The Knights of Favonius headquarters.
As one of Mondstadt’s most powerful organizations, the Knights of Favonius occupied the finest location in the city, second only to the cathedral.
A three-story rock castle with an underground library and an attic loft, it stood as the only structure of its kind in Mondstadt, aside from the cathedral itself.
Jiang Chen was not a member of the Knights, but he had received dual approval from both the Grand Master and the Church, earning the right to carry a Favonius Blade.
This gave him considerable prestige within the order.
“Boss Jiang Chen?”
“Is there something we can help you with?”
The two Knights standing guard at the entrance asked warmly.
“Is Kaeya in?” Jiang Chen inquired.
“You’re looking for Captain Kaeya?”
“He’s inside, probably chatting with Wood in the main hall.”
The two replied, placing their hands over their chests in salute as they stepped aside for him to pass.
Inside the main hall.
Kaeya stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, chatting with Wood, the Knight assigned to guard the confinement room.
As the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius, Kaeya was unmistakable with his signature indigo-blue short hair and dark skin.
He wore a white shirt that left his chest exposed, a blue coat, and a blue-and-white cape.
His Vision hung from a brown belt, and he was dressed in black trousers and boots.
Everything about him exuded a roguish, unrestrained charm.
For the young ladies of Mondstadt, such a dashing Cavalry Captain was certainly worthy of being a dream lover.
In terms of popularity, only the wealthy Diluc could possibly outshine him.
“The Ice-Bridging, Sea-Crossing Adeptus!”
Jiang Chen waved.
Since he was facing the entrance, Kaeya noticed his arrival immediately.
“Boss Jiang Chen, I’ve begged you so many times not to call me by that nickname!”
Kaeya brushed back his bangs and pressed a hand to his forehead.
“And why am I the only one who gets a nickname personally given by you, Boss Jiang Chen?
Shouldn’t that honor go to Grand Master Jean first?
A small fry like me doesn’t deserve it.”
Even the simple act of brushing back his hair was devastatingly charming—if any Mondstadt ladies had been present.
“Calling yourself a small fry?
That’s just like you.”
Jiang Chen chuckled.
“Is Klee in there again?”
Jiang Chen asked.
Otherwise, Wood wouldn’t normally need to stand guard at the confinement room door.
“She was locked in by Jean.
Apparently, she went fishing with explosives again.” Wood’s expression turned pained.
All the fish in Mondstadt’s rivers and lakes were considered public property of the citizens, and damaging them for any reason was prohibited—a rule clearly written in the Knights’ code.
But Klee needed to test her bombs, and she couldn’t blow up the mountains.
What if a fire started?
So the only option was to throw them into the water.
The problem was that water always had fish.
So Klee was bound to get into trouble.
Wood was also at his wit’s end.
He didn’t want to guard the confinement room every day!
And he had to worry about whether Klee might conduct some dangerous experiment inside.
What if there was a sudden “boom” and the Knights’ headquarters got blown up?
“I’ll talk to Jean later.
I’ll take Klee out for a while.”
Jiang Chen said.
Since Lumine had arrived in Mondstadt, the training plan he had shelved for a year could finally begin.
“Wah, I’m so moved.”
Wood said.
Jiang Chen subtly stepped a little farther away from him.
“So, Boss Jiang Chen, did you come to the Knights just for this one thing?”
Kaeya asked.
“Of course not.
I came specifically to find you.”
“Oh?”
Kaeya raised an eyebrow in surprise, placing one arm across his chest in a salute.
“To be able to help Mondstadt’s pride is an absolute honor.”
“Save the flattery.”
Jiang Chen wasn’t buying it.
He got straight to the point.
“I’m here to ask the Knights to help evacuate Mondstadt’s citizens.”
Kaeya looked at him with confusion.
From his intelligence network, there was no sign of a major Abyss Order attack or any trouble brewing from the Fatui recently.
“If I’m not mistaken, Stormterror should be coming.”
Jiang Chen said seriously.
“Does Boss Jiang Chen have some kind of informant?”
That was Kaeya’s first thought.
“Do you think an informant could outrun Stormterror’s flight?”
“Fair point.”
Kaeya fell into thought.
“But, Boss Jiang Chen, what’s your basis for this?
Without a convincing reason, such a large-scale operation might be fine for the Knights, but it will certainly stir up dissatisfaction among Mondstadt’s citizens.”
The Knights followed orders without question; the lower-ranked soldiers didn’t need to know the reasons.
But the citizens of Mondstadt would demand an explanation.
Kaeya was also curious as to why Jiang Chen was so certain.
Jiang Chen couldn’t exactly tell him the truth—that the enraged Stormterror was finally about to attack the city.
He extended his hand, and a swirl of Anemo gathered in his palm.
“The wind direction.”
Jiang Chen said.
“Ta-da!”
“This is it!
A Wind Glider!”
At the Statue of the Seven plaza, Amber displayed the Wind Glider she had brought before Lumine and Paimon.
“Outrider Knights use them to move through the sky, and Mondstadt’s citizens love using them too.”
“I brought you here so you could experience their benefits.”
Amber introduced enthusiastically.
“She’s using a very enthusiastic tone!” Paimon clapped.
“Well, wind is the soul of Mondstadt.” Amber said matter-of-factly.
“Wind…?”
Lumine put on the Wind Glider, reaching out to feel the breeze blowing from the mountains beyond Cider Lake, murmuring to herself.
“Pay attention to the wind direction?”
Happy reading!