The evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft purple glow over Mondstadt as the city's lanterns flickered to life, their warm light illuminating the cobblestone streets. The air was cool, filled with the scent of fresh bread from the nearby bakery and the faint tang of dandelion wine wafting from the Angel's Gift Tavern, where the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses spilled out into the night.
Inside the tavern, the atmosphere was lively, the wooden walls adorned with old paintings of Mondstadt's history, the air thick with the aroma of roasted meat and the sweet notes of cider. Xander sat at a corner table, his cloak draped over the back of his chair, the Shadowfang Blade resting against the wall, its dark steel glinting in the lantern light as his vibrant blue aura shimmered faintly around him, a sign of his restless energy after his recent lottery draw.
He held a pair of black safety pants in his hands, their sleek design a curious match to the pattern on Eula's headband, and he couldn't help but wonder if the same design held different meanings in Mondstadt and Inazuma, his voice a low mutter as he said, "Maybe Eula's headband is more than it seems." The thought amused him, but he quickly set the item aside, his mind turning to celebration as he had just collected all three weapons from his lottery draw, a feat worthy of a few drinks at the tavern.
The Angel's Gift was bustling with patrons, the bar counter lined with locals and travelers alike, their voices a cheerful hum as they shared stories of the day. Diluc stood behind the counter, his red hair tied back, his Pyro Vision glowing faintly at his waist as he poured drinks with a practiced hand, his expression one of quiet focus despite the lively crowd.
Rosaria sat at a nearby table, her dark attire a stark contrast to the warm lighting, her Cryo Vision glowing at her hip as she sipped her drink, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol, her usual sharp demeanor softened by her slight drunkenness. She had skipped her duties at the church again, her voice a lazy drawl as she muttered to herself, "Another day of freedom, I'll deal with the sisters tomorrow."
Xander glanced around, noting the absence of Eula, his thoughts drifting to the possibility of her soaking in the hot springs of Dragonspine with Amber, their laughter echoing through the snowy peaks. The idea tempted him for a moment, but he quickly dismissed it, his voice a mix of amusement and self-reproach as he said, "I'm a gentleman, not some peeping fool, if I want to join, I'd jump in myself."
He coughed, shaking off the thought, his focus returning to the present as he ordered a mug of cider, the bartender sliding it across the counter with a nod. The door to the tavern swung open, and Ying and Paimon entered, their arrival drawing a few curious glances from the patrons, Ying's golden eyes bright with determination, Paimon's starry cape fluttering as she hovered beside her.
Ying spotted Xander and waved, her voice warm as she called out, "Xander, you're here too." Paimon crossed her tiny arms, her expression one of disdain as she added, "You're always fishing, you're almost as bad as that tone-deaf bard Venti."
Ying's hands were full of mora from recent commissions, but her search for her brother Kong kept her from relaxing, her days spent scouring Mondstadt for any trace of him, her voice a mix of frustration and resolve as she muttered, "I can't stop now, not until I find him." In contrast, Xander's carefree attitude seemed almost infuriating, his wealth from Jean's commission allowing him to live without worry, a luxury Ying couldn't afford with her mission weighing on her.
Xander leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed as he took a sip of his cider, his voice casual as he replied, "If I have money and don't enjoy it, what's the point of earning it?" He continued, his tone light, "Jean's commission is enough for a year, I'm fed, my family's not hungry, so why stress?"
Rosaria overheard his words, her gaze drifting to him as she imagined a life of such ease, her voice a wistful mutter as she said, "A year of eating well, I'd need millions of mora for that." Her salary as a nun covered her drinks, but the idea of living as freely as Xander was a distant dream, her Cryo Vision glowing faintly as she took another sip, her thoughts drifting to a life without the church's constraints.
Paimon puffed out her cheeks, her tiny hands on her hips as she listened to Xander's reasoning, her voice a mix of frustration and resignation as she said, "You make sense, I can't argue with that." She sighed, her expression softening as she glanced at Ying, her tone filled with loyalty as she added, "But I'm Ying's partner, I'll stick with her, even if it means sleeping outside and going hungry."
Ying's focus had wavered in recent days, her search for Kong overshadowed by her fascination with the girls she met along the way, her teapot a collection of new friends, her voice a quiet admission as she muttered, "I might have gotten a bit distracted." Paimon's resolve remained firm, her goal to find Kong unwavering, but Ying's wandering heart hinted at a deeper struggle, her mission clashing with her desire for connection.
Paimon quickly shifted the conversation, her voice bright as she floated closer to the table, "We're here for a reason, we're investigating Mondstadt's strongest fighter." She turned to Rosaria and Diluc, her tone eager as she asked, "You're locals, do you know who it is?"
Rosaria shrugged, her interest minimal as she took another sip of her drink, her voice a lazy drawl as she said, "Who knows, maybe it's Master Diluc." She glanced at Diluc, her expression one of indifference as she added, "I don't really care, ask him."
Diluc shook his head, his voice calm but firm as he polished a glass, "I'm not the strongest, not yet." He continued, his tone thoughtful, "I'm among the best, but Lisa at full power surpasses me, she just doesn't show it often."
He paused, his gaze distant as he considered other candidates, his voice a quiet reflection as he said, "Noelle might be stronger at my age, and Albedo on Dragonspine, his strength is remarkable." Ying's eyes widened, her voice a mix of confusion and curiosity as she asked, "Not Diluc, then who could it be?"
Paimon tilted her head, her expression one of frustration as she floated in circles, "Everyone in Mondstadt has a different opinion, some say Jean, some say Diluc, others even say Noelle after that second creation video." Ying nodded, her determination renewed as she muttered, "We need to find out, I want to know who's the best."
