The evening sky over Mondstadt was a canvas of deep indigo, streaked with the soft glow of twilight, the first stars beginning to twinkle into view as the sun dipped below the horizon. The city's cobblestone streets were bathed in the warm amber light of lanterns, their flickering flames casting dancing shadows on the stone walls of the buildings. The air was cool, carrying the scent of fresh flowers and the faint tang of dandelion wine, a lingering reminder of the city's recent celebrations. Mondstadt buzzed with a quiet energy, the expulsion of the Fatui and the resolution of the Wind Dragon crisis having lifted the spirits of its citizens. The streets were mostly empty now, save for a few late-night strollers and the occasional bard strumming a gentle tune, their melodies a soft serenade to the night. The towering statue of Barbatos loomed over the plaza, its stone wings spread wide, a silent guardian watching over the city as the wind whispered through the streets, a gentle breeze that carried the promise of a peaceful night.
In the plaza near the city gates, a smaller crowd had gathered, their attention fixed on the virtual screen of the Teyvat Second Creation broadcast room, its ethereal light casting a soft blue hue over the cobblestones. The citizens of Mondstadt laughed and cheered, their spirits lifted by the latest video, a comedic take on the Traveler Ying's "crumbs" that had already caused a stir across Teyvat. Jean stood near the fountain, her blue cape fluttering in the breeze, her Anemo Vision glowing at her waist, her blonde hair catching the lantern light as she watched with a mix of amusement and concern, her arms crossed over her chest. Eula leaned against a nearby wall, her silver-blue hair shimmering like frost, her Cryo Vision glowing at her hip, her icy blue eyes narrowed with a smirk as she observed the chaos unfolding on the screen. Paimon hovered in the air, her starry cape fluttering as she clutched her tiny fists, her face a mix of indignation and embarrassment, her cheeks puffed out with frustration. Ying stood at the center of the crowd, her golden eyes wide with horror, her blonde hair shimmering in the lantern light as she gripped her sword, her Anemo powers swirling chaotically around her in response to her rising panic.
Xander sat at a table outside the Good Hunter, a mug of cider in hand, his cloak draped over the back of his chair, the Shadowfang Blade resting against the table, its dark steel glinting in the lantern light. His recent upgrade to A-level had left him feeling invigorated, his senses sharper, his movements more fluid, a vibrant blue aura still lingering faintly around him. He had orchestrated this second creation video with a clear goal in mind—to highlight Ying's chaotic and often morally questionable antics, a humorous take on her "billions of crumbs" that had made her a beloved yet infamous figure in Teyvat. The video had already caused a stir, and as it played on the big screen, the audience's laughter grew louder with each passing scene, their reactions flooding the chat with a mix of amusement and disbelief.
The video had just resolved a subplot involving Marvin and Mara, a couple at Starfall Cliff whose love story had been misunderstood as "forbidden" due to their similar names. Their father, Goethe, had initially opposed their relationship, but the overwhelming support from the Teyvat audience in the chat had convinced him to relent. The resolution had left the crowd in high spirits, their cheers echoing through the plaza as they celebrated the couple's newfound freedom to love openly.
Goethe: "Fine, I won't interfere anymore. Just don't regret it in the future."
Marvin: "Thank you, Father!"
Mara: "Thank you, Father-in-law, for supporting us!"
Amber: "Oh, congratulations to the new couple!"
Margaret: "It's about time—they can finally be together openly."
Xander: "I love a happy ending. If that hadn't worked, I would've stepped in to convince old man Goethe myself."
Keqing: "@Xander, wait, you weren't planning to use… torture, were you?"
Xander: "Of course not! I'm a civilized person—I believe in reasoning things out. But if reasoning fails, well, sometimes you have to speak the language of physics."
Goethe: "…"
The video continued, shifting back to Ying and Paimon at Starfall Cliff, the rocky outcrops framed by the vibrant green of the surrounding fields, the sky above now a deep indigo dotted with countless stars. Shooting stars streaked across the heavens, their trails of light a breathtaking sight against the night sky. Ying stood at the edge of the cliff, her yellow hair whipping in the wind, her Anemo Vision glowing at her waist as she adjusted the borrowed Fontaine camera, its sleek design a stark contrast to the natural beauty around them.
