At Windrise, there stands a massive tree known as the 'Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero'. Legend says it sprouted from the very spot where Vanessa, the first Grand Master and founder of the Knights of Favonius, ascended to godhood thousand years ago. But tonight, instead of tourists and travelers, the area is filled with thousands of knights and adventurers, organized into platoons. The banners of the Knights of Favonius, Mondstadt, and the Adventurers' Guild wave across the open clearing. Everyone who is able to fight, has gathered here to protect their home from the coming invasion of the Abyss.
Under it, near the trunk where below the river flows, Noah opened his eyes, waking from his meditation. Around him, the brilliance of prana lighting like stars in the sky, casting a calming presence over the entire camp. Those preparing for the coming battle felt that warmth, assurance, and peace. Anemo crystalfies fluttered near him, drawn by the harmony of his prana and the Force. In the background, Venti strummed on his lyre, and the soft melody blending with the spring breeze. It lifted the spirits of the warriors, easing their nerves for this war.
"Was it fun watching me?" Noah asked softly, glancing at the red-clad figure who had been quietly observing him since the beginning of his meditation.
"Hehehe~ it's actually the first time 'this me' has seen 'your' field of stars," Alice—Miss A replied, her eyes wide with wonder as she reached out, trying to catch one of the drifting prana lights.
"It's so... warm and calm inside this field of prana. It's hard to explain, but it feels like... there's nothing to be afraid of. Like everything will be alright." She paused, hugging her arms to herself. "Watching you there, surrounded by all this light, tapping into the Force... I felt at peace. I... I felt like I was home."
Noah smiled wryly as he watched Miss A carefully search for the right words. He noticed how her ever-cheerful expression turned into a reflective one.
"Hee... so you're saying the same thing as Kiana, Elysia, and Lumine," Noah chuckled.
Miss A blinked and tilted her head as she looked at him.
"They said the same thing when they first saw me meditating," he added with a faint smile.
"…I see." Miss A turned her gaze back to the still glowing surroundings.
A comfortable silence spread between them. The sound of the river flowing below, distant chatter from the camp, the chirping of crickets, and the breeze that swayed Noah's hair and the edge of Miss A's witch hat wrapped the moment in a peaceful moment.
"…You're not going to ask me?" Miss A finally broke the silence.
"Hmm?" Noah murmured, eyes still closed, simply enjoying the wind and the moment.
"The reason… you know, why I seem to know each of you, or why there's this strange sense of familiarity between us," Miss A said, clasping her hands behind her back as she gazed out at the fading prana and the gentle night breeze.
"Hmm… I do want to ask. I've got tons of questions for you and for VA," Noah said with a small grin, shaking his left arm where the Void Archives lay hidden. "But right now, I think I've let go of that need. What matters is that I'm the one who met all of you. I'm the one who bonded with each of you. Whatever happened in some 'past' that's their story. What we have now... this is ours. Our own story."
"...Pffft....Wahahahaha!! That's suuuuper like you, Captain," Miss A giggled. "Hehehe~ and since I love that answer, Miss A will give you a reward!"
Noah blinked and tilted his head. Miss A suddenly stepped closer and leapt into his arms, catching him off guard. He moved instinctively, catching her and making sure she didn't get hurt.
"That was dangerous! Oi! What would you have done if I didn't catch you?" he sighed, exasperated.
"That wouldn't happen~" Miss A replied as she closed her eyes, melting into the comfort of Noah's embrace.
"Haa… seriously." Noah let out another sigh. "...So, is this the reward you mentioned?"
"Hehehe, the hug is just a bonus! Because I am the reward, Captain~" she beamed. "And from what I 'saw', you seem to like this quite a lot~."
"...Thank you very much," Noah muttered as he adjusted his hold, earning a bright giggle from her.
Peeking out from behind the tree trunk, three heads white, pink, and blonde could be seen barely concealed in the foliage.
"Grrr!! Just how long is she planning to keep hugging Captain?!" Kiana growled through gritted teeth.
"Kuh!! It's fine, Ellie... You'll get your cuddle time with Noah too!" Elysia whispered, trying to encourage herself more than anyone.
"…How nice," Lumine muttered softly, a hint of envy in her voice.
Further down the slope, Rostam's cheek twitched as he watched the scene unfold.
"...Are they really this relaxed? It's like they're not even preparing for a war," he muttered.
"Ahahaha! What are you saying, Rostam? They're already in a war—a battlefield of hearts and love!" Ragna laughed heartily.
