//------------------------------// // Episode 8: The Crystal of Unknown Power // Story: Twilight Sparkle gets a Genshin Impact Season 1 // by MLPandMiraculousFanatic //------------------------------// A few days later the trio were finished with their picnic as they went back on their way home only to see two people chatting making them hide as they secretly looked "Isn't that Jean?" Paimon asked "It sure is but who's that girl next to her?" Twilight asked The two others then could only mutter sounds of 'I don't know who she is' or 'Where did she come from' or whatever else until Paimon shut the two up by putting a hand on their mouths "Seems she's talking to someone..." Paimon reminded "We'd better listen in carefully, and no one make a sound just like last time" Lumine ordered "Wasn't it you that made that sound?" Twilight asked "I know but still" Lumine said "I agree, let's listen to her finish and then go say hi" Paimon agreed The trio then listened carefully as they heard them speaking "...Which is what has brought us to this point in the first place, if you're unable to promptly deal with the Stormterror threat then leave the defense of Mondstadt to the Fatui, we can put an end to Mondstadt's dragon issues, all we need to do is bring that monster to the---" The girl started Jean then scoffed before turning angrily at the girl "'Monster'?" Jean asked angrily "Yes, what's your point?" The girl asked "Ah... I'd expect a more professional attitude from your diplomats yet here you are saying you want to 'put an end' to one of the Four Winds of Mondstadt? I won't have any of this nonsense in front of the Knights of Favonius" Jean said angrily The girl then began laughing a bit "It's not as crazy as you make it sound, fine, that's enough negotiating for today, at this stage it's simply... An amicable exchange of constructive opinions, no? I'll be sure to make... Thorough notes..." The girl said Afterwards the girl walked off as Jean could only look at her angrily before she noticed her friends coming in worry "Oh, girls, you're back" Jean said in relief "Thanks for your help the last few days, the elemental flow is finally stable, the aftermath of Stormterror's last attack is finally settled for the moment, however, the pressure from the delegation has become too big to be ignored..." Jean explained "Delegation?" Paimon asked "What are you talking about?" Twilight asked "Are you talking from 'Liyue Harbor' or 'Inazuma City'?" Paimon asked "Snezhnaya, they choose to follow the God of Cyro, their envoys go by a particular name: 'The Fatui', heard of them?" Jean asked "No we didn't" Twilight answered Paimon did as she gasped in realization "Oh, them, they are super famous" Paimon said in disbelief before she shook it off "Wait, infamous is more the word..." Paimon explained worriedly "I don't think killing Stormterror is the right course of action, the Cryo God's Fatui have always coveted the Anemo God's power, I don't believe they have Mondstadt's best interests at heart" Jean explained "Speaking of power..." Lumine started "What is it Lumine?" Jean asked "There's something we found the need to show the Knights of Favonius" Lumine explained "Oh? Let us head back to the headquarters then, we shouldn't discuss important matters... Out in the open" Jean suggested "You're right, let's go girls" Twilight suggested The four then began walking (Or flying in Paimon's case) while Jean turned to the trio "So what's the difference between Mondstadt and Snezhnaya "Mondstadt and Snezhnaya are considered the same in status, Mondstadt is independant and does not belong to any other nation, in fact despite being referred to as a city Mondstadt is a nation, though Snezhnaya's Fatui are known to be the most aggressive diplomats" Jean explained "Makes sense given the tone of that woman just now, so rude!" Paimon said angrily "I agree but hopefully we don't see her again" Twilight said The four then entered the office where Lisa was waiting for them until they arrived "Twilight, if you could?" Lumine asked "Sure" Twilight said Twilight then pulled out the covered up crystal and removed the cover which the group then noticed as a red crystal "This is what we found back in the 'Whispering Woods' I believe" Paimon explained "It's a crystal embedded with some kind of power..." Jean explained before she turned to Lisa who was analyzing it a bit "Lisa, are you able to analyze it?" Jean asked "Let me take a look..." Lisa suggested as she approached a little closer "Hmm... I can see impurities in the crystal but upon further inspection..." Lisa started before turning to the girls "No, I'm sorry, I can't make a proper analysis at the moment, give me some time, I'll take a look through the library's restricted section" Lisa suggested "Right, I'll leave the research to you then Lisa" Jean said "Understood, I'll notify you all