The walk to the Knights of Favonius headquarters was a blur of curious whispers and sideways glances from the Mondstadt citizenry.
Leo kept his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his fingers twitching.
He was acutely aware of the "Zero-One" and "Kabuto" devices tucked away in his digital sub-space—power he couldn't even use yet because of the cooldowns.
Inside the grand library, the air was thick with the scent of old paper and Lisa's lingering Electro energy.
Lisa sat behind her desk, chin resting on her hand as she watched Leo with eyes that seemed to peel back the layers of his reality.
"So, darling," Lisa purred, her voice dripping with academic hunger.
"You say those sticks are a 'family heirloom.' And that belt... it simply appears out of thin air? No alchemy, no elemental trace... just... click?"
"It's more of a spatial compression technology,"
Leo lied, sweat beading on his forehead. "Very advanced. Very fragile. If you poke it too hard, it might... explode."
"How fascinating," she breathed, leaning closer.
"I'd love to see it 'explode".
Jean cleared her throat, pulling the attention back to the map spread across the central table.
"We don't have time for a lecture, Lisa.
The storm has receded, but Dvalin's corruption remains.
' Lumine, you found a crystal in the woods. Leo, your... 'performance' in the plaza suggests you can interact with that corruption directly.'
Lumine pulled out the glowing red crystal—a tear shed by the dragon. As it touched the air, a low, discordant hum filled the room.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
ITEM DETECTED: CORRUPTED ANEMO TEAR
PURIFICATION REWARD: 200 RP
Warning: High-density Abyssal energy detected.
Leo's eyes lit up. 200 RP. That was his ticket back into the game.
"I can clean that," Leo said, stepping forward. He didn't wait for permission.
He reached into the rift and pulled out the Ongekibou Rekka.
"Again with the sticks?" Paimon groaned. "Are you going to drum on the table? Jean's going to be so mad!"
Leo ignored her.
He tapped the two wooden rods together.
A low, rhythmic pulse began to emanate from the wood.
Instead of slamming them onto the floor, he held them hovering just inches above the crystal.
Thump-thump.
Thump-thump.
The red glow of the crystal began to flicker. The discordant hum was being overtaken by the steady, warm vibration of the Rekka.
"The color... it's changing!" Amber whispered.
Under Leo's rhythmic guidance, the angry crimson bled out of the stone, replaced by a clear, brilliant teal.
[PURIFICATION COMPLETE]
[RP EARNED: +200]
[LEO'S REMAINING POINTS: 250]
Leo exhaled, the tension in his shoulders dropping.
"There. One dragon tear, freshly laundered."
"That confirms it," Jean said, her voice filled with a new-found resolve.
"Leo, Lumine—I am officially appointing you both as Honorary Knights of Favonius.
Your mission is to accompany Amber and Kaeya to the ancient temples.
We need to cut off the flow of energy that Dvalin is feeding on."
"Honorary Knight?" Leo smirked.
"Does that come with a salary? Or at least a meal voucher? I'm starving."
"We can discuss your 'benefits' once the city isn't under threat of being blown into the sea," Kaeya interjected, leaning against the doorframe.
"But don't worry, Leo. I know a place that serves a mean 'Sticky Honey Roast'—on the house, if we survive."