Not far outside Mondstadt's gate, a figure dressed in a black cloak leapt down from a large rock—and promptly crashed into the ground.
Brushing dust off his cloak, Victor Wang staggered to his feet. His gaze swept toward the Mondstadt bridge, where he knew Timmy had been watching him for five minutes straight. His heart grew increasingly anxious.
Why is this so hard? Am I really going to embarrass myself in front of a kid? Should've picked a more secluded spot...
Climbing back onto the large rock behind him, Victor Wang tried to calm himself and recall how the Wind Glider worked in the game—but the only thing that came to mind was "Wuhu, takeoff!"
Didn't you just find a jumpable spot and take flight?
He crashed to the grass again. The only consolation was that his thick skin and the soft grass kept it from hurting.
Meanwhile, Timmy, after watching this guy jump around for five minutes without understanding what he was doing, finally couldn't hold it in and walked over.
"What are you doing?"
Victor Wang's heart clenched. He straightened up, trying to block the Wind Glider on his back. "Ahaha, I'm practicing an adventurer's rolling technique and fall resistance!"
"Hmph, don't try to hide it. I saw the Wind Glider on your back." Timmy shook his head, pretending to be mature. "You talk a big game with kids, but turns out you're a Wind Glider failure."
"Don't talk nonsense, I've only been practicing for five minutes. Who learns that fast?"
"Hmm... Sister Amber could fly the moment she got her Wind Glider."
"You're a man, aren't you? How long did it take you to learn?"
"Hmph, I can already fly now, that's what matters."
Timmy climbed onto the rock, opened his Wind Glider, and circled around Victor Wang.
Victor Wang thought for a moment, then said, "I'm about to get it."
Timmy gave him a doubtful look.
"If I can't fly this time, I'll buy you a potato cake. But if I can fly—hehe."
Timmy backed away quickly. "What are you trying to do?! If I shout, the Knights will come running!"
"If I fly this time, you have to introduce me to your pigeon friends. Deal?"
"My stomach says... that potato cake's as good as mine."
Once again standing atop the rock, Victor Wang recalled the motion Timmy had made while using the Wind Glider. It was exactly like the in-game characters.
He leaned his upper body forward, opened both arms, and leapt—gliding forward successfully.
So, it was about proper technique. No wonder winging it didn't work.
Seeing a tree ahead, Victor Wang pressed down with his right arm and lifted his left, curling his right leg slightly, attempting a right turn—but he was too late.
Thump!
Leaves fluttered down from the tree.
"You okay?!"
Victor Wang shook his dazed head. He might have a mild concussion, but he quickly recovered. "I'm fine. But that counts as a win, doesn't it?"
"You weren't... faking it earlier just to...?" Timmy hesitated. Just to meet my pigeon friends? That's absurd...
"I really just learned. Impressed, right? I'm a genius, huh?"
"You actually learned in five minutes? I spent a whole morning just to master straight gliding."
"Haha! Next time, I'll even be turning midair—watch me!"
Just as Victor Wang said, once he understood what caused his failures, the tiny Wind Glider no longer posed a challenge.
As Victor Wang circled around Timmy in flight, Timmy looked down.
"Sorry... I can't introduce you to the pigeons now."
"Why not?"
"These past few days, fewer and fewer pigeons have been coming to the bridge. And today... not a single one. I waited here all day. They're really not coming back."
Timmy's father had been close friends with Draff. If he'd had a normal family and a lively childhood friend like Diona, Timmy would never have turned out like this—making friends only with pigeons.
Everything changed after his father's death.
Regardless of the past, the pigeons were Timmy's important friends now.
That doesn't make sense... I haven't done anything.
Victor Wang thought for a moment, then asked, "When did the pigeons start disappearing?"
"A long time ago."
"Have you heard about Stormterror being active lately?"
"I heard the grown-ups talk about it... oh right! It started around the same time Stormterror started showing up!"
"I see. You don't have to worry—Stormterror probably doesn't eat pigeons. But he did scare them off."
"Stormterror scared them on purpose?"
"No, he's just sick. The Knights will help him get better. When they do, the pigeons will come back."
"How do you know so much?"
Victor Wang gave a bitter smile. "I'm just an ordinary guy with a few tricks up his sleeve."
This world still belongs to the strong... He didn't say it aloud—it was too cruel for a child.
"When the pigeons come back, introduce me then. For now, it's about dinner time. Let me treat you to that potato cake."
"Really?!"
"Let's go!"
...
That morning, as usual, Venti picked up his beloved lyre and headed to the Windrise Plaza in front of the Cathedral to perform a new tale in exchange for apple cider money. But the crowd had all gathered elsewhere.
Curious, Venti approached to see what was happening, only to hear an adventurer reciting a fairy tale he'd never heard before.
"...The little mermaid turned into sea foam under the sunlight. Next up is Cinderella. If anyone has questions, now's the time to ask—once I begin reading, I won't answer anything."
More people were drawn to the plaza, and after hearing one story, they would ask where the book came from. During breaks, the adventurer would uniformly introduce Tales from the Box.
And it wasn't just this plaza—the fountain plaza across from Mondstadt's gate and other locations where crowds were allowed to gather all had adventurers doing the same. Their commission reward was 3,000 Mora and one copy of Tales from the Box. The commissioner? Victor Wang.
When a good thing is released, users will recommend it themselves—but it still needs a little push at the start.
"Aiya, at this rate, Mondstadt's best bard might just lose his job."
The mastermind was in the library at that very moment.
"Miss Lisa, could you help recommend this book to visitors at the library?"
"I've already placed it on the featured reading shelf," Lisa said, pointing to the bookshelf closest to the entrance. "If someone comes looking for this genre, I'll be sure to recommend it."
"Sniff sniff... I'm touched."
"But, Mister 'Dust' the teary-eyed, I don't even know your name yet."
"Oh, really? Sorry, sorry—you can call me Victor."
"Victor. This Tales from the Box is selling quite well. The publisher hopes you can hold a book signing."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning, at the West Wind Bookstore in the city center. They want your answer today."
"I'll definitely be there." Since it was to earn money for himself, Victor Wang naturally agreed.
Watching Victor Wang's back as he left, Lisa felt like she'd become a messenger—but hopefully that would be the end of it.
Victor Wang headed straight to the third floor of the Knights of Favonius headquarters to apply for a flight license.
After showing his Adventurer's Certificate and completing registration, the clerical staff assigned him an examiner.
Amber curiously studied the man before her, entirely wrapped in a black cloak. The mysterious aura was heightened by the Dodoco perched at his forehead.
Victor Wang also studied the lively girl in red standing before him.
"Hello! I'm Amber, Outrider of the Knights of Favonius, and your examiner for the flight test."
"Hello, my name is Victor."
"...That doesn't sound like a local name. Mind if I ask why you're dressed like that?"
"?"
Victor Wang was startled. He glanced at two nearby Knights of Favonius guards—they didn't seem to have noticed anything odd. Could it be that the cloak was ineffective against those with a Vision?
At Amber's waist hung a Vision, a fate-changing gemstone that the Doctor once called a worthless glass bead.
Thinking of Kaeya's barely-stifled laugh and Lisa's peculiar expression during their first meetings, Victor Wang wished he could dig a hole with his toes and bury himself.
But no one had said anything. If I don't act embarrassed... then I'm not embarrassed!