The dragon who defended Hiersindwir for a millennium finally faces his perturbation. What does freedom really mean, when demanded of you by god?
Thanks to your efforts, Hiersindwir's elemental flow has returned to normal. It's time to report back to Night Glider.
Returning to Hiersindwir, you encountered a clash between Night Glider and the Ya Burv Durnyy. Afterward, you showed Night Glider the dragon tear that you found in the forest, and at her request, once again joined the investigation into Sturmterror Dvalin.
As you were heading out to investigate, you happened upon the mysterious girl that you saw talking to the dragon.
The mysterious fellow claimed to be a bard named Rainbow Dash, but left on his own accord before you could get her to explain her relationship with the dragon. You follow her to the giant tree at Windrise.
Stopped at last, Rainbow Dash explained that she had tried and failed to cleanse Dvalin's curse during their previous meeting. Now, she has been forced to rely on the HHoly Lyre of the Sky's power if she is to restore Dvalin.
Rainbow Dash's plan to sweet talk his way into getting the Holy Lyre back backfires. She's come up with a new plan, but seems she'll need your help for it to work.
Rainbow Dash's plan to steal the Holy Lyre went off without a hitch. Well, almost — when the Lyre was almost in your hands, a stranger stole it from under your noses. Your movements alerted the guards, forcing you to flee the Cathedral.
In your haste fleeing the confusion you found yourself in Fire Streak's tavern, where — to your surprise — he decided to help hide you. Fire Streak agrees to meet back at the tavern after nightfall with his "contacts" — who could they be?
The person Fire Streak called in turned out to be Night Glider from the Knights of Günstig. After some discussions, it is discovered that it was the Ya Burv Durnyy who stole the Heilige Leier des Himmels. You must retrieve it to rescue Dvalin.
After a fierce battle, you managed to seize the Heilige Leier des Himmels back from the hands of the Ya Burv Durnyy. For some reason, Rainbow Dash seems to express a great nostalgia for the Lyre...
The Holy Lyre is in poor condition, but you manage to restore some of its Anemo power by using Dvalin's tears. To restore its full power, you will need to look for more tears.
Dvalin's footprints are all over Hiersindwir, and one of his tears fell upon a ruin deep within the forest.
The corrupted dragon tear has even attracted storm creatures. You must get it back from them.
After completing the retrieval of the tears, you meet up with the rest of the group.
Dvalin's tears restored the Holy Lyre back to its full power. Now, you are finally ready to purify Stormterror.
As you gaze upon the skies above, the clouds waved au revior, and brought back the starry night. You greeted the guards at the entrance and try and make your way to the headquarters. I rush up to you with sweep and swoosh through the trail, until we heard a familiar voice, near a small hotel. We approached the two figures, revealing Night Glider, talking to a gal who dons something dark.
"Isn't that Night Glider?" I exclaimed. "Seems she's talking to someone...Let's let her finish, then go say hi?"
"...which is what has brought us to this point in the first place." the woman said. "If you are unable to promptly deal with the Sturmterror threat, then leave the defense of Hiersindwir to the Ya Burv Durnyy. We can put an end to Hiersindwir's dragon issues. All we need to do is bring that monster to the—"
""Monster"?" Night Glider cut her off, with a confused face.
"Yes. What's your point?"
"Ah..." Night Glider slightly sighed. "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 Zephyrs of Hiersindwir? I won't have any of this nonsense in front of the Knights of Günstig." Night Glider glared.
"Heh... Hehehe..." she giggled. "It's not as crazy as you make it sound. Fine. That's enough negotiation for today. At this stage it's simply... an amicable exchange of constructive opinions, no?I'll be sure to make... thorough notes..." she smirked, leaving a pissed Night Glider standing in front of the hotel. You approached slowly to the Night Glider and waved.
"Oh, Traveler, you're back." Night Glider verbalize in relief. "Thanks for your help. The elemental flow is finally stable. The aftermath of Sturmterror's last attack is finally settled for the moment. However, the pressure from the delegation has become too big to be ignored..." Night Glider listed.