if I make any progress" Lisa said "Thanks Lisa, you're a great help" Twilight thanked "Though, I wouldn't go getting your hopes up, they are incredibly ancient texts, not to mentio---" Lisa started while she went to go grab the crystal only to get burned a bit "Ouch!" Lisa called out Twilight then rushed to Lisa's aid "Are you okay?!" Twilight asked in shock and worry "Gosh that hurt!" Lisa said in pain Twilight then checked the crystal in confusion again "That's weird, it didn't hurt while I wrapped it in my magic" Twilight explained in confusion "Or when I held it in a leaf bag" Lumine said in confusion "The impurities on the crystal... It hurts when I get close..." Lisa explained, still in pain "I'll go get some bandaid" Lumine said "I can teleport stuff, remember?" Twilight asked "Right" Lumine realized Twilight then teleported a bandaid and some ointment which she put on Lisa's hand before wrapping a bandaid over the burnt hand "There, is it better?" Twilight asked "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks Twilight" Lisa thanked before turning to the crystal again "I see... It appears to react to Vision and non touches, the impurities and the elemental energy we embody repel each other" Lisa explained before she and Jean turned to Twilight, Lumine and Paimon "It's strange though, you two have elemental abilities as well, don't you two?" Lisa asked as Lumine and Twilight nodded "Then why aren't you girls affected in the same way?" Lisa asked "I don't know" Twilight answered "Same here, Paimon doesn't know either, right Paimon?" Lumine asked "Yeah" Paimon answered "Anyway, the crystal would be better left in the hands of my friends, it will just be a pain if left with us, both literally and figuratively" Lisa explained "Don't worry, we'll figure out the source our way" Twilight said "Yeah, we'll use whatever we have to figure it out together, right girls?" Lumine asked Paimon and Twilight then nodded "...Facinating, do you two know anything about what makes you both special?" Jean asked "Well, I do have a Cutie Mark which signals the fact I'm talented at magic and I used to be an alicorn before the incident that I do not wanna speak of" Twilight explained "What about you Lumine?" Jean asked "I don't know, all I did was touch a statue and some magic flew inside me, I still don't know how to activate it though" Lumine explained "I do not know what to make of it either" Jean apologized before she turned to Lisa who nodded giving her an idea as she turned back to the trio "Well then girls... The Knights of Favonius have another favor to ask of you" Jean explained "Sure, anything for you miss" Twilight said "Please accept the title of Honorary Knights... And the gratitude of the Acting Grand Master" Jean said "Really?!" Lumine asked in shock "Honorary Knights... Of Favonius?!" Paimon asked in shock and disbelief Jean then nodded which made the trio cheer a bit in excitement that they could do whatever they could to protect a country once more "We ask for your continued assistance in finding some answers, Stormterror's rage... And strange crystals... I know Mondstadt's peace hangs in the balance, may the wind open your eyes to the truth" Jean said in happiness "Don't worry Jean, we'll protect Mondstadt harder than ever before!" Twilight announced "Very well, we'll meet back here if you find anything" Jean suggested The trio then went out of the Knights of Favonius headquarters as they approached the stairs ready to start their next investigation and when they got near the stairs Paimon turned to the two of them with worried expressions "There's something you didn't tell them, the dragon and the crystal weren't the only things we saw" Paimon reminded "We'd like to investigate that on our own first" Lumine reminded "Yeah, I mean, what if that guy isn't actually that bad like you told us, what if he's just angry we interrupted his chat" Twilight reminded "So you two do remember him, that green guy" Paimon explained before turning around as she saw the green guy running off "He looks just like that guy down there!" Paimon called out Twilight and Lumine then turned around as they saw the same guy running away "The exact shade of green, what a coincidence" Lumine said in shock "See? See?" Paimon asked in excitement "But what if it is the guy we saw! We can't let him run loose without some answers! We have to stop him! Come on!" Twilight called out "Wait... Hold on a minute... What if you're right..." Paimon said in confusion before she realized it too "That's the guy!" Paimon realized The two then ran down the stairs and after the guy only to notice he disappeared "That green guy disappeared!" Paimon called out "Typical hero techniques, when someone wants to get his identity he teleports off so no one can see him, I should know, some of us did that too back in Equestria" Twilight explained "You did?!" Lumine asked "Doesn't matter, girls, use elemental sight to track them down" Paimon suggested Twilight then activated a spell which made footsteps appear which the group then followed and as soon as they arrived at the top of the mountain they heard music playing as they slowly approached the statue alongside some other people and when they did they could hear the same guy from a lot of Episodes ago playing the harp before he began speaking "What is to be sung transpired in days of yore when the divine archons still walked the earth, a dragon cast his curious gaze on the world below as he parted from the heavens that gave his birth, the dragon sought truth amongst common folk but mortal triffles fogged his mind, the windborne bard strummed his strings dolce and the Holy Lyre answered his questions kind, the dragon was but a child full of wonder and soared the heavens free from care, the bard's songs invited him to sing along for he yearned to let all perceive him fair, enchanted legends the bard and dragon were but the tides of despair soon engulfed the land, the lion fang perished and the falcon flag slept as a vile dragon approached Mondstadt in lone stand, over the Cathedral loomed death and his friends, of the people's agony the bard soon sang, the soaring dragon heeded his grave calls and amidst the windstorms a brutal war sprang, blood of venom sent the sky dragon into slumber only to awake to be expelled in abhor 'Why do people in this age loathe me so?' but the Holy Lyre replied no more, wrath and woe, vigor and venom, poured from the dragon's bitter eyes, the dragon's curse sprawled in silence but the Lyre could no longer soothe his cries" The guy told After his story everyone clapped before leaving except for the trio that had been searching for him "We want to talk!" Twilight said in disbelief The guy then gasped in shock, worry and disbelief "Wait, you guys are..." The guy started "We were the ones you saw a while back, we're still sorry about that" Twilight said "Oh, that's right! You're the ones who that scared Dvalin away" The guy realized "Dvalin? Who's that?" Paimon asked "Remember, the book Rainbow gave us told us about Dvalin" Twilight reminded "Oh, true" Paimon realized "So you're saying that that's Stormterror's real name?" Lumine asked "Yeah, I did some research on that and asked a few residents and in fact they said it was true, just the name though they didn't know anything else or were too frightened to speak" Twilight explained "Huh?" Paimon asked before gasping in realization "Oh, right, most people seem to call him 'Stormterror'" Paimon realized "Yeah but it seems he doesn't" Twilight explained "Right..." Paimon said before he turned to the guy "Why do you call him that... Are you two meant to be close or something?" Paimon asked "Oh, so close..." The guy answered with a reassuring smile "Hey girls, Paimon thinks this guy has a screw loose..." Paimon reminded "I don't think he does" Twilight explained before turning back to the guy "What's your name by the way?" Twilight asked "I'm Venti the bard, three time winner of the 'Most Popular Bard of Mondstadt' to be precise, so, what do you need from me?" Venti asked "Given you recognise us Paimon doesn't believe we need to explain any further, of course it's about Stormterror" Paimon reminded "Storm...?" Venti thought in confusion "Hey! Cut it with the amnesia act!" Paimon ordered "Yeah! Just answer the question!" Twilight ordered "But I don't know what you're talking about!" Venti explained "Very well, Lumine, show it to him" Paimon suggested Lumine then pulled out what was once the corrupted tear which shocked Venti "Oh! Isn't this---?!" Venti started Just then the trio did a double take an "Wait, what just happened to---?!" Twilight started in shock and confusion "What?! The crystal has been purified?! When?" Paimon asked in shock Lumine then turned to the trio in confusion "I don't know what just happened, all I know is that I didn't put it in a bag of some kind but I held it!" Lumine explained in confusion "That's weird because the last time I checked, it was full of impurities" Twilight said also in confusion "Doesn't matter as long as Venti saw it!" Paimon explained "Dvalin, he... The anguish he feels... Has brought him to tears... " Venti explained sadly "Tears...?" Paimon asked in confusion "You call this crystal a tear?!" Twilight asked in shock and confusion Venti then pulled out an impurified crystal which he looked at in sadnesss while speaking "He was once such a gentle giant, now so full of rage and suffering..." Venti explained sadly before Twilight got confused "Is that---?!" Twilight started in shock and confusion "I also came across a Teardrop Crystal, can any of you try and purify it?" Venti asked Lumine then looked at both her friends who then nodded, ready to see how it happened before