"Haa… well, to be fair, their attitude does help ease the mood around here." Arundolyn glanced around the bustling camp where knights and adventurers mingled, sharing food, telling stories, even laughing together. "Whatever Sir Noah did earlier, it worked. Everyone's far less tense now."
"Ehe~ isn't it nice?" Venti's voice chimed in as he suddenly appeared behind them, making all three flinch. "If Captain-san and Miss A are still flirting, that just means there's no immediate danger."
"Lord Venti! You nearly gave us a heart attack!" Rostam exclaimed, clutching his chest.
"Relax~ little wolfie. If you keep yourself too tense, you'll wear yourself out before the real battle even begins," Venti said with a playful grin, casually strumming his lyre.
Seeing their ever-carefree archon so unfazed despite the looming threat, Arundolyn could only sigh. "...Lord Venti, where is Lord Dvalin? Did something happen to make him leave?"
"No worries~ no worries~ Dvalin just went on one of his usual flights," Venti replied lightly.
"I see. So nothing unusual has happened so far? No movement from the Abyss?" Ragna asked.
"Nope! Quiet as the night. I think they're waiting for something—or someone," Venti said with a shrug. "Besides, if they make a move, the wind will tell me... or that certain 'Captain' who's been flirting over there will let us know."
"Huh? Noah?" Rostam tilted his head.
"Yep. According to Miss A, Captain-san has a knack for sensing major events before they happen."
"Haa..." Rostam tilted his head thoughtfully.
"So he really has that kind of ability," Ragna mused, raising a brow. "Now that I think about it, during our escape at Cape of Oath, the way he moved… it was like he already knew where the enemy would strike and how they'd react."
Arundolyn's interest was clearly piqued.
"So yeah! Just for tonight, relax, have a drink, eat good food, and share stories with your friends! Because tomorrow will be a tough day for us all," Venti said with a cheerful smile.
"Please leave it to us, Lord Venti. Mondstadt will prevail against the Abyss!" Rostam declared proudly with a salute. Arundolyn and Ragna followed, mirroring his gesture.
"Ahaha! I've always believed in you all. If I didn't, why would I leave Mondstadt in your hands?" Venti replied warmly.
And as if on cue, a gentle breeze swept through the camp, brushing past the banners and tents.
------
Kiana walked through a white colored hallway. She didn't recognize the place, but somehow, her feet knew where to go. She kept walking until she reached a chamber. There were medical beds lined up around the room. On one table, syringes filled with a purple syrum were arranged in a row. Her expression turned grim as she looked around, faint screams echoing at the edge of her hearing.
She walked slowly across the room, stopping at each bed, murmuring names as she pass.
"Bella… Agata… Avrora… Galina…"
Names that should've meant nothing to her and yet each one made her chest tighten. With every name, the feeling deepen.
"STOP IT!!!!!!"
A sudden scream rang out. Cracks spread across the room like shattered glass, and the scene broke apart, dragging Kiana back into the dark void.
Standing in front of her was… herself. The same image of her that she saw after their first encounter with the abyss, breathing heavily, her golden eyes glaring at Kiana with pure anger.
"…How dare you look into my memories!" the other Kiana shouted.
"…I… I didn't know. I don't even know why I was there…" Kiana answered, her voice small, but honest. The look she got in return was sharper than before.
"I HAVEN'T BOTHERED YOU SINCE LAST TIME! AND YOU STILL DO THIS TO ME?! JUST GO BACK TO YOUR PRECIOUS CAPTAIN OR WHATEVER!"
"HUH?! Why are you yelling at me?! Weren't you the one who peeked into my head first?! And now you've got the nerve to act like I'm the problem?!" Kiana shot back. "Nobody asked you to stay in my head! If you want to leave, go ahead! I'm not stopping you!"
"You—!!" the other Kiana growled. "Shut up, you single-cell organism! All you ever do is eat!!"
"Wha—?! You... you overgrown pufferfish! Swelling up with attitude but still got scared stiff of my Captain!!"
"I wasn't scared of that guy!!!" the other Kiana snapped.
"Sure, sure. Totally believe you," Kiana said dryly, shaking her head with a smirk.
"Why you—!" The other Kiana lunged forward and pulled Kiana's cheeks.
"Owiee!! Whaht ahre yhou dhoing?!" Kiana mumbled, trying to pry her hands off.
