Chapter 29: The Shadow Over the Heart

Chen’s ability to wield elemental power despite lacking a Vision greatly astonished Amber, though her surprise lasted only a moment. She surmised that he must be a Vision wielder as well, perhaps one who simply chose to keep his hidden. What truly startled her, however, was his mastery over the elements; it was far more refined and sophisticated than that of a professionally trained knight like herself, and arguably superior to the vast majority of Vision holders she had ever encountered.

Faced with the girl's wide-eyed wonder, Chen offered only a faint smile, opting not to provide any elaborate explanation. During their journey, he took the opportunity to learn more from her about the "dragon disaster" she had mentioned earlier. Her previous remarks had piqued his interest, as the term triggered memories of two specific events he had experienced recently.

The first was the strange occurrence that granted him this Anemo power. He and Paimon had been traveling for over a week when they discovered a statue in the middle of a lake. Chen had sensed a peculiar energy pulsing from it, as if it were performing a silent, eternal, and sacred melody. Paimon had then explained that it was a Statue of the Seven, representing the Anemo Archon. She told him that the continent of Teyvat was divided into seven nations, each ruled by one of the seven gods. The statues served as landmarks for these domains, identifying the territory of the corresponding deity. Since they were currently in Mondstadt, the city of wind, the statue naturally belonged to the Anemo Archon. Out of curiosity, he had reached out to touch it. In an instant, before he could even react, a sudden surge of power had surged into his body, leaving him utterly shocked. He had frantically checked himself for any ill effects, but found nothing amiss. On the contrary, he discovered he could command the energy that had entered him. When he demonstrated it, Paimon identified it as the world’s unique supernatural force: elemental power. Countless people on this continent yearned for a Vision, as it allowed mortals to manipulate the elements and transcend their limitations.

Those who possessed Visions held an exalted status; for an ordinary person, receiving one was akin to ascending to the heavens in a single bound. Yet, Chen felt no joy in acquiring this power so many craved. The reason was simple: it had come too easily. He did not believe in free lunches; in his view, all power came with a price, and every gift carried a hidden tag. It was a fundamental truth. How, then, could he accept such a gift offered so readily? Furthermore, he was troubled by the fact that he could not expel this power from his body; he could not choose to discard it. Being forced into such an unwanted transaction filled him with deep anxiety. It felt like a ticking time bomb, a fear that intensified after the second event he had encountered.

Two days prior, while passing through a dense forest, they had stumbled upon a cyan dragon curled up among the trees. Beside the beast stood a mysterious figure, seemingly in conversation with it. Initially, Chen and Paimon had hidden in the shadows, holding their breath. But unexpectedly, the Anemo energy within Chen had surged uncontrollably, exposing their position and startling both the person and the dragon, nearly forcing them into a confrontation with the ferocious creature. Though they had escaped unscathed, the experience left a shadow of unease over Chen. A power of unknown origin, one he could not fully control, was lurking within him—it was impossible for anyone to ignore such a thing.

Under Amber’s vivid descriptions, Chen became certain that the dragon he had encountered was the very same "Stormterror" that had sparked the dragon disaster in Mondstadt. With so many events now intertwined, the situation had grown increasingly murky.

He realized, almost without warning, that he had become inextricably linked to this "dragon disaster," for better or for worse. Due to a severe lack of information, Chen could not discern the connections between these events, causing him to furrow his brow. A restless, unsettling feeling stirred within him, a sense of having lost his footing. Fortunately, he was the only one who knew of these matters for now.

After hacking through thickets and overcoming various setbacks, the trio finally arrived at the towering gates of Mondstadt. With Amber leading the way, the guards at the gate offered no resistance, only asking a few brief questions before letting them enter. Thus, after more than half a month of sleeping under the stars, Chen and Paimon finally arrived at the renowned city on the continent of Teyvat—the City of Wind and Odes.

"Allow me to officially introduce you: the City of Wind and Dandelions, the City of Freedom—Mondstadt. Welcome."

The enthusiastic Amber extended a sincere welcome to Chen and Paimon on behalf of the city. Little Paimon was as excited as a bird released from a cage, fluttering around them joyfully. "Great! Finally, no more sleeping in the wilderness!"

But soon, noticing the expressions of the pedestrians, Paimon asked in confusion, "Wait, why do the people here look so dispirited?"

"Sigh," Amber lamented. "It’s still because of the dragon disaster. Everyone in the city has been too afraid to venture out lately, and being trapped inside for so long has naturally made things quite stifling."

Chen and Paimon exchanged a glance, their faces mirroring a shared concern. It seemed the situation in Mondstadt was far from optimistic; they had arrived at a rather unfortunate time.

"Well, enough of that for now," Amber said. Possessing an optimistic and cheerful nature, she shook off her gloom in an instant and brightened up. She turned to Chen and said, "Chen, before we head to the Knights of Favonius to register, I have a gift for you—a token of my appreciation for your help in clearing out those monsters along the way."