frequently, fearing that a nail might fall from the sky.
“Me?” Morgan pointed at himself.
“I have been active in the Snezhnaya region.
If I must say, before becoming a Archon, I visited Remuria.
But the route taken was through the Nordkale region, borrowing a path through the border of Natlan.”
He thought about it seriously.
“I don’t believe I interfered with matters in the Mondstadt region, nor did I send any fairies there.
Since you’ve said so,” Morgan said, “could you tell me the current history of Mondstadt?”
He looked down at the land below—the giant tree of Windrise, the sparkling water of Starfell Lake, and the spires of Mondstadt in the distance.
“History, huh…”
Dvalin listened intently to this history he had never participated in.
Barbatos summoned his lyre and plucked the strings lightly; the sound was like the first falling leaf when the wind rises.
“I was originally a wisp of breeze, fortunate to have Istaroth’s favor, gaining the power of time.
At that time, the flames of war raged in Mondstadt, the Wolf King roared in the northern snowfields, and the vortex of the lonely king swirled above the tower, all to compete for the seven positions reserved by the high heavens.
Andrius came from the snowfields, carrying frost and chill; Decarabian ruled from the tower, imprisoning the freedom of all living beings.
The Wolf King’s strength waned, and the wails of people drifted on the wind.”
The sound of the lyre suddenly became passionate.
Seeing Barbatos so engrossed in his performance, Morgan clicked and began to record it as a light cone.
As a former Memokeeper, he could not turn a blind eye to precious history worth recording.
“I heard the call of the myriad people in the tower, thirsting for a wisp of unconstrained wind.
I became companions with hope, gathering the will of the masses to become a fortress.
Ragnvindr shuttled through the dark night, connecting the light inside and outside the tower.
Gunnhildr ran through the military formations, gathering the spears of resistance.
Lawrence opened the granaries, providing food to the masses.
A bard playing the lyre sounded the horn of the charge; The fighter Vennessa held a sword as the vanguard, leading everyone to break through the high walls.
The once-enslaved huntress broke the thousand-year wind barrier with one arrow.
The Wolf King roared, the breeze whispered, and humans and Archons joined hands—The high tower collapsed, and the lonely king finally perished.”
Venti’s fingers slid over the last note on the strings, the lingering sound echoing.
Morgan finished listening, his eyebrows raised slightly: “Hmm, Vennessa, Lawrence…
I remember this happened two or three hundred years ago, right?”
“Yes, the Archon War ended completely.
It was confirmed a while ago in the Liyue region that the old man was the winner, but Mondstadt ended earlier.”
Barbatos put away his lyre and leaned in closer.
“You are very concerned about Vennessa and the Lawrence Clan?”
Morgan did not answer immediately.
He searched for the initial light cone in his mind.
After transmigrating into a Memokeeper, he specifically locked his past life’s events into a light cone—mainly to prevent colleagues from snooping and to avoid forgetting.
In his previous life, he was considered a veteran fan of allogene; although not as knowledgeable as those lore experts, he claimed to know some history.
In the original history, Mondstadt had two nodes.
The first was overthrowing Decarabian, the Anemo Archon blowing away Dragonspine, establishing the new Mondstadt, and Dvalin being born.
The second was after Barbatos fell asleep again, the aristocrats restored their rule, and the awakened Barbatos, together with the slave Vennessa, overthrew the aristocratic rule and returned freedom to the people.
There were hundreds or even a thousand years in between.
And the current time point is between the two.
The original history was that the Wolf King failed and retreated, and after Decarabian ruled for a period, the Gunnhildr family fled the tower and met Barbatos, who was still an Anemo spirit.
Barbatos united the dissatisfied humans and, with the help of the Wolf King, overthrew Decarabian.
The biggest change is that when the Wolf King and Decarabian fought, Barbatos participated directly.
In his narrative, Barbatos first obtained Istaroth’s help and joined the fray directly.
And there’s Vennessa, the Liontooth Knight who should have appeared several hundred years later during the aristocratic period, who has already appeared now?
Even more outrageous is the Lawrence Clan, the villainous power-holders in the original script, who are currently positive figures and even helped overthrow Decarabian?
Morgan withdrew his thoughts and looked at Venti: “I am indeed a bit concerned.
How are those companions who resisted with you doing now?”
Barbatos thought for a moment: “Well, the Gunnhildr, Ragnvindr, and Lawrence Clans have all been passed down.
They are all noble families supporting Mondstadt, the Knights of Favonius, and the church.
My good friend, the bard who played the lyre, has already passed away—I borrowed his appearance for my current form.
After this banquet ends, I plan to temporarily set aside my divine duties and travel the continent in his identity.
That huntress, after shooting that legendary arrow, couldn’t draw a bow again due to her physical condition.
However, she was quite satisfied.
According to her, she fulfilled her wish to get a glimpse of the one she loved.
I won’t comment much on her romance, but her statue still stands in Springvale.”
Morgan nodded: “Is the acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius who came to greet you Vennessa?”
“Hmm, what exists now is the Liontooth Knight, also known as Vennessa.