Lumine took the crystal in one hand and puts another hand on the top before charging it with magic until the tear floated for a moment making Lumine remove the upper hand causing it to fly in the air for a moment and change it's color before flying back into Lumine's hand "Wow!" Twilight called out in awe "Ehhhh?!" Paimon gasped in shock and disbelief "You can't believe it's real, can you Paimon?" Twilight asked "Of course it's real, I'm just shocked is all" Paimon answered Venti then smiled for a moment at the duo making them focus again before he turned to Lumine "You... Really do have some wonderful abilities... Someone like you is going to end up written into a bard's poem, oh, a hero so bright should he stand in the light, though stand in the shade and you'll be met by a blade..." Venti started before rubbing the back of his head nervously "Alas... I don't really have the time to compose a melody for you at this moment" Venti said nervously "That's fine Venti, you can do it later" Twilight suggested Venti then smiled a bit at Twilight before he looked down sadly "Even if Dvalin is not taken down his life will still wither away in the breeze... He'll burn himself out in the flames of anger..." Venti said sadly "Is there anything we can do to help?" Lumine asked Venti then turned to Lumine and smiled a bit "Well, I must thank you for purifying the Teardrop Crystal, it has helped me greatly but I've already come to devise my own plan" Venti explained "Oh? And what plan would that be?" Paimon asked "Well, seeing this tear has brought to mind a friend so dear" Venti explained "Friend?" Paimon asked in confusion "Who are they?" Twilight asked Venti ignored their question and laughed a bit before smiling at them "One must be going" Venti said Venti then wanted to run before Paimon flew in front of him "Hey! Where're you running off to?!" Paimon asked angrily "To the 'Symbol of Mondstadt's hero', bye bye!" Venti said Venti then rushed off which accidentally blew Paimon to the side as she continued to spin before Lumine ran in front of her and stopped the spin with her chest causing Paimon to pant before turning to Lumine "Thanks!" Paimon thanked "No worries" Lumine said Paimon then flew out of Lumine's chest before she turned to her friends "By the way... Girls, what do you make of that?" Paimon asked "This 'weirdo' as you put it, we need to keep an eye on him..." Lumine explained "I agree, there's something very suspicious about him that I can't put a finger on" Twilight agreed "Well, as far as he's concerned, you're a weirdo too, y'know Twilight?" Paimon asked "You know, you're a weirdo too, I mean you're the only human that flies in this world outside of Rainbow!" Twilight reminded angrily "Excuse me?! I am not a weirdo, you are! You are a literal horse!" Paimon reminded angrily Twilight then gasped "Are you serious right now, I'm a pony! Not a horse! So why don't you shut your trap about---!" Twilight started angrily Lumine then rushed in between the duo and split them up "Alright, that's enough girls, we have more danger other than Venti, Stormterror will be coming back to get his revenge and all you do is fight just because Paimon called Twilight a weirdo?!" Lumine asked angrily "Yeah, she's right so shut up or I'm gonna use a spell on you that can literally shut you up for years!" Twilight reminded angrily Afterwards the duo glared daggers at each other until Rainbow came in "So, uh, hi girls did any---" Rainbow started The trio then turned to Rainbow angrily and yelled "WHAT?!" The trio yelled angrily "Jeez, who died and made you angry at each other?" Rainbow asked The trio then calmed down "Sorry about that Rainbow, there was just a little argument, right Paimon?" Twilight asked with the last two wordshaving her glare at Paimom "Yes, that's right" Paimon said glaring back "Oh okay, so have you seen a green guy running around here?" Rainbow asked "Yes we did but he went to the symbol of Mondstadt heroes, sorry we couldn't stop him" Twilight answered "Nah, don't sweat it, I'll go ahead with you two in search for him, I mean you three speak highly of him so I'd be willing to meet him!" Rainbow explained "Oh okay" Twilight said "Still you know, his voice seemed familiar" Lumine explained Paimon and Twilight then looked at each other in shock and confusion before they started walking off after Rainbow as Lumine went after him "Familiar? I don't know... You're alone on that one..." Paimon said "Ugh! At least be trustful with her thoughts!" Twilight suggested angrily "Whatever" Paimon said before turning to the trio "But did he just say 'Symbol of Mondstadt Heroes'? What could that be?" Paimon asked "I don't know Paimon, maybe Rainbow knows" Lumine explained "Pssh! Of course I do! I know all of Mondstadt at the back of my hoof!" Rainbow explained "Very well, lead the way" Twilight said Just