Xander frowned, his voice a mix of irritation and amusement as he leaned forward, "Why not ask the amazing Xander, I'm right here, you know." He felt a pang of annoyance at being overlooked, his vibrant blue aura flaring slightly as he added, "I'm not just some idle bystander, I've got answers."
Ying turned to him, her golden eyes bright with curiosity as she asked, "Okay, Xander, who do you think is Mondstadt's strongest?" Paimon hovered closer, her voice eager as she added, "Yeah, you've been here a while, you must have an idea."
Xander grinned, his tone confident as he took another sip of his cider, "It's a tough call, but I'd say Albedo might take the top spot, his alchemical skills are unmatched." He continued, his voice thoughtful, "Lisa's a close second when she's serious, and don't underestimate Jean, her leadership and Anemo power are incredible."
Diluc nodded, his expression one of agreement as he set the glass down, "Albedo's a good choice, his experiments on Dragonspine give him an edge." Rosaria smirked, her voice a mix of amusement and skepticism as she said, "Lisa, maybe, but she'd rather nap than fight."
Ying's determination grew, her voice filled with resolve as she said, "We'll have to see for ourselves, let's find Albedo and test his strength." Paimon clapped her tiny hands, her tone excited as she added, "A challenge, I like it, let's go to Dragonspine!"
But before they could leave, the tavern door burst open, and a group of Fatui skirmishers stormed in, their masks glinting in the lantern light, their weapons drawn as they shouted, "Hand over the Traveler, we know she's here!" The patrons gasped, their voices rising in a chorus of fear as they scrambled to the sides, the atmosphere shifting from jovial to tense in an instant.
Xander stood, his vibrant blue aura flaring as he drew the Shadowfang Blade, his voice filled with excitement as he said, "Looks like we've got company, let's show them Mondstadt's hospitality." Diluc's Pyro Vision glowed brightly as he summoned his claymore, his expression darkening as he muttered, "Fatui, you've picked the wrong night."
Rosaria set her drink down, her Cryo Vision flaring as she summoned her polearm, her voice a mix of annoyance and resolve as she said, "I was enjoying my drink, you'll pay for this." Ying drew her sword, her Anemo Vision glowing as she stepped forward, her voice filled with determination as she said, "I'm not going anywhere, let's fight!"
The lead skirmisher, a tall man with a Hydro gun, laughed, his voice a sneer as he aimed at Ying, "You'll regret defying the Fatui, Traveler!" He fired a blast of water, the stream cutting through the air as it targeted Ying, but she dodged with a burst of Anemo, her voice a defiant shout as she countered, "You'll have to do better than that!"
Xander charged forward, his Shadowfang Blade glowing with a dark energy as he slashed at a Geo skirmisher, his voice filled with confidence as he said, "Let's see how you handle this!" The skirmisher raised his shield, but Xander's blade shattered it with a single strike, the Fatui soldier stumbling back as he grunted in pain.
Diluc unleashed a wave of Pyro energy, his claymore igniting as he struck a group of skirmishers, his voice a low growl as he said, "You're not welcome here, leave or burn!" The flames engulfed the enemies, their cries echoing through the tavern as they scrambled to escape, their armor scorched by the intense heat.
Rosaria moved with deadly precision, her polearm a blur of Cryo energy as she froze a skirmisher in place, her voice a cold taunt as she said, "You interrupted my night, now you'll freeze." She followed with a swift strike, the frozen skirmisher shattering into pieces, her Cryo Vision glowing brighter as she turned to the next target.
Ying and Paimon worked together, Ying's Anemo powers creating a vortex that pulled the skirmishers together, her voice filled with resolve as she shouted, "Paimon, now!" Paimon cheered, her tiny hands clapping as she added, "Go, Ying, show them who's boss!"
The lead skirmisher roared, his Hydro gun firing a barrage of water blasts as he charged at Ying, his voice filled with rage as he shouted, "You'll pay for this, Traveler!" Ying countered with a burst of Anemo, her sword glowing as she struck back, her voice a mix of defiance and determination as she said, "I've faced worse than you, bring it on!"
Xander joined her, his Shadowfang Blade and Beowulf set working in tandem as he delivered a flurry of punches and slashes, his voice filled with excitement as he said, "This is what I've been waiting for, let's finish this!" The lead skirmisher staggered under the combined assault, his Hydro gun falling from his hands as he collapsed, his voice a weak groan as he muttered, "You'll regret this."
The remaining skirmishers fled, their morale broken as the tavern patrons cheered, their voices rising in a chorus of gratitude as they thanked the fighters for their protection. Diluc sheathed his claymore, his expression softening as he said, "Good work, everyone, the tavern's safe."
Rosaria returned to her drink, her voice a mix of satisfaction and annoyance as she muttered, "I need another round after that, they owe me." Ying sheathed her sword, her Anemo Vision dimming as she turned to Xander, her voice filled with gratitude as she said, "Thanks for the help, you're stronger than I thought."
Xander grinned, his vibrant blue aura fading as he took a seat, his voice filled with confidence as he said, "I told you, I'm not just here to fish, I've got skills." Paimon hovered closer, her tone a mix of awe and curiosity as she asked, "So, are you Mondstadt's strongest, Xander?"
Xander laughed, his voice warm as he shook his head, "Not quite, but I'm up there, let's find Albedo and settle this once and for all." The group shared a moment of camaraderie, their bond strengthened by the battle, the tavern returning to its lively atmosphere as the night wore on, the question of Mondstadt's strongest fighter still unanswered but closer to resolution.
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