Paimon hovered beside her, her starry cape fluttering in the wind as she urged Ying to hurry. "Starfall Cliff is a perfect spot for a date—let's take some pictures already!" she said, her tone a mix of excitement and impatience as she darted around Ying, her tiny hands gesturing wildly.
Ying nodded, her golden eyes scanning the landscape for the perfect angle as she adjusted the camera. "No problem—I'll find the best spot," she said, her tone confident as she began snapping photos, the shutter clicking rapidly as she took more than a dozen shots in quick succession. "Kacha, kacha, kacha!"
Paimon's eyes lit up, her tiny body trembling with anticipation as she floated closer. "Let me see how they turned out!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she reached for the photos, her tiny hands snatching them from Ying's grasp.
But as Paimon looked at the photos, her expression shifted from excitement to utter disbelief, her mouth dropping open in shock. The pictures weren't of the stunning scenery of Starfall Cliff—the starry sky, the shooting stars, or the romantic vista. Instead, every single photo was a close-up of Mara's legs, her black stockings prominently featured in each shot, the camera clearly zoomed in to capture every detail. Paimon's cheeks puffed out with indignation, her tiny fists shaking as she turned to Ying, her voice a mix of frustration and accusation. "You focused all your attention on her black stockings?!" she shouted, her tone incredulous as she waved the photos in Ying's face. "What about Starfall Cliff? You were supposed to take pictures of the stars, too!"
Ying's expression was unapologetic, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief as she crossed her arms, her tone casual. "The stockings are a key point, too," she said, her voice dripping with mock seriousness. "They can be a reference for the client—Beatrice might want to know what to wear for her date."
Paimon's eyes narrowed, her tiny body trembling with exasperation as she pointed an accusatory finger at Ying. "I see right through you—you just wanted to ogle her legs!" she retorted, her voice a mix of indignation and disbelief as she hovered in front of Ying, her starry cape fluttering wildly.
Ying coughed, her cheeks flushing slightly as she waved a hand dismissively. "Ahem, well, since there are people here at night, let's just move on to another spot," she said, her tone evasive as she quickly packed up the camera, her Anemo powers swirling faintly around her in a show of nonchalance.
The crowd in the plaza erupted in laughter, the absurdity of Ying's obsession with Mara's stockings sending them into hysterics as they clutched their sides, their voices rising in a chorus of amusement. The chat flooded with reactions, the audience reveling in Ying's latest "crumb" as they poked fun at her questionable priorities.
Lisa: "@Ying, my dear, I didn't expect you to be such a Traveler!"
Kaeya: "People can't be judged by their looks, and the sea can't be measured—well played, Traveler!"
Xander: "I'm shocked again—I didn't expect Ying to be so into girls. This is getting interesting."
Keqing: "This reminds me of Beidou and Ningguang… ahem."
Beidou: "@Keqing, oh, you're asking for it now, aren't you? We'll have a chat when I get back."
Ningguang: "Count me in."
Mara: "I didn't expect the Honorary Knight to be like this…"
Ying: "I'm not! I don't—my orientation is normal, I swear! This second creation is too much—it's driving me crazy!"
Paimon: "Yeah, I'm so mad even Paimon gets dragged into this nonsense!"
The real Ying in the plaza buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled as she groaned, "This is the worst day of my life… I don't even like girls like that! This video is ruining me!" Paimon hovered beside her, her tiny hands patting Ying's head in a futile attempt at comfort, though her own cheeks were flushed with secondhand embarrassment. "There, there… at least you didn't really take those pictures?" she said, her tone uncertain as she glanced at the screen, her own frustration evident.
The video continued, the scene shifting to Windrise, a serene clearing dominated by a massive, ancient tree, its gnarled branches stretching toward the sky like the arms of a protective giant. The grass beneath was a vibrant green, dotted with wildflowers that glowed softly in the moonlight, the air filled with the scent of earth and leaves. The sound of the wind rustling through the branches was a gentle melody, the leaves whispering secrets of Mondstadt's long history as Ying and Paimon arrived, the camera still in Ying's hands.
"This is Mondstadt's third tourist check-in point—Windrise," Ying declared, her voice filled with dramatic flair as she gestured to the scenery. "There's a towering tree here, older than Mondstadt itself. Legend says that couples who date under its shade will be blessed with a child soon."