then Paimon realized "Oh Paimon believes she know where Venti is! It's that huge tree" Paimon explained "What tree?" Twilight asked "You know, the gigantic one! You can't miss it, surely you still remember!" Paimon reminded Twilight and Lumine then turned to each other in confusion before back at Paimon "Very well, if you're that sure lead the way" Lumine said "Alright then, change of plans first we'll go to that tree and see if he's there if not we'll go to the symbol of Mondstadt hero" Rainbow said The trio then nodded as Paimon lead them the way and after a while they arrived and when they did, they saw Venti staring at the tree "Hey Venti, we're back!" Twilight waved Venti then turned around in shock before smiling at the trio "Oh? What are you four doing here?" Venti asked "Well, I just wanted to meet you, I'm Rainbow Dash, guard of the Knights of Favonius" Rainbow introduced "Nice to meet you Rainbow, I'm Venti, if you need to know anything about Dvalin just let me know" Venti suggested "On it!" Rainbow said before she backed off towards the rest of her friends "Anyways, I was just wondering if you would have happened to follow me...?" Venti asked "Yeah we did, sorry but we want to know more about the Anemo God" Lumine explained "You speak of the God of Anemo, Barbatos?" Venti asked which made the trio look at each other in confusion before turning back to Venti and nodded "He already disappeared from Mondstadt a long time ago" Venti explained "He did?!" Twilight and Lumine asked in shock and confusion "Yeah but Liyue and Inazuma's respective gods of Geo and Electro are still present except Mondstadt has seen many a moon ever since they last saw their own god" Venti explained before turning to Lumine "Why do you wish to know about the God of Anemo? Does it have something to do with Dvalin?" Venti asked Afterwards Paimon began stuttering nervously "Oh... Ahhh... It's because gods..." Paimon stuttered nervously "Not again, why don't you tell her Lumine, I think she's stuck in her brainless mind" Twilight suggested in disbelief "Are we gonna start the argument again?!" Paimon asked "No, just calm down!" Rainbow suggested "Anyways, someone told me about Dvalin's past" Lumine explained "Actually, they showed us" Twilight answered "And it was me after I got it from Lisa" Rainbow explained After saying that her friends glared for a moment making her confused before they turned back to Venti who could only look in disbelief "Just how is it that everyone sees Stormterror?" Venti asked before looking at her friends with a wondering glance "I'm quite curious" Venti explained "Well---" Twilight started before Venti interrupted "That said, there's no need to rush..." Venti reminded before sighing in disbelief "I have not been back in a while, it seems there are a few who are unhappy with my arrival" Venti explained The trio then turned back to Mondstadt before they noticed a creature floating by "The wind... I can't... Open my eyes..." Paimon explained The group then turned to the creature "What is a creature like that doing out here in such a calm place?" Paimon asked "I'm not sure" Twilight anwered "You think it was going after that green guy?" Lumine asked Paimon sighed in disbelief "Lumine... His relationship with the wind seems even deeper than yours..." Paimon reminded "True, but how will we beat it?!" Rainbow asked "I know, use whatever skills we have!" Twilight said "On it!" Rainbow said Rainbow then rushed to the creature ready to poke it only to get sent flying towards a tree by the spinning wind making the group worried as Twilight and Paimon got mad before they went to opposite sides and shot a bunch of lightning which then began shooting everywhere, even one got towards Rainbow making her give a loud 'Yelp!' while the others ducked before the lightnings were gone as Twilight and Paimon turned to Lumine "Lumine! You have to help us, you have the power of the Anemo God! Use it!" Twilight ordered "B-But, I can't!" Lumine called out "You have to, focus all your might on the creature and shoot a gust of wind, tornado or whatever the heck!" Paimon ordered "Okay!" Lumine said Lumine then threw her hands forward as a small gust of wind appeared "You can do that?! Lame! Make something mighty to beat it!" Rainbow Lumine then turned angrily at Rainbow which caused her hands to move Rainbow sideways with a strong gust of wind "I know...!" Lumine called out before she saw Rainbow on the ground grunting "My bad" Lumine said before turning to her hands which were still in green powers "I think I know how it works" Lumine said before she approached the creature from the side "Hey you! Is your ass still okay?! Wait, you don't have an ass!" Lumine reminded The creature then turned around as it began hissing through it's eye making Lumine gulp while Rainbow sat back up to look at the duo "Oh great! She's