Genshin Impact: Spoiling the Future

In truth, the most awkward ones at this moment were the Fatui in Mondstadt.

[Signora] had just received the second volume of the book from [The Knave].

This book had been prioritized for her by [The Knave], as it was a story set in Mondstadt.

Seeing how the diplomats on her side were portrayed as aggressive toward Mondstadt in the book, [Signora] felt a headache coming on.

She had indeed looked down on Mondstadt and even more so on the Anemo Archon.

If things had followed the original timeline, the Knights of Favonius’ inaction during the dragon’s assault on the city would have further fueled [Signora]’s disdain.

Having her diplomats mock the Knights of Favonius would have been something she’d do under those circumstances.

But this time, the Knights of Favonius handled the situation exceptionally well—minimizing the disaster’s impact without relying on the Anemo Archon’s power, driving away Stormterror while also showcasing their might.

[Signora] currently had no intention of mocking the Knights of Favonius.

Yet, the book still wrote it this way. Now, it was like being smeared with mud—even if it wasn’t dirt, it might as well be.

Since she was already taking the blame, she might as well have her diplomats mock them. At least then, the blame wouldn’t be for nothing.

Wait—if she did this, wouldn’t it just embolden the author’s arrogance and prove his prophecy right?

But if she didn’t, others would assume the Fatui only held back because they’d read the book.

Damn it! It’s all that cursed prophecy book author’s fault! She really wanted to burn him to ashes with fire!

[Signora] was so angry she didn’t even want to use the Cryo power granted by the Tsaritsa—she’d rather use her own Pyro abilities to teach Lucian a lesson.

Human joys and sorrows are not shared. The very same Lucian she was fuming over was currently in Fontaine, drinking merrily.

Laughing and chatting with the girls.

[Signora] suppressed the urge to burn the book with fire and continued reading.

Though she was furious at how the author had set her up, the information revealed in the book was something she had to know.

She didn’t want to do this, but she had no choice—it was like the beginning of a descent into corruption.

The reading continued.

Lumine and Paimon found the green-clad bard.

He was playing a melodious tune among the crowd, telling a story.

Seeing this, [Signora], a self-proclaimed anti-fan of the Anemo Archon, snorted disdainfully.

”Hmph, with Mondstadt facing such internal and external crises, the Anemo Archon still has the leisure to sing here.”

Compared to the disdain of the anti-fan [Signora], the true fans—the Knights of Favonius and Barbara—were far more earnest.

”A story told by Lord Barbatos?”

Lisa grew intrigued, and the other knights also became serious, even Kaeya showing rare attentiveness.

Meanwhile, in the cathedral, someone was even more fervent.

”Ah! It’s a story told by Lord Barbatos himself! I must go and listen in person!” Barbara exclaimed excitedly.

She was about to dash out of the cathedral to listen by the statue outside.

”Calm down. This is the future—it hasn’t happened yet,” Rosaria stopped her.

”Let’s read the story first,” Rosaria said.

”You’re right. I must carefully read every word—these are all the teachings of Lord Barbatos.”

Barbara reverently held the book, looking as if she were holding a sacred scripture.

[The story I wish to tell began in ancient times.]

[Back then, the gods still walked upon the earth. The Dragon of the Sky descended from the heavens, filled with curiosity about all things in the world.]

[The Singer of the Winds strummed his lyre, and the Skyward Harp answered the dragon’s questions one by one.]

[The dragon was but a curious child, carefree in its flight, until this very day.]

[It listened to poetry, longing to learn to sing, so that all things might understand its heart.]

[The singer and the dragon became legend.]

Venti’s tale was the story of how he and Dvalin first met.

At this time, Dvalin was not yet the Guardian of the East, merely a free dragon living in the skies.

Venti wanted to use this story to remind the people of Mondstadt of this guardian dragon.

[Then came the age of darkness.]

[The Lionfang crumbled, and the Falconflag no longer flew. Another evil dragon approached Mondstadt.]

The ”Lionfang” and ”Falconflag” referred to the Lionfang Knight of the South Wind and the Knights of Favonius of the West Wind.

At the time, both the Lionfang Knight and the Knights of Favonius were without successors—no one could stand against the evil dragon.

[The Dragon of the Sky heeded the call and battled the evil dragon in the storm, fighting to the death.]

[The Dragon of the Sky swallowed the venomous blood and fell into a deep slumber. Yet when it awoke years later, none recognized it.]

[”Why do the people now despise me?”]

These words revealed Dvalin’s sorrow.

It had once been the freest dragon in these skies. Together with the Anemo Archon, it had flattened mountains and scattered blizzards, creating fertile land for Mondstadt.

When it fought the venomous dragon, it drank its tainted blood and suffered for centuries.

Yet when it awoke, the people had forgotten it—even scorned it, calling it a monster.

[The Skyward Harp did not answer.]

Dvalin did not hear Venti’s reply, for Venti was still in slumber.

[Rage and sorrow, life and venomous blood became tears that fell from the dragon’s eyes.]

[The poetry fell silent, and corruption took hold with ease.]

Without the Anemo Archon’s power, Dvalin—long tormented by the venomous blood—could not resist the Abyss’s corruption.

[The Skyward Harp could no longer speak.]

The story ended there.

The people of Mondstadt in the book treated it as just a tale, dispersing after listening. But those in reality were deeply moved.

Now they understood why the chapter was titled ”For a Tomorrow Without Tears.”

Dvalin had been crying in pain all along.

Venti had already told the people of Mondstadt the reason for Dvalin’s rampage—forgetfulness and corruption.

Jean sighed in relief. She had thought Dvalin harbored deep hatred for Mondstadt.

Thankfully, it wasn’t that—just the Abyss’s corruption. All they needed to do was help Dvalin break free from it.

As for the people’s forgetfulness… it wasn’t entirely their fault. Centuries were far too long for humans.

After two or three generations, it might still be a legend passed down orally. But after four or five? Six or seven?

Perhaps only a few like them still remembered.

”Lisa, could you write down Dvalin’s story and have it published by tomorrow?” Jean asked.

”Understood,” Lisa nodded.

”Dvalin is such a good dragon.”

Paimon was deeply moved. The book explained everything so clearly that even Paimon understood the story.

The mute Lumine nodded in agreement.

The most emotional was Barbara, who was now in tears.

This was a story told by Lord Barbatos himself! Just being able to hear such a tale was a blessing, wasn’t it?

Not to mention how pitiable the Guardian of the East was in the story.

At the Angel’s Share, Diluc watched a certain bard drink and then doze off, thinking to himself that this was indeed the Anemo Archon.

Though he appeared to be nothing more than a drunken bard, his heart was surprisingly delicate.

Not only did he have to resolve Mondstadt’s dragon crisis, but he also had to reintroduce Dvalin to the people.

Though at this point, his tavern had basically become the bard’s fixed spawn point, hadn’t it?

He came here every day—more often than Diluc himself. Maybe he should stop letting him drink on credit?

Mondstadt had more than one tavern—why hadn’t he ever been seen at the Cat’s Tail?

How could he have guessed that the Anemo Archon was allergic to cat fur?

Come to think of it, if Venti avoided cats because of his allergy, what would he do if he were allergic to alcohol? Would he drink himself to death or quit?

===✧✦✧===

Character Voice – Barbara: About Dvalin’s Story

”Lord Dvalin has protected Mondstadt for so long, yet its citizens have forgotten him. This simply won’t do. I must promote Lord Dvalin during my next idol event.”