"Delegation? From Dili Harbor or Erekutoro City?" I asked.
"Krio. They choose to follow the God of Frost. Their envoys go by a particular name: The Ya Burv Durnyy. Heard of them?" Night Glider verbalized.
"Oh, them. They are super famous. Wait, infamous is more the word..." I scratched my head.
Night Glider sighed. "I don't think killing Sturmterror is the right course of action. The Frost God's Ya Burv During have always coveted the Wind God's power. I don't believe they have Hiersindwir's best interests at heart."
"Speaking of power..." You pondered and looked at Night Glider.
"What is it, Traveler?"
"There's something I need to show the Knights of Günstig." you said, holding on to your pack.
"Oh? Let us head back to headquarters then. We shouldn't discuss important matters... out in the open." Night Glider signaled you to follow her, and I followed, floating by your side.
"Hiersindwir and Krio are considered the same in status. Hiersindwir is independent, and does not belong to any other nation. In fact, despite being referred to as a city, Hiersindwir is a nation. Though, Kiro's Ya Burv Durnyy are known to be the most aggressive diplomats in Equestria..." Night Glider said.
"Makes sense, given the tone of that woman just now — so rude!" I exclaimed, stomping my feet in the air.
Night Glider puts a wing on your back, leading you to the Knights of Günstig's headquarters. You opened the door, for me and Night Glider. I cheered and zoomed inside, and Night Glider gave a slight bow, and mumbled a thank you. Night Glider, invited Capper into the Grandmaster's Office. You took a deep breath, and brought out the crystal, which fell from your bag, but then ascended to somewhere the same level as I am.
Jean carefully circled around the crimson crystal, her eyes focused on its blood red color, and tear drop shape, while Capper holds a stone with elemental resonance being spun in Capper's paws.
"It's a crystal embedded with some kind of power... Capper, are you able to analyze it?" Night Glider said.
"Let me take a look..." Capper's tail brushes against the carpet, and his pupils expanded in curiosity. "Hmm... I can see impurities in the crystal, but upon further inspection... 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." Capper said, rubbing his Geo Vision mark.
"Right. I'll leave the research to you then, Capper." Night Glider smiled.
"Though I wouldn't go getting your hopes up. They are incredibly ancient texts, not to mentio—" Capper approached crystal, until the crystal "struck" him. "Ouch!" he hissed, with vertical pupils, exposed fangs, and fuzzed fur. I gasped and hid behind you, from Capper's appearance. "Gosh, that hurt! The impurities in the crystal... It hurts when I get close..." Capper said, his Vision Mark constantly glowing. Capper wiped of a smudge from his pendant, and focused once more in the mysterious stone.
"I see... It appears to react to Visions." Capper hypothesized. "The impurities and the elemental energy we embody repel each other. It's strange, though. Traveler has elemental abilities as well, but doesn't seem to be affected in the same way."
You turned to Capper. "...". An awkward silence was all you had left.
"Anyway, the crystal would be better left in the hands of my cutie. It will just be a pain if left with us — both literally and metaphorically." Capper purred, smirking.
"Cutie?" You said in surprise. I turned to you, having a face saying: "You're here to find your kin, not a pussy cat!". "Okay. I will keep it."
"...Fascinating." Night Glider raised an eyebrow. "Do you know anything about what makes you special?" she said. You turned to her, and nodded. "I do not know what to make of it either. Well, then, Traveler... The Knights of Favonius have another favor to ask of you.". Night Glider said, with a big smile. You pondered what she has.
Is it...food for Deco? A treating?! Money?!
"Please accept the title of Honorary Knight... and the gratitude of the Acting Grand Master." Night Glider said.
"Honorary Knight... of Günstig!?" I exclaimed.
"We ask for your continued assistance in finding some answers." Night Glider said. "Sturmterror's rage... and strange crystals... I know Hiersindwir's peace hangs in the balance. May the wind open your eyes to the truth. We'll meet back here if you find anything." Night Glider said.
You nodded and approached Capper with a smile.