gonna doom us all!" Rainbow said The creature then raced towards her while Lumine clenched her fists tightly as a gust of wind surrounds the bottom of the ground and circles around her before she threw her arms forward causing a large tornado to appear and sent the wind flying as it tried to use a tornado back while Lumine pushed back "Girls! Help me!" Lumine called out Paimon and Twilight then ran or flew next to Lumine and helped her push the wind ball but it didn't work until Venti ran next to the trio and used his super magic strength to help the trio push the wind with the tornado until it broke into pieces before it flew away by the wind which made the trio pant as Rainbow rushed to the trio "That was awesome! Do that again!" Rainbow ordered Lumine then stopped panting as she turned to her friends "Thanks for the help girls" Lumine thanked "No worries Paimon!" Twilight said "Yeah, anything for you" Paimon said "Still, it seems the dragon wasn't the only thing affected by this change in the wind..." Venti said in confusion while looking at the way the creature went before turning back to his saviors "Now then, you were saying someone had told you about the dragon?" Venti asked "Yeah, Lisa did" Rainbow answered "Allow us to explain" Lumine suggested The group then told the full story to Venti and at the end Venti began thinking "Is that so? Quite the scholar I must say, that Lisa" Venti said in awe "I'm also one of these scholars but yeah, you're right" Twilight agreed "Well, she's not wrong, the conflict has reached this point only because both sides have resorted to the use of force, his hate however did not arise from the people not making tribute to The Four Winds, nor was it born from his own nature but instead it came about as a product of his degradation" Venti explained "Degra... dation?" Paimon asked "The black blood flowing through his heart has been torturing him for year, that's what has allowed him to be led astray by the lies of the abyss mage" Venti explained "Seriously?! Another abyss mage?! Haven't we been through enough?!" Paimon asked "Don't worry, for all I know they aren't nightmare thrillers like the one you've seen before" Venti explained "Whew! That's a relief! At least, that's what Paimon thinks!" Paimon explained "Well, I can tell you a little more about them" Venti said "Really?! Then you may go ahead and do so" Twilight said "They are from the Abyss Order, an organization comprised of non-human beings, they despise mankind" Venti explained "What! Why did they hate mankind?!" Lumine asked "I don't know where that came from, all I know is that they hold deep hatred towards the human world, many hilichurls out in the wild take orders from them and act as their weapon, before arriving here, I too was like Dvalin cursed and left to waste but now before us stands the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero, the place from which Mondstadt rose, the wind amongst the branches is good, I love the way it smells... Being here with you girls beneath this great tree feels like when the tear was purified earlier, like the poison is leaving my body..." Venti explained Venti then sat down as he looked at the shining sun while Twilight used her magic to make the purification move faster and when that was done she helped Venti up "There, is it better now?" Twilight asked "Mmmmmmm... Yeah, it feels much better" Venti answered "That's a relief" Paimon said in relief "So... Hox exactly did you get poisoned?" Lumine asked "Yeah, that's what I wanna know too" Rainbow said "Ahh... That would be because I tried to communicate with Dvalin earlier but was... Interrupted..." Venti apologized "And we're still sorry about that" Twilight reminded "No worries but as a result not only did I manage to help Dvalin break his curse but instead was also infected myself!" Venti explained "Oh, that explains why you were mad at us, see Twilight, he's totally trust worthy" Paimon said "Yeah, yeah, we had that talk before" Twilight reminded "But to make up for it girls, you're coming with me to the Cathedral!" Venti reminded The Mondstadt Cathedral? To do what exactly?" Paimon asked "To claim a certain 'Holy Lyre der Himmel'" Venti explained "Huh?!" The group said in confusion Venti then walked off as the group slowly followed after him in confusion and when they arrived at the Cathedral Venti turned to the group expecting some questions "So this... 