Paimon floated out from behind Aether again. "Since you already recognized us, there's no need for more explanations, right? Of course we're here about Stormterror."
"Hm?" Venti feigned ignorance, as if he had no idea what she was talking about.
Klee rested her chin on top of Jiang Bai's head, arms wrapped around his neck, watching with wide, curious eyes.
It didn't look like she could get a word in, so she decided to quietly observe.
Seeing Venti play dumb, Paimon stomped her foot and looked at Aether. "Show him the thing!"
With evidence in hand, surely this guy couldn't keep acting clueless.
Aether nodded and took out the crystal he'd put away the day before.
But to everyone's surprise, what had been a crimson, ominous crystal yesterday was now pure and flawless—any trace of corruption seemed to have been cleansed away.
"What…?" Venti's expression changed to one of shock.
"The crystal's been purified? When did that happen?" Jiang Bai was baffled. Had he missed something yesterday?
He glanced up at Klee, but she shook her head, indicating she had no idea either.
Aether wasn't sure himself—he was just as confused to see the crystal purified.
"I'm not sure either."
Staring at the now-pure tear crystal, Venti looked a little sad. "This is… This is Dvalin's. These are the tears Stormterror shed in pain."
"Tears?" Aether blinked in surprise.
So, it was a tear all along.
Venti produced another crystal, this one unpurified. It was a deep, corrupted red, radiating foul energy.
Looking at the tear in his palm, Venti's sadness deepened. "He used to be such a gentle child… and now he's so lost in pain and anger."
He turned to Aether, hope flickering in his eyes. "I have a tear crystal too. Can you purify this one?"
Jiang Bai gently set Klee down and suddenly reached out his hand. "Can I take a look at it?"
Klee tilted her head, puzzled by the sudden move, while the others turned to him as well.
Paimon frowned, reminding him, "Lisa said the energy inside this thing clashes with elemental power. If you touch it, it'll really hurt!"
Aether, too, looked a bit confused. He couldn't figure out why Jiang Bai suddenly wanted to examine the crystal. He'd had chances before—at the Knights, at Klee's place—but never brought it up. Why now, right after the crystal was inexplicably purified?
Strange…
"I just want to see what that clash of energy feels like," Jiang Bai said to Venti with a smile. "Besides, you're holding it just fine."
Venti curled his lips in a faint smile and passed the crystal to his not-so-familiar friend.
With everyone watching, Jiang Bai took the tear crystal, focusing on the chaotic energy within.
He didn't feel any elemental conflict inside him, and nothing changed with the crystal in his hands.
But as he focused on its energy, flashes of broken memories flickered through his mind—
crumbling ruins, a sky shrouded in darkness, monstrous beings lurking in the shadows…
The images were so fragmented and chaotic that he staggered, clutching his head in pain.
"You okay?" Aether quickly supported him.
Jiang Bai's face had turned pale. He opened his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm fine. Just… a headache."
He'd only wanted to see if he could purify the crystal—turns out he couldn't. Instead, it felt like the crystal had triggered some kind of memory, leaving him reeling with pain.
Those fleeting images in his mind were too chaotic and broken to piece together, shadowed with a bleak and stifling feeling that made him instinctively want to reject them.
Venti narrowed his eyes at Jiang Bai, lost in thought.
Jiang Bai pushed the unchanged crystal back toward Aether, looking a bit shaky. "Yeah, it really hurts. You try purifying it."
Aether nodded, taking the tear crystal. In his hands, the impurities slowly faded, the crystal returning to a flawless blue.
Paimon's eyes went wide. "He really did purify it!"
Venti watched in wonder. "You truly possess an incredible power! Someone like you is destined to be the hero sung of in bardic tales—standing in the light, you'll become a legend; in the shadows, you'll be the one who guides calamity…"
Venti's mood sank. "But I don't have time to compose a new song for you right now. Even if Dvalin isn't hunted down, his life force will soon burn out—he'll destroy himself in his rage…"
Paimon jumped in. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
"Purifying the crystals is already a huge help. But I have a plan of my own."
"What's your plan?"
"Seeing the dragon's tears reminded me of an old friend. Eh-heh… you'll have to excuse me for now."
Just as he was about to dash off, Paimon called out, "Hey! Where are you going?!"
"To the symbol of Mondstadt's hero." Venti winked and slipped away before anyone could stop him.
Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Bai rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.
He had a strong feeling Venti had lured them here on purpose.
He claims to be short on time, but then goes out of his way to tell Dvalin's whole story right in front of us. If that's not deliberate, I don't buy it for a second.
Saying he had his own plans—but the way he dropped hints, leaving a clue about where to go, it was practically a giant invitation: Come chase after me!
And the worst part was, Jiang Bai really was hooked—following along just as Venti intended.
Familiar with Dvalin, privy to secrets nobody else could know…
Just what was this guy's true identity?
But, come to think of it—if the corrupted power in these crystals was the same as that in the heart of the dragon on the mountain, why hadn't he triggered any memories back then?
Was it because he hadn't approached the heart—hadn't touched the source of corruption?
And those fragmented scenes flashing through his mind…
What were they, exactly? Why could this power trigger his memories?
According to Albedo, memories now are just subconsciously locked away—
contact with things he'd often interacted with before stands a good chance of stirring them.
So, before losing his memory, was he often in contact with this kind of power?
Looks like he'd have to find Albedo and ask just what this corruption really was.
"I know where the symbol of Mondstadt's hero is!" Paimon said proudly, face lighting up.
Hearing her, Jiang Bai turned her way.
This little self-proclaimed "Aether's guide" is kind of mysterious herself. She didn't know anyone in the Knights, but she sure knows all the stories of Mondstadt…