"It's getting harder to make small talk these days. Even something as innocuous as "what fine weather we're having today" seems to fall completely flat..." Capper moaned.
"Tell me about the library." you said with curiosity. I tiled my head, till my tiara falls from my head, as I turned upside-down.
"You can visit whenever you need to look something up. Naturally the library is free to access. Just don't forget to return books on time, or you'll make my job difficult." Capper said with a blank face. He looked very serious.
"I'd like to know more about monsters."
"The monsters out in the wild? We've got many resources here in the library. Making good use of elemental advantages is the key to winning any battle. By the way, would you be interested in having a part-time job here? We need people to... need people for doing... We just need more people."
You chuckled. "Goodbye."
"You're leaving? Drop by again sometime when you're free." Capper waved goodbye. You then approached Night Glider.
"About Sturmterror, there must be something we are still not aware of..." Night Glider's wings slowly flapped.
"How do we fight Sturmterror?" you asked.
"Its change in size and power really is suspicious. But for the Knights of Günstig, our priority is to deal with the aftermath of this attack. The Grand Master entrusted the Knights of Günstig to me. I cannot let him or the people of Hiersindwir down. I must get to the bottom of this..."
"Tell me about the Ya Burv Durnyy."
"Those people in strange uniforms... are Ya Burv Durnny. They're here as delegates from Krio. Stay away from them. Having contact with them is dangerous, even for innocent travelers."
You held onto me as we dashed out the headquarters. "There's something you didn't tell them." I said. "The dragon and the crystal weren't the only things we saw."
"I'd like to investigate it on my own first. I don't think she's a bad guy." I said.
"So you do remember him, that blue gal." I crossed my arms, until I gazed at a familiar someone by the stairs. The same appearance. Same blue color, same attire, same hair, same accessories, same everything. "She looked just like that gal down there!"
"Well... Looks like her..." You said in shock.
"What?!"
"The exact same shade of blue, what a coincidence." you said, gazing at the girl.
"See? See?! Wait... Hold on a minute... That...That's the same gal!" I shouted. You grabbed my hand, and chased the fellow. The blue fellow, perked up her ears, and ran away.
"That blue gal disappeared! Use Elemental Sight to track her down!"
You squinted your eyes, and open them wide, having your elemental sight enabled. You can see Wind power resonance marked as the fellow's footprints.
I roared, as I gained my speed, and tried to follow the fellow. That fellow is crazy! Her footprints are going all zig-zaggy, until the footprints are now printed in a big piece of one heck of a wall.
"His footprints lead to this wall. Did he climb up from here?" I said in shock, as you immediately pounced into the wall. "Let's go after her!!"
You rolled unto the fence, and fell on the bush. I rushed up and pushed you out. As you stood up, you saw the same fellow, in front of the big statue of the Wind God. She took a deep breath and strum the strings of the lyre, attracting as many people as she can. Like a siren's call
...
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 trifles only fogged his mind. The windborne bard strummed her 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.
Enchanting 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.
...
Everyone clapped as the performance ends. You immediately approached the bard in a better view. She dons blue puffy bell bottoms, with boots adorned with wings and feathers. She has a corset like accessory around her stomach, with a long sleeved blouse. She has a piece of cloth hanging on her shoulder.
Her Vision mark is a rainbow bolt with a cloud puff. Her Anemo symbol hangs bellow it, and pairs of wings are hanged under it. Though, it doesn't shine as bright as the other Vision marks you've encountered. Some locks, and strands are made in a braid, and joint all along in a ponytail. Her hair of several colors have been adorned with dandelion fuzz, and feathers.
On top was her bard hat, with a turquoise gem, being held on with a feather, and white flower.
As she turned to you, she had a look of realization. "Wait, you guys are..." her eyes widened. "Oh, that's right! You're the ones that scared Dvalin away!"
"Dvalin? Who's that?" I said.
"That's Sturmterror's real name. Capper told us already, weren't you listening?" you said, crossing your arms.