'Holy Lyre der Himmel' is..." Paimon started "One of the most treasured items in Mondstadt, it's the Lyre that Barbatos used to play, with it perhaps I can help Dvalin draw his gentle nature back out of this nightmare he's going through" Venti explained "Will it really stop Stormterror from causing more damage?" Paimon asked "Of course, I'm the best bard in the world, there's not a single song I do not know, no matter if it's from the past, present or future, look me in the eyes, do you not find me trustworthy?" Venti asked worriedly "What?! Of course we do, we're just a bit worried that we'll get caught, I mean, we're the honorary Knights of Favonius" Twilight reminded 'And I'm an actual guard for the Knights of Favonius" Rainbow reminded "We won't if we're smart, I promise" Venti said "So how can we get the Holy Lyre?" Paimon asked "It's said that it's enshrined deep within the Cathedral, somewhere safe, I'll go take a look around, you can come if you want" Venti suggested before walking in as the four took nervous glances at each other before they went in after him and when they almost got to the center Venty turned to the group "Let me handle this" Venti suggested before she turned to one of the nuns "Hello there sister" Venti greeted Afterwards the other nun turned around with a smile "May the Anemo God bless you young bard, how can I help you?" The nun asked "Actually, I know a secret that can save Mondstadt from its current predicament" Venti explained "Oh, what a blessing from the God of Anemo!" The nun said in shock and relief before getting confused "But you should report that to the Knights of Favonius, why have you come to me?" The nun asked "Hahaha, because you, dear sister, are able to help!" Venti answered before pointing to the slightly open door "I'd like to borrow... The Holy Lyre, with it I'll be able to help Stormterror---" Venti explained before getting interrupted "Please see yourselves out" The nun ordered "What?!" Venti gasped in shock "It's a vicious dragon indeed but once the Acting Grand Master makes up her mind nothing can stand in the Knights' way" The nun reminded "That's simply not acceptable, wouldn't Stormterror end up getting killed that way?" Venti asked angrily "That foolish beast betrayed the winds, not even the God of Anemo themselves would forgive it!" The nun reminded "Wow..." Venti said in awe while thinking before putting his hands in a pleading position "Please, I beg of you!" Venti pleaded "I'm afraid not little bard" The nun said angrily before she began thinking "Strange... Somehow I feel so bad rejecting this sweet child..." The nun thought "Then... I guess I'm left with no other choice, I cannot hide anymore! My disciples, rejoice! Behold the God of Anemo Barbatos has descended!" Venti announced before crossing his arms with a pride smile "Shocked aren't you? Don't you just want to cry out and rejoice? How does it feel to finally meet the god you've been serving?" Venti asked The nun then rolled her eyes in disbelief "If there's nothing else I'll be going back to handle the Cathedral's paperwork now" The nun reminded "Wait---" Venti started But the nun ignored him and walked off as Venti turned to his friends "So much for doing this yourself Venti" Twilight said "Hahaha, very funny" Venti said sarcastically before sighing in defeat "She didn't even bat an eyelid" Venti said in disbelief "Relax, I'm sure your time will come soon" Lumine said "Thanks Lumine" Venti thanked before realizing something "But I have at least learned what I wanted to know" Venti said "Really?!" Rainbow asked in shock and confusion "She didn't deny that the Cathedral is enshrining the Holy Lyre" Venti explained before turning to Twilight and Lumine "Now Lumine, Twilight, since you're both the hotshot of the Knights of Favonius... Maybe you can give it a shot" Venti reminded "Fine, let us try it out" Twilight suggested "Though we'll warn you that we might come back empty handed so do not worry" Lumine suggested "Don't worry, there's always a Plan C" Venti said Twilight and Lumine then turned to each other before shrugging and when they did they went towards the nun who was filing some paperwork from the Cathedral "Barbatos blesses you" The nun said "Hi and thank you, I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Lumine and we're the Honorary Knights of Favonius" Twilight greeted "I know you, you and Amber saved Mondstadt that day" The nun realized before getting confused "So what brings you here? Tasks from the Acting Grand Master?" The nun asked "Yes, actually, the Knights of Favonius would like to borrow the Holy Lyre..." Lumine answered "Is that so?" The nun asked "Why do you ask? Don't you trust us?" Twilight asked "Well, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that a suspicious bard came looking to borrow the Holy Lyre as well" The nun explained "Really?! We didn't see him" Lumine said "Yeah, sorry but we'll investigate it for you" Twilight said "Thanks, I'll explain a bit about him, he's full of nonsense and even called himself Barbatos, he must be up to something" The nun explained "Really?! Is there any regulations for the Holy Lyre that he might not have known of, we can go tell him then" Twilight suggested "Thank you and yes there are regulations in place for the use of the Holy