"Eula, what are you doing here?"
Noelle stepped out of the kitchen, surprised to see her.
Noelle's cooking was excellent. Koji never treated her like free labor—he paid her Mora for it.
"Noelle?"
Eula froze too, not expecting to see a familiar face at Koji's place.
She and Noelle knew each other, and Noelle had never shown her hostility.
"Well…"
Eula didn't know how to explain. She couldn't just say she'd gotten drunk and been dragged back by Koji.
"I drank too much last night. Koji brought me back," she said at last.
"I see. Be careful, Eula. Getting drunk is dangerous," Noelle reminded her.
Eula nodded. She knew last night had been a special case.
At the table, Koji and Paimon were already eating breakfast.
"Koji, thank you…" Eula said softly.
"No need to be polite. Sit and eat," Koji waved it off.
"Koji, when are we heading to Liyue?" Lumine asked.
Life in Mondstadt was peaceful, but she still needed to find her brother. She couldn't linger forever.
Besides, with teleport anchors, returning wouldn't be a problem.
"In a few days. Noelle, Eula, how about it—want to travel with us?" Koji asked.
Noelle was too useful; they couldn't part with her.
Eula, unwelcome in Mondstadt, might also find peace traveling abroad.
"Yes, Noelle, I need you," Lumine added earnestly.
Having someone like Noelle would make their journey much easier.
Noelle blushed. Being needed like this filled her with quiet satisfaction.
"When you depart, I'll give you my answer," Eula said, though she clearly leaned toward joining.
Paimon was speechless. Two Knights taken along—Jean would be in trouble.
…
"What? Eula, Noelle, you're leaving with Koji?"
Jean's expression was complicated when she heard.
Noelle lacked an official title, but her strength was unquestionable. Eula, as captain of the guerrilla squad, was crucial.
"Master Jean, Koji said we can return anytime, instantly," Noelle explained.
"I want to train myself, to take one step closer to being a true knight."
Jean almost laughed. Few knights could even beat her now. Noelle's lack of title was due to her personality, not her strength.
Still… maybe travel would help her grow.
"And you, Eula?" Jean asked.
"People here still treat me like a sinner's descendant. Leaving with Koji might even make them happier," Eula said bluntly.
Jean was silent. She knew Eula was right. Even as a Knight of Favonius, she endured suspicion and hostility daily.
"Fine. I'll approve it," Jean sighed. With good reasons and Mondstadt at peace, she couldn't stop them.
After they left, Lisa chuckled. "That cutie's charm is something else—he even roped in Noelle and Eula."
"Noelle I understand. But Eula… these years have been hard on her," Jean murmured.
Unlike the arrogant Lawrences, Eula gave much to Mondstadt, yet remained distrusted. Some even believed her membership hid a plot.
"Yes. Eula is an excellent knight," Lisa agreed.
Too bad her family name made people hate her regardless.
"Honestly, I envy them. If I weren't Acting Grand Master, I'd join the journey too," Jean said with a smile.
"When Grand Master Varka returns, you can finally rest," Lisa teased.
Jean nodded, though Varka's return was still uncertain.
…
A few days later.
At Mondstadt's gates, Jean and others came to see them off.
"Master Jean, I didn't expect you'd come personally. We're honored," Koji said with a smile.
"You're Honorary Knights and our friends," Jean replied warmly.
"Cutie, what a pity. I wanted to spend more time with you," Lisa said, feigning sorrow.
"Lisa, that's easy—just travel with us," Koji offered.
"Hey now, you've already taken two elites. Do you plan to hollow out the Knights?" Jean snapped.
At this rate, she'd have to join too.
"Just joking. Lisa won't really leave, right?"
"Of course not. If I did, Jean would lose all her hair," Lisa teased.
Jean shot her a glare.
"Koji, you'll return, won't you?"
"Of course. We're just visiting other nations. We'll be back whenever we can."
"Until we meet again."
…
At the great tree of Windrise.
"Venti, why are you here?" Paimon asked.
"To see you off, of course. We're friends. If I didn't, wouldn't that be unkind?" Venti smiled.
"Hehe, you're dependable sometimes," Lumine said.
"I also have something to say."
Venti placed a hand on his chest, his tone solemn. "Traveler, as you resume your journey, remember the meaning of the journey itself."
"The birds, poems, and city-states of Teyvat, the Tsaritsa, the Fatui, and the monsters… all are part of your path."
"The end isn't everything. Before you reach it, use your eyes to truly see this world…"
For a moment, the carefree bard was gone. What stood there was the Archon of Wind.
Lumine nodded with a half-smile. "Venti, you really do know a lot. But you still act like a riddle-seller."
"Aiya, not that I don't want to tell. I'm… restricted," Venti chuckled awkwardly.
Some truths could be understood, but never spoken aloud.
(End of Chapter)
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