"Huh? ...Oh, right. Most people seem to call him "Sturmterror.". Why do you call him that... are you two meant to be close or something?" I said.
"Oh, so close!" the blue fellow said proudly.
"Hey, Traveler. Deco thinks this gal has a screw loose..." I whispered to you. You cleared your throat.
"Ahh...hi."
"Good day, outlander. Seems we meet again." she greeted.
"I'm sorry, you are...?"
"I'm Rainbow Dash the bard. Three-time winner of the "Most Popular Bard of Hiersindwir," to be precise! So, what do you need from me?"
"Given you recognize us, Deco doesn't believe we need to explain any further." I said. "Of course it's about Sturmterror."
"Sturm...?" Rainbow Dash crossed her arms and tilted her head.
"Hey! Cut it with the amnesia act!" I stomped my feet in thin air. "Traveler, show it to her!"
You immediately when through your inventory and brought up the crystal in front of her. Strange...unlike Capper, Rainbow Dash didn't look affected by the contamination of the crystal, despite having a Vision mark. Could she also be from another world? Could she have inherited powers like you did? You show the crystal to Rainbow Dash...
"Oh! Isn't this—" Rainbow Dash said, before being cut off.
"What!? The crystal has been purified!? When?" I exclaimed.
The crimson gem was no longer crimson. Its color faded into a teal color. Maybe that's why Rainbow Dash hasn't been affected.
"Not sure how this happened. The last time I checked, it was full of impurities."
"Dvalin, he..." Rainbow Dash gazed with sadness. The anguish he feels... has brought him to tears..."
"Tears...?" I said sadly.
"He was once such a gentle child. Now so full of rage and suffering..." Rainbow Dash then brought up another crimson tear drop crystal. "I also came across a teardrop crystal. Can you purify it?"
Venti hands you another Teardrop Crystal, and you purify it for all to see.... You watch the crystal in your hands glow, and turn its bloody, painful, crimson red, into a minty, breezy, and cooling teal.
"Ehhhh!?" I exclaimed.
"You... really do have some wonderful abilities..." Rainbow Dash said. "Someone like you is going to end up getting written into a bard's poem. Oh, a hero so bright, should they stand in the light. Though stand in the shade, and you'll be met by a blade... Alas... I've really not the time to compose a melody for you at this moment. Anyway, 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..."
"I also feel sorry for Dvalin." you said.
"Thank you for that, and you for purifying the Teardrop Crystal. But I have my own plans for what is to follow." Rainbow Dash said.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I really must thank you for purifying the Teardrop Crystal, it has helped me greatly. But I've already come to devise my own plan."
"As a knight, I suggest you turn yourself in along with the dragon."
"Do you really deem that necessary? You can forget about me turning us in for now... I have another plan." Rainbow Dash said.
"Oh? And what plan would that be?" I said.
"Seeing this tear has brought to mind a friend so dear." Rainbow's eyes soften.
"Friend?"
"Heh-heh, one must be going." Rainbow Dash tip toed out of the scenario.
"Hey! Where're you running off to!?" I shouted, crossing my arms, and stomping once more.
"To the "Symbol of Hiersindwir's Hero." Bye-bye~" Rainbow Dash ran out.
"Huh... Traveler, what do you make of that?" I tilted my head.
"This "weirdo" as you put it — we need to keep an eye on him..." you said.
"As far as he's concerned, you're a weirdo too ya know..."
"You know..."
"Know what?"
"Her voice seems familiar..."
"Familiar? I don't know... You're alone on that one..." I pondered. "But did she just say "Symbol of Hiersindwir's Heroes"? What could that be?" I bonked my head and think. "Oh, Paimon knows! It's that huge tree. You know, the gigantic one! You can't miss it, surely you still remember!"
You and I dashed in the grass, with grass wet, plenty of storm creatures, and slimes made out of weeds and water. Later on, red pinwheel-like flowers, white buds, and long petaled-flowers began to surround us, as we met another one of the Statue of the Seven. You bowed down to the statue of the Wind God, and approached Rainbow Dash, who was stretching her wings, and gazing at the fluttering creatures that left Anemo elemental traces.
