Koji and Eula returned to Mondstadt. Sure enough, the mont people saw Eula their expressions visibly changed—where there had been laughter and small talk before, there was now coldness and disdain.
"Tsk." Koji clicked his tongue.
Judging soone by a family na was absurd. Even if they knew Eula was a Lawrence, hadn't they seen what she'd actually done? Prejudice really is a mountain.
Eula was used to it; nothing she did seed to change it.
"Koji, you were only gone half a day and you ca back with a beauty?" Lumine said, a little sour. Outsider travelers really were popular.
"Ahem, she's another Honorary Knight, Lumine. We're close traveling companions," Koji said.
"Eula Lawrence, captain of the skirmish squad."
Eula noticed Lumine didn't give her that look—though it seed she might be misunderstanding sothing.
"Hi, I'm Paimon. Eula, that's amazing—you're a squad captain!" Paimon said, impressed. You had to be very capable to lead a unit.
"It's nothing," Eula replied. Even as a captain, she couldn't change how most of Mondstadt viewed her.
"Becoming an Honorary Knight isn't for just anyone. You two are impressive as well." It was sincere—recognition from the Knights ant special treatnt even abroad. And they'd helped end the dragon crisis; in Mondstadt, that made them heroes.
Lumine tugged Eula off to window-shop. Like Koji, she didn't care about the Lawrence na—only the person.
"Hey, old man, can I borrow your forge?" Koji stepped into the smithy. Wagner was hamring a blade blank.
"Oh? Making a weapon? You know how to forge?" Wagner eyed the mora in Koji's hand. Renting the bench—now that was new. Few people could stand the heat long enough to learn this craft.
"I do. Here's the fee—just a day."
"Fine by ." Wagner nodded, curious whether this young man had real skill or was putting on a show.
Koji laid out his materials. The base was the Dawn Divine Sword; the rest he'd gathered over the last two days: crystal chunks, white iron, starsilver ore, and a piece of teoric iron he'd picked up by chance.
"Rare stuff… not bad," Wagner said.
Koji said nothing, slid the Dawn Divine Sword into the furnace, and began working in an orderly rhythm.
"Blessing of Forging—activate."
Wagner nodded; he clearly knew the process. What kind of blade would co out of this?
Clang, clang, clang—crisp strikes rang like a grand movent, rhythmic and resonant with the world itself. The minerals lted into the Dawn Divine Sword; the edge grew stronger, light like a rising sun unfurling. Elental force in the air seed to gather of its own accord.
"This…" Wagner was speechless. The craft was uncanny; he suddenly wanted to beg Koji to take him as an apprentice.
Buzz—his final hamr fell. Radiance exploded from the blade; clouds above curled into swirling rings, sunlight spearing through the center to temper the sword.
"What is this aura? It's… frightening," Venti murmured as his tipsiness vanished. He rode the wind to the source, saw Koji, and grimaced. This guy really did make a scene every other day.
"Phew." Koji exhaled. Done.
The light faded. A sheathed sword lay before him. Even with its edge hidden, the power inside was palpable. Sword and scabbard were white, the hilt and sheath engraved with sun motifs—holy, inviolate.
"Na: Dawn."
Built atop the Dawn Divine Sword, he didn't bother changing much. Divine Sword: Dawn should already outclass Teyvat's five-star weapons.
Shing!
The instant he eased the blade a fraction from its sheath, the sky changed. The air tightened; elental energy stread toward Koji. An earth-shaking presence erupted, as if piercing false heavens, rippling across nearly all of Teyvat.
"Hm?"
In Liyue, Zhongli set down his tea and looked toward Mondstadt. What was that drunk up to now? With a commotion like this, wouldn't Celestia take notice?
In Inazuma, the Raiden Shogun (Ei) opened her eyes, a flicker passing through her violet gaze—a swordsman's aura worth seeing. Still, not her concern.
Across other nations, gods and powerhouses felt it as well—sothing that seed to stand above heaven and earth.
Mondstadt.
Venti's scalp tingled; he glanced nervously at Celestia. Please don't co down.
All that from Koji just drawing—no, barely drawing—a sword. He had a feeling that if Koji wished, a single stroke could cleave Teyvat.
Koji sheathed Dawn. Ordinary foes didn't deserve to see it bared; at minimum, deity-class.
"Hey kid, you taking apprentices?" Wagner rubbed his hands. Witnessing the birth of a divine blade had completely won him over. To him, Koji was a legendary artisan.
"I don't teach," Koji said, shaking his head. His edge ca from blessings; teaching wouldn't translate.
Wagner looked disappointed but accepted it.
"Koji, what did you make?" Lumine approached, staring at the sword on his hip—more terrifying than her old golden greatsword. While shopping with Eula, she'd felt her elental energy drawn away by an irresistible force.
"A greatsword I forged—Divine Sword: Dawn." Koji flipped a handso flourish and leveled it before her.
Jealous?
Lumine's mouth twitched. Show-off. She still used the Bladeless Sword; his was ridiculous. (Don't underestimate the Bladeless—it had traded blows with the Raiden's blade and accompanied the Traveler for ages.)
"I want one too," Lumine said, hand out. Close friends—asking for one felt fair.
"Lumine, your power hasn't fully returned. When you're back at your peak, I'll forge you one," Koji said earnestly, painting her a big, shiny promise.
Lumine's mouth twitched again. For so reason, she suddenly felt like hanging Koji from a lamppost.
(End of Chapter)
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