Paimon tilted her head, her expression skeptical as she crossed her arms. "That sounds… kind of weird," she said, her tone a mix of confusion and amusement. "But whatever—let's just take the photos already."
Ying nodded, pulling out the camera with a confident grin as she began to snap pictures, the shutter clicking rapidly. "Kacha, kacha—wait, what?!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration as she realized the camera had run out of film. She groaned, her shoulders slumping as she turned to Paimon, her tone gruff. "I used up all the film taking pictures of Mara's stockings. We'll have to go back to the city to buy more."
Paimon's eyes narrowed, her tiny fists planted on her hips as she glared at Ying. "I knew this would happen," she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she followed Ying back to Mondstadt, her starry cape fluttering in the wind.
As they walked, Ying's expression turned thoughtful, her golden eyes gleaming with a new idea as she spoke. "By the way, Beatrice said the spot needs to have a certain… romantic feeling," she said, her tone serious as she glanced at Paimon. "We'll have to decorate these places before taking the pictures to really capture that vibe."
Paimon's expression shifted to one of dread, her tiny body trembling as she hovered in front of Ying. "I have a bad feeling about this," she said, her voice filled with apprehension as she darted around Ying, her starry cape fluttering wildly.
The scene shifted again, Ying and Paimon returning to Mondstadt after purchasing more film, their arms laden with decorations—strings of fairy lights, bundles of flowers, and a small portable lantern. They met up with Noelle and Beatrice near the city gates, the cobblestone plaza now bathed in the soft glow of the lanterns, the air filled with the scent of fresh bread from a nearby bakery. Noelle stood with her characteristic grace, her silver armor gleaming in the lantern light, her Geo Vision glowing at her waist, her blonde hair tied back in a neat ponytail as she smiled warmly at Ying. Beatrice stood beside her, her brown hair tied back in a messy bun, her green dress slightly rumpled as she fidgeted nervously, her eyes bright with anticipation.
Noelle's voice was soft but filled with curiosity as she greeted them. "Honorary Knight, you're back—how did the photography go?" she asked, her tone earnest as she clasped her hands together, her Geo Vision glowing faintly with her excitement.
Ying's grin widened, her golden eyes gleaming with pride as she puffed out her chest. "Don't worry—I'm a Traveler who's run through the entire Teyvat continent," she said, her voice brimming with confidence. "Taking pictures is a piece of cake."
Beatrice's eyes lit up, her earlier nervousness replaced by excitement as she clapped her hands together. "Thank you so much, Honorary Knight!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with gratitude as she stepped forward. "Can I see the photos you took?"
Paimon's expression was one of resigned dread, her tiny body hovering beside Ying as she muttered under her breath, "This isn't going to end well…" Ying, ignoring Paimon's pessimism, handed a stack of photos to Beatrice with a flourish, her tone filled with self-assurance. "Here you go—feast your eyes on these masterpieces," she said, her voice brimming with pride as she crossed her arms, her Anemo Vision glowing faintly at her waist.
Beatrice took the photos eagerly, her eyes scanning the first few with anticipation—but as she flipped through them, her expression shifted from excitement to utter disbelief, her mouth dropping open in shock. The crowd in the plaza held their breath, their laughter turning to anticipation as they waited to see what had caused Beatrice's reaction, the video pausing on a cliffhanger that left them eager for more.
Xander leaned back in his chair, his grin wide as he watched the video unfold, his laughter mingling with the crowd's. The second creation had been a resounding success, Ying's latest antics providing the perfect mix of humor and chaos to lift the spirits of Mondstadt. But as he watched Ying's mortified reaction, a pang of sympathy stirred in his chest. She had been through a lot in the past few days—Rosalyn's attack, the theft of the Heart of God, and her own feelings of inadequacy. Perhaps it was time to give her a break in the next video, to focus on someone else—like Venti, who still owed him a bit of payback for his theatrics.
As the stars twinkled in the night sky, casting a soft glow over Mondstadt, the city basked in the light of laughter and love, the second creation video a reminder that even heroes could be the source of a good laugh—and that even in the land of freedom, there was always room for a little chaos.
***
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