At Wangshu Inn in Liyue, the current time was five hundred years after the fall of Khaenri'ah in the historical timeline. Over five centuries, much had been smoothed over—including the history of Khaenri'ah itself. To the people of Liyue today, the ancient nation was a distant, unfamiliar concept. They could not fathom its former power and arrogance, nor understand the reasons for its destruction. They only knew one thing: that Khaenri'ah's fall had brought indelible disaster to all of Teyvat. The fallen Millelith and the sacrificed yakshas were proof enough of Khaenri'ah's terror.
But five hundred years later, grasping that terror and power was difficult for ordinary listeners. So now, when the events of Khaenri'ah's fall appeared again in the story, many had questions.
"Five hundred years ago, it wasn't just Liyue—Mondstadt was also invaded by monsters. Did Rostam in his eleventh life die fighting monsters, like the yaksha Bosacius?"
"Dying by monsters in two consecutive lives—the protagonist's fate is too cruel."
"Wait, Rostam stayed behind in Mondstadt. He didn't march out. How could he have been killed by monsters?"
"If anyone sacrificed themselves, it should have been Arundolyn."
"Don't forget, five hundred years ago, Mondstadt faced not only the monster tide but also the dragon Durin—the very reincarnation of the fourth life."
"Durin? Killing himself?"
"That's ridiculous."
"Seriously, that possibility is very likely."
At first, the audience assumed Rostam had been killed by monsters. But when they thought of Durin, they were struck by sudden realization. Could it be that the killer this time was not the monster but the dragon Durin from the fourth life?
The moment this thought arose, the audience looked to the storyteller on stage, hoping for confirmation of Rostam's fate. But Li Mo, a seasoned storyteller, would not spoil the ending. He ignored their questions and calmly sipped his tea.
Now, not only the ordinary listeners but also La Signora—one of the central figures of the eleventh life—was watching the storyteller and the projections with intense focus. Gradually, her gaze and expression began to shift, growing more and more like Rosalyne of five hundred years ago.
In another corner, when the Raiden Shogun, Ei, Zhongli, and the other gods saw these scenes, their long‑standing questions were answered.
Ei said seriously, "Mondstadt was also invaded by monsters, yet it suffered the least damage—because they prepared in advance. We were too arrogant back then."
Even Ei, who had lived through that disaster, could not help but sigh. In truth, signs of the monster calamity had appeared before Khaenri'ah's fall. But the gods had believed their own power would be enough to protect their nations. They had underestimated Khaenri'ah's alchemical prowess, which had produced so many monsters that even gods were threatened.
Of the seven surviving nations, only Mondstadt had made thorough preparations. Only Mondstadt had minimized the disaster's impact. It was unexpected.
Ei turned to Barbatos. "Barbatos, was it you who delivered the news to Arundolyn?"
Barbatos blinked. "Eh? Why would it be me? Let me think... I can't quite remember. Ah, these are all things of the past. No need to dwell on them. What matters is the wine! Miss Ei, please drink up."
Ei snorted. "Hmph, you drunkard. You never do any real work. That news definitely wasn't from you."
Barbatos looked wronged. "Eh, how cruel of you. After all, I did work very hard."
Ei: "…"
...
While the audience murmured below, Li Mo finished his cup of tea, feeling his dry throat soothed. He continued the story.
As he spoke, the Electro projections above shifted once more. The images showed a prosperous, peaceful Mondstadt. Though Arundolyn had marched out with most of the Knights, ready for any eventuality, the ordinary citizens had no idea of Khaenri'ah's impending doom. They trusted the Knights of Favonius to handle everything.
At that moment, the person under the most pressure was Rostam. With Arundolyn gone, he had to fulfill both the Deputy Grand Master's duties and those of the Grand Master, all while staying vigilant against any disaster that might strike. He was overwhelmed.
He had no time even for Rosalyne, his new love. When she invited him to sightsee outside the city, he declined due to work. When she invited him to fish at Cider Lake, he declined again. When she invited him for a drink at Cat's Tail Tavern, he declined once more.
Their honeymoon period should have been filled with passion, but they were drifting apart. Rosalyne grew angry. Their vows in the square, at the tavern, before the statue of Barbatos—they had promised to be together forever. Now, at the very beginning, Rostam was already so distant. What would happen after marriage?
Filled with doubt, Rosalyne asked herself, had she been wrong? Was this Deputy Grand Master not the one she had been waiting for? Had it all been a beautiful mistake?
Disappointment and sorrow filled her heart. Their love had begun so fiercely, their vows so powerful—and yet, after only two days, it had come to this.
She had to see him. She had to confront him face to face. So, driven by doubt, anger, and longing, Rosalyne made her way to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, determined to see Rostam.
Inside the headquarters, Rostam was racking his brain, dealing with the endless problems caused by the Khaenri'ah crisis.