"Why?! Why is it always you?!" the other Kiana yelled. "Why are you the one who gets the love?! Who gets spoiled?! Why is it only ever you?! What makes you so special?!"
"...Wh-what?" Kiana froze, stunned by the outburst.
But before she could respond, the void around them cracked. Light spilled in, growing brighter until everything was washed away.
"...ana."
"Wakey~ wakey~"
Kiana stirred from her nap. As she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Elysia's bright smile.
"Ahh! Finally, you're awake!"
"...Ellie?"
"Yep! Come on, freshen up and eat. Noah said we'll be busy soon," Elysia said cheerfully.
"...Okay," Kiana replied softly, watching as Elysia left the tent.
She sat up, the memory still clinging to her. "...Why did you say all that?"
Her thoughts drifted back to the other voice in her head, the anger, the words, and she silently wondered... who was that really?
----------------
Noah watching the neatly assembled platoons of knights and adventurers spreading across the fields of Windrise. The tension in the air was thick, but morale ran high. From his vantage point, he could see Arundolyn and Rostam up front, surrounded by the elite of the Knights of Favonius, preparing to meet the Abyss head-on.
Noah finally spoke.
"Kiana, are you alright?"
"Huh?" Kiana blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.
Noah glanced at her. "You've been quiet since you woke up."
"Ah… Sorry, I was just thinking." Kiana rubbed the back of her head, offering a sheepish smile.
"Oh~ Our Kii-chan thinking? That's a dangerous combination!" Miss A teased, putting a hand to her mouth in mock shock. "Kii-chan and 'thinking' don't belong in the same sentence unless the word 'can't' is in between."
Kiana's brow twitched. "…You're picking a fight, huh."
"Ara~ I wouldn't dare." Miss A smirked.
"Heh. Sure, let's go with that." Kiana resisted the urge to lash out. "But you might want to be careful out there. Accidents happen in battle. Stray bullets and all."
"Captain~ Kii-chan is threatening me~ Help~" Miss A whined playfully, dramatically leaning on Noah and hugging his arm.
"Kukuku… That's it! I'm doing it now!" Kiana growled, pulling her pistols from their holsters.
Before she could act, Noah reached out and patted her head. The effect was immediate Kiana froze, then visibly softened, letting her arms drop.
"...Must be nice," Elysia and Lumine both murmured quietly, casting subtle glances toward Noah.
Seeing this, Noah extended a hand and gently patted Elysia's head, then wrapped Lumine into a half-hug.
"Also," he said, looking at Miss A, "I know you're just trying to distract her from whatever's on her mind, but try not to make a habit of upsetting her while doing it."
The remark caught them all off guard Miss A, Kiana, Elysia, even Lumine.
"...As expected of you, Captain," Miss A muttered with a wry smile.
Noah answered with a smirk. "We'll be together for a long time. I want everyone to get along."
Kiana eyed Miss A skeptically while Elysia and Lumine exchanged looks.
"Hmph. As long as she dials back the teasing, I don't mind being civil," Kiana said, looking away.
"That's all I ask," Noah replied, smiling.
Miss A scratched her cheek, cheeks faintly red from being caught off guard.
But before the warm atmosphere could continue, Noah's hand stopped mid-pat. His gaze turned sharp as he looked toward the horizon. Miss A also turned serious.
Kiana, Elysia, and Lumine followed his line of sight. They felt it the wind has change. The sky darken.
From the distance, they saw them.
The Abyss had arrived.
Tension swept the camp. Cold sweat formed on many foreheads. Noah's expression hardened. Miss A's usual smile faded as she reached for her magical staff. Elysia readied her bow, crystal arrows forming around her. Kiana raised her pistols. Lumine took one deep breath to calm herself.
It's a magical feeling... Just being with them… Noah, Kiana, Elysia… it makes everything feel less scary, Lumine thought, exhaling slowly. She drew her blade. I'm ready.
And then, a lyre rang across the field.
"This day will be remembered in the long history of Mondstadt," Venti's voice echoed through the field. "A day when heroes rose to defend their home. So let us fight with everything we have! Let this tale be greater than that of Vanessa! Let our courage be remembered!"
The army roared in response.
"Then shall we, Mondstadt?!" Arundolyn's voice boomed as he raised his twin blades.
"ARE YOU WITH ME?!"
"OOOOHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
"THEN CHARGE!!! MONDSTADT, FORWARD!!!"
"CHAAARGE!!!"
And so the battle began the defense of Mondstadt against the Abyss.