At dawn, Qiu Bai and the others woke up.
"Pack up and come over. Hold on to me,"
Qiu Bai said to Lumine, who was still tidying her things.
"Okay, Qiu Bai, I'll be done soon,"
Lumine nodded, then looked over at Bennett.
"Hehe, I don't need to pack anything,"
Bennett said, rubbing the back of his head as he looked at Lumine.
Before long, Lumine and Paimon were ready.
"Dain, you too,"
Qiu Bai turned to Dain, who was sitting nearby.
"Mm. Is everyone ready?"
Dain nodded at the group.
"All ready! Let's go!"
Paimon stomped her foot energetically.
Everyone came over and grabbed onto Qiu Bai's clothes.
Bennett didn't quite understand why they needed to hold on to him, but he did it anyway.
With a dizzying spin, the group vanished from the cliffside...
The scene shifted to a deserted area just outside Mondstadt.
Qiu Bai and the others appeared there.
He walked forward leisurely, gazing at the massive city ahead. Huge windmills spun slowly in the distance.
The architecture of Mondstadt was as unique and elegant as ever. It was still early morning, and the air carried a faint floral scent.
"Haven't been here in ages."
"It's expanded so much,"
Qiu Bai muttered, stroking his chin. When he last came here a thousand years ago, Mondstadt had been ten times the size seen in the game.
Now, it was at least dozens of times larger.
"Wow, Qiu Bai, you're amazing!"
Bennett's eyes widened in awe.
"Haha, basic stuff,"
Qiu Bai chuckled, waving a hand back at him.
"Since we're here, let's go,"
Dain nodded. He was already used to Qiu Bai's unusual abilities.
Lumine and Paimon nodded as well, and the group began heading into Mondstadt.
"Well, I'll get going then,"
Bennett said, scratching his head. "A few adventurers are waiting on me."
"Bye, Bennett!"
Paimon waved with a smile.
Bennett headed off down a nearby street.
The streets bustled with life, filled with cheerful faces.
Street vendors shouted to attract customers, the smell of food drifted from restaurants, and people came and went from taverns.
Qiu Bai and the others walked toward the Church of Favonius.
Around them, handsome young men wrote love poems, artists painted portraits of women, and members of the Knights of Favonius patrolled the streets.
Qiu Bai couldn't help but take a few extra glances.
After a while, they arrived in front of a grand cathedral.
"Massive statues, majestic halls..."
"The people of Mondstadt must have poured in enormous resources and effort to build all this,"
Dain remarked, gazing at the grandeur around him.
"You guys go ahead and chat,"
"I'm going to find a friend,"
Qiu Bai said with a soft laugh, watching Lumine and Dain as they discussed things.
A flash of green crossed his mind.
"Alright, got it,"
Lumine and Paimon nodded.
"I'll come find you after you're done,"
Qiu Bai said, turning and walking away.
He headed to a bench beneath a large windmill.
There, a Mondstadt woman sat quietly, her eyes covered with a cloth.
"Glory?"
Qiu Bai looked at her and smiled, then took a seat beside her.
"Hello, miss,"
he said, turning toward her.
"That's an unfamiliar voice... are you a traveler from afar?"
"Though I can't see, if there's anything you need help with, feel free to tell me,"
Glory replied gently, smiling in his direction.
"My name is Qiu Bai, a guest minister from Liyue,"
he said with a smile.
"Ah... I should've introduced myself first. I'm Glory,"
"I often wait here for Goodwin, praying he can avoid those troublesome Hilichurls or the Abyss Order on his way back... and that we'll reunite soon."
Her tone softened with longing as she spoke about Goodwin.
"Goodwin, you've got such a sweet girlfriend praying for you every day,"
"And yet you're too proud to come back from the wilderness,"
Qiu Bai sighed inwardly. He knew who Goodwin was—back when Mondstadt posted commissions, he used to get this one all the time.
As a man, and a Knight of Favonius no less, how could he leave such a kind blind girl behind in the city?
"Ah, I'm rambling again... I'm really glad to have someone to talk to,"
Glory said, clutching her clothes awkwardly.
"Who's Goodwin?"
Qiu Bai asked, pretending not to know.
"He's my lover. He left the city with Grand Master Varka's expedition,"
"Though I was reluctant to see him go, I was still proud he could join Lord Varka's ranks."
At the mention of Goodwin's name, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
She spoke with gentle affection, her voice full of warmth.
"Goodwin, you fool,"
"With such a wonderful girlfriend, you still hide outside the city instead of coming back."
Qiu Bai's mouth twitched. His teeth ached just watching this.
"...But I don't know when the expedition will end,"
"So all I can do is wait."
As she spoke, the smile faded from her lips.
"Anemo Archon, please watch over Goodwin and bring him back soon."
Though blind, Glory still turned toward the statue, hands clasped in prayer.
At that moment, inside the Angel's Share tavern, a certain green-clad bard was sipping wine...
He suddenly sneezed.
"Ah, must've caught a cold,"
the green bard muttered, rubbing his nose.
"Miss Glory,"
Qiu Bai said softly, watching the girl who was praying.
"What is it, Mr. Qiu Bai?"
Her ears twitched slightly. She turned her head, confused, in his direction.
"Please don't move,"
Qiu Bai said with a gentle smile, slowly raising one hand toward the cloth covering her eyes.
A white divine light began to surge in his palm.
Glory felt a warm, ticklish sensation over her eyes.
"What a beautiful bond you share,"
"May the two of you reunite soon,"
Qiu Bai said with a smile. Then, his figure vanished.
This was all he could do.
As for their relationship—
It was up to Goodwin now, to figure out how not to disappoint the girl who loved him so dearly.