"Oh? What are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash heard someone step on the grass, and then turned to us. "Though I was just wondering if you would happen to follow me..."
"I want to know more about the Wind God." you said with full curiosity. Rainbow Dash's eyes twitched,
"You speak of the God of Anemo, Vinea? She already disappeared from Hiersindwir a long time ago." Rainbow Dash said. "Dili and Erekutoro's respective gods of Geo and Electro are still present, but Hiersindwir has seen many a moon since they last saw their own god. Why do you wish to know about the God of Anemo? Does it have something to do with Dvalin?"
"Oh... ahhh... it's because gods..." I scratched my head.
"Yes, someone told me about Dvalin's past." you answered quickly.
"Just how is it that everyone sees Sturmterror? I'm quite curious. That said, there's no need to rush...I have not been back in a while, it seems there are a few who are unhappy with my arrival." Rainbow Dash said, looking up at a certain creature. You and I turned behind and what did we see? A huge Anemo orb, adorned with curved wood, surging gusts of wind.
"The wind... I can't... open my eyes...!" I screeched, covering up. "What is a creature like that doing out here in such a calm place? You think it was going after that blue gal?"
Rainbow Dash ran towards the enemy, and made a wind current of her own, high enough to reach the height of the orb, and shoot arrows towards the target.
"Traveler... Her relationship with the wind seems even deeper than yours..." I said, looking up at Rainbow Dash.
The orb began to pull you closer like a magnet. As you were underneath the orb, the orb suddenly dropped down, causing you to pounce back. Rainbow Dash, shoots one more arrow, destroying the orb, and turn into ash. The ash grew red, and faded away.
"Seems the dragon wasn't the only thing affected by this change in the wind...Now then, you were saying someone had told you about the dragon?" Rainbow Dash turned to you.
You tell Venti what Capper explained to you...
"Is that so? Quite the scholar I must say, that Capper. He's not wrong. The conflict has reached this point, only because both sides have resorted to the use of force." Rainbow Dash said. "His hate, however, did not arise from the people not making tribute to The Four Zephyrs. Nor was it born from his own nature, but instead came about as a product of his degradation."
"Degra...dation...?" said I, who was confused.
"The black blood flowing through his heart has been torturing him for years." Rainbow added. "That's what has allowed him to be led astray by the lies of the Abyssus Mage."
Your response:
"Abyssus Mage? Never heard such a name." you said.
"They are from the Abyssus Order, an organization comprised of strange entity beings. They despise us." Rainbow Dash said.
CHOOSE
"I think I've heard of them before in Hiersindwir..." you said
"Correct. They are from the Abyssus Order, an organization comprised of strange entity beings. They despise us." Rainbow Dash said.
"I don't know where they come from. All I know is that they hold deep hatred towards the world. Many storm creatures out in the wild take orders from them and act as their weapons. Before arriving here, I too was like Dvalin, cursed and left to waste." Rainbow Dash said. "But now, before us stands the Symbol of Hiersindwir's Hero, the place from which Hiersindwir rose. The wind amongst the branches is good, I love the way it smells..." Rainbow Dash's tail sways, the feathers in her wings blown in the wind, her hair waving at the tree. "Being here with you beneath this great tree feels like when the tear was purified earlier. Like the poison is leaving my body...Mmmmmmm... Feels much better."
"So... how exactly did you get poisoned?" I asked.
"Ahh... that would be because I tried to communicate with Dvalin earlier, but was... interrupted..." Rainbow Dash turned to you. Yep, she didn't forget it. "As a result, not only did I not manage to help Dvalin break his curse, but instead, was also infected myself!"
"Oh, ah... that..that was ...me?" you scratched your head, and smiled nervously.
"Yes, it was you!" Rainbow Dash crossed her arms. You widened your eyes, and I giggled nervously. "So, to make up for it, Traveler, you're coming with me to the Cathedral!"
"The Hiersindwir Cathedral? To do what exactly?" I asked.