At that time, Mondstadt was waiting to be rebuilt, and people were needed everywhere.
At my request, Vennessa stayed, and I used the power of time to freeze her years.
However, as the war across the continent ended, she can also let go of her burden and rest well—otherwise, she would accuse me of exploiting humans.”
Morgan looked at the relaxed smile on Barbatos’s face, and the faces that had passed away in the game PV flashed through his mind.
“You and your companions have a very good relationship,” he said.
“Although I cannot explain too much, this is a quite happy ending.”
Venti tilted his head and suddenly leaned in.
“Hmm?
I’m curious what you used to compare to reach this conclusion.”
Morgan reached out and pointed to the sky. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“Can’t say.” He looked righteous.
“That one is quite petty when it comes to controlling speech.”
Venti blinked, a mischievous smile appearing on his face: “Has anyone told you that you are really brave?”
Morgan kept his expression unchanged, but in his heart, he was thinking: Am I floating for making a joke about Heavenly Principles in front of the Anemo Archon?
But as a Trailblazer, any abstract behavior is understandable.
But his expression remained as elegant and calm as a Archon should be.
“I am super brave.”
Barbatos immediately laughed so hard he almost slipped off Dvalin’s back.
Dvalin spoke gloomily from the front.
“Can you two pay attention?
I still want to live a few more years.”
“Don’t worry,” Barbatos patted his back.
“If that one wants to smash something, she’ll smash us first, not you.”
Dvalin: “…That comfort is worse than saying nothing.”
Morgan looked at this pair of lively characters, his mouth slightly upturned.
In the game from his past life in the light cone, Mondstadt during the Archon War had countless casualties and endless tragedies.
Afterwards, Barbatos fell asleep, and upon waking, he found his people enslaved.
Vennessa ascended to Celestia and never returned.
Most of the partners who once fought side by side were buried in the dust of history.
For Barbatos, the current history is more worthy of being called complete.
Barbatos suggested: “My dear Morgan Snezhnaya, really don’t consider staying in Mondstadt for a while longer?
I’ll take you to see the ruins of the Vortex Archon’s capital, the scenery of Dragonspine…
although the snowy scenery might be a bit tiresome for you.
After the banquet, there’s no rush to return to Snezhnaya, right?
I still want to continue composing music with you.”
Morgan: “We’ll see.
But since I’m already here, I should indeed stay for a few more days.”
Dvalin spoke gloomily from the front: “Are you two done talking?
If you’re done, I’m going to turn.”
“Turn, turn.” Venti patted Dvalin’s neck.
“Thank you for your hard work.
I will bring you to the banquet of the Seven Archons.
I heard that Morax and Xbalanque both have a dragon friend; perhaps you can communicate with your kind.”
“I hope the communication you speak of isn’t you going to drink while leaving me, a dragon, there alone.” Dvalin complained, but still obediently turned.
The wind whistled past his ears.
Morgan looked down at the land of Mondstadt below, his mind full of thoughts.
History has been changed.
Although the extent of the change is not large, it has indeed been changed.
Vennessa appeared two or three hundred years early, the Lawrence Clan was a positive image in the early stages, and Barbatos participated directly in the Archon War…
Are these changes really related to him?
Can the wings he flapped in Snezhnaya really cross the entire continent and affect this place?
Among the Four Shades of the Heavenly Principles, he has the best relationship with Istaroth, gets along well with Naberius and Ronova, while Asmoday is just so-so.
He has revealed some things about the universe to Istaroth; the situation is not very optimistic, whether it is the spreading [Destruction] and [End], or the Swarm Disaster that has risen again.
It is not easy for Teyvat, a planet that has never been connected to the galaxy, to have hidden for so many years in the disputes of the Aeons.
The Astral Express, which Morgan considers the “protagonist,” is also hard to escape this conflict.
But the approach of the Heavenly Principles, besides protection, also greatly restricts the people here; she protects Teyvat like an egg.
But an egg can only be reborn if it breaks its shell from the inside; if it is opened from the outside by others, it can only be food on someone else’s plate.
Perhaps in a thousand years, someone will be able to raise a banner of rebellion against her, to prove to her that the people here have the courage to break free from being destroyed by the outside world?
Perhaps helping Barbatos achieve victory in the Mondstadt region early was a casual move by Istaroth.
As a Trailblazer, should he also sow some seeds of [Trailblaze]?
“What are you thinking about?” Venti leaned over and asked.
Morgan withdrew his thoughts: “Thinking about the history you just mentioned.”
“Oh?
Any thoughts?”
“The thought is—” Morgan paused, “You are quite lucky.”
Venti raised an eyebrow: “How so?”
“Most of those companions had good endings,” Morgan said.
“That’s rare during the Archon War.”
“Yeah.” Barbatos’s voice was as light as the wind.
“So I cherish it very much.”
Dvalin carried them flying over Cider Lake, the outline of Mondstadt city becoming clearer.
White walls, red roofs, giant windmills slowly turning.
In the square in the center of the city, someone looked up and saw them, waving and cheering.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”