No matter what else you said about it—this sword was gorgeous.
Aquila Favonia was almost impossibly beautiful, carrying an elegance that made it feel less like a weapon and more like a symbol.
Kaito lifted the blade and held it angled at his side.
He fed Anemo into the elemental conduit embedded in the silver hawk-shaped guard.
The teal glow that had faded from the blade to the hilt flared again—brighter, sharper—until the very air around it seemed to split.
A thin, biting pressure radiated outward, so keen it made the skin prickle.
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
So this is how sharp it becomes with Anemo…
"Boss Kaito…" Kaeya stared, still stunned. "You're saying this is the legendary Aquila Favonia?!"
"Yeah," Kaito said simply.
Even if he could somehow mistake it, the System wouldn't.
This was a five-star sword he'd once owned—
and one he had given to Jean.
"It's Lady Vanessa's Aquila Favonia?!" Dr. Livingston blurted, nearly losing her voice.
Vanessa—Mondstadt's hero from a thousand years ago, the one who broke the old aristocracy's chains and freed the city.
The first Lionfang Knight.
The one who founded the Knights of Favonius.
The great oak at Windrise was her symbol.
"Yes," Kaito said.
He tested a few swings, feeling out the balance. For someone used to a heavy greatsword, it felt a little too light.
So he stored it away—case and all.
Perfect.
I can give it back to her.
"But… I thought Lady Vanessa's Aquila Favonia was passed down," Dr. Livingston said, still in disbelief. "Shouldn't it be in the hands of the Lionfang Knight—or the Dandelion Knight? How could it be…"
The Lionfang Knight and the Dandelion Knight were the same title—just different names from different eras.
"Lionfang" evoked Vanessa's past, when she fought for Mondstadt.
After the Knights were founded, "Dandelion" came to represent the future Vanessa envisioned.
Same role. Different emphasis.
But because Mondstadters revered Vanessa so deeply, they still habitually called it "Lionfang."
And in this generation, Jean was the Dandelion Knight.
Kaeya didn't wait for Kaito to answer. He shrugged and cut in first.
"The Dandelion Knight line has gaps," he said. "Even if we don't go too far back… there was the dragon crisis a century ago."
"We always assumed Aquila Favonia was lost during one of those breaks," Kaeya continued, his tone turning amused. "Who would've thought it ended up here?"
Then he chuckled, as if he'd just found a joke too good to keep to himself.
"Come to think of it, the Knights' two 'Four Winds' titles both lost the swords that were supposed to be passed down with them."
"The Grand Master, Varka, inherited the title of the North Wind Wolf—but not Wolf's Gravestone."
"That one's understandable. The weapon vanished with the first generation. It was simply lost."
"But the later Dandelion Knights—including Jean—inherit the title of the South Wind Lion…"
"And yet none of them had Aquila Favonia."
"…Ah."
Noelle's eyes flicked—subtly—toward Kaito.
Because she'd just remembered—
Wolf's Gravestone was also in Kaito's hands.
"Something wrong, Noelle?" Kaeya asked.
"N-No, nothing," Noelle said quickly.
A maid-knight knew how to keep her mouth shut.
And Noelle's favorite flower was the rose—
and in Mondstadt, roses meant: keep it sealed.
"Alright," Kaito said, cutting the topic cleanly. "This trip is a success. We head back to the city tomorrow."
"But…" Dr. Livingston glanced back at the Sword Cemetery. "What if there are other—"
"Aquila Favonia is enough," Kaito said, waving it off.
A five-star weapon was plenty.
Even if there was something else buried down there, he didn't care.
More importantly—standing here and watching Dr. Livingston shovel for hours just to chase a second treasure he couldn't even confirm existed?
He couldn't bring himself to do something that cheap.
Kaeya turned his back and waved at her too, already walking away.
Noelle hurried after them, obedient as ever.
"…So effortless," Dr. Livingston murmured, watching their backs.
Then, unexpectedly, a broad, liberated smile appeared on her face.
"Truly… stylish."
…
Mondstadt.
Two days later, at dusk, Kaito and the others finally returned.
At the city gate, they temporarily parted ways with the three Knights.
Kaeya, Noelle, and Klee all lived with the Knights and headed back together.
Since it was still early, Noelle decided she'd finish her tasks, ask Lisa for advice…
and then come back to "serve" Kaito.
Unfortunately for her—
the senior she wanted was currently sitting on the second floor of Good Hunter.
Leg crossed casually, sipping a freshly delivered Qingxin iced drink.
A new book lay beside her, and every so often she turned a page with unhurried elegance.
"Lisa?"
Kaito stepped up—and the first thing out of his mouth was instinctive.
"I haven't borrowed any books from the library lately. If you're using 'overdue returns' as an excuse to slack off, don't drag me down with you."
"Ara ara… you're finally back."
Under the table, Lisa's stockinged foot nudged the chair across from her—an invitation to sit.
Then she said nothing at all.
She simply kept reading.
The meaning was clear:
Sit, or we don't talk.
Kaito hesitated.
In the Knights, the last person you wanted to offend was this woman.
So he sat.
Only then did Lisa lazily prop her chin in her hand and look at him.
"And if I'm not here to chase overdue books," she said, "does that mean big sister can't come see you?"
Her pale green eyes held a faint, dramatic hurt.
"At least don't come during work hours," Kaito said, glancing at the clock. "Any other time, you're welcome."
The Knights would be off duty in half an hour. The library didn't open at night anyway.
"Mmhmm~"
Lisa blinked slowly.
"Then… nighttime?" she teased. "The very late kind."
Kaito's eyes drifted—just for a moment—to the weight resting against the tabletop.
Lisa seemed to be doing it on purpose, watching him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
"You mean late-night snacks?" Kaito said evenly. "Sure. No problem."
Lisa covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Kaito, Jean said you brought back a fairly intact Ruin Guard body."
"I heard that after she found out…" Lisa's voice turned honey-sweet. "She brewed tea and waited in the library for you."
"…We were out with Kaeya and the others," Kaito said, frowning slightly. "You should've known that."
"Don't use that excuse," Lisa said gently, eyes narrowing with amusement.
"What I mean is…" she continued, smiling, "you had plenty of time before you left to deliver the Ruin Guard to the Knights."
Lisa leaned in slightly, voice turning softer—teasing, but measured.
"Is big sister…" Lisa murmured, her voice suddenly softer, almost wounded, "really that unimportant to you?"
Her tone was sad—
her teasing only grew more shameless
Kaito sucked in a sharp breath.
He glanced around, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.
And then he understood—
Lisa had planned this.
"Because of you," Lisa sighed, eyes still smiling, "I've been in such a terrible mood these past few days."
"And yet…" she added, sweetly accusing, "just the other day, I even helped Noelle pick out books."
Kaito's eyelid twitched.
"…Then next time you skip work, I'll cover for you with Jean?" he said at last.
She'd caught him right where he couldn't escape.
"Would Jean even let you?" Lisa asked with a light laugh, as if she already knew something.
Then she lowered her head and resumed reading.
…
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