Lyre, currently it's only used in Ludi Harpastum" The num explained before she turned to Lumine "Signed documents from the Grand Master, seneshal and community representative are all required so may I see the document from the Knights of Favonius? "We're sorry, we forgot to bring it here" Lumine apologized "A signed document is required, without it there's not much I can do now if you'll excuse me I really am busy as of late" The nun reminded "Of course sister, we'll be going now" Twilight said The duo then walked back to Paimon and Venti who were talking who then heard their footsteps before turning around "Did it work girls?" Paimon asked "No, we're sorry girls" Lumine apologized "So it didn't work... I knew it" Venti said in defeat "You 'knew it'?" Paimon asked "Then why'd you send us over here then?" Twilight asked angrily "I just wanted to know how influential Lumine and Twilight, the hotshots of the Knights of Favonius, are, you see, the best warrior should always be presented with the best sword and yet here we are..." Venti said in disbelief before turning to the duo with a cocky smile "Does the story not make for a fitting ballad?" Venti asked "No it does not?! Now if you've got better ideas that do not suggest breaking the rules you may tell us or we'll report you!" Twilight said angrily "Yeah, what are you trying to say? That we're not good enough?" Paimon asked angrily "I have to agree with them, you're being awfully suspicious right now" Lumine reminded "No that's not it, more of a commentary regarding Mondstadt's inability to see the warrior standing right before its very eyes" Venti reminded "So what do you suggest mister all mighty?!" Twilight asked angrily "Very well, looks like borrowing it is not going to be possible, we're simply going to have to steal it" Venti suggested "WHAT?!" The trio gasped Afterwards the nuns turned to the trio with a glare before Twilight chuckled nervously alongside Paimon as Lumine turned to them with nervousness "Sorry, we're just shocked" Lumine apologized The nuns then turned around as the trio turned to Venti with a glare "Still, why do you want us to go and steal the Holy Lyre?! Is it really that important?! Are you a thief?!" Twilight asked "Today we stand for free will! Any suggestions on just how we steal it?" Venti asked The trio then glared at Venti who chuckled nervously "Come now, speak up, that's what free will is for" Venti reminded "W don't want to steal anything" Lumine reminded "Yeah!" The Twilight and Paimon agreed angrily "Hahaha, look at you three, sidetracked from the start" Venti said with a laugh "But seriously, you three are more suitable for the job than I" Venti reminded "Aside from singing I don't really have any other talents besides if I was caught I'd have no one to right the grave injustice of my arrest" Venti reminded "How can it be a 'grave injustice' if you got caught stealing red handed?" Paimon asked angrily "But things are different for you three, you are the superstars of the Knights of Favonius, you have made contributions to Mondstadt" Venti reminded "That's different!" Twilight reminded "But should you three get caught you would easily be able to talk your way out of it" Venti reminded "The guards here, it seems they're off duty throughout the night so if we manage to seize this opportunity it should be smooth sailing from here" Venti reminded "Stop mentioning us getting caught!" Paimon ordered angrily "Yeah, and besides what kind of Knight would we be if we did this! Rainbow might never trust me again!" Twilight reminded angrily "So girls... What do you say?" Venti asked "I'm sorry---" Lumine started before she realized something "Wait... Did you just say... You're barbatos..." Lumine realized "Now that you mention it, he did say that while speaking to the nun" Paimon realized "Yeah, I agree" Twilight realized "Ah yes, seems I did mention that... Your point being?" Venti asked "If you really are a god then we can't simply abandon you" Lumine said "What?! Are you saying that you're agreeing with this thief?! There has to be another way!" Twilight reminded "I kinda have to agree with her you know" Paimon agreed "You too Paimon?!" Twilight asked in shock before sighing in disbelief "Guess I'm outvoted" Twilight said before angrily turning to Venti "We'll do it but if something goes wrong, you're to blame!" Twilight said angrily "Still, why do you need to work with gods?" Venti asked "Paimon'll fill you in on Lumine's background story when we get the time..." Paimon said "And if you're not a god then I'll help Dvalin anyway" Lumine said "Huh?" Venti asked in shock and confusion "We will bring you the Holy Lyre der Himmel" Lumine said "Thanks guys" Venti thanked The four then split up as the heroes went back home to prepare themselves while Venti went back to his favorite tree to calm his spirit before the break in