December 1st
One Month After the War
Peace had returned—tentative, fragile, but real.
Teyvat and Snezhnaya, once locked in open war, now stood down. The fires had gone cold. The skies were no longer torn by jet engines and missiles. And though the scars of the conflict remained—on cities, in memories, in the eyes of those who had fought—it was, at long last, over.
For Emilie… and for her friends Escoffier and Chiori… it was a quiet victory.
They returned to Charybdis.
With a home.
And with their businesses—miraculously—still intact.
Fontaine City was alive. Busier than ever. Crowds packed the squares, airships filled the skies, and neon lights painted the architecture of progress.
At its heart stood the Fontaine Grand Trade Hall—its architecture elegant, curved glass roofs and stone columns catching the winter sun. Today, it was filled to capacity.
The Teyvat City Expo.
Diplomats, reporters, ministers.
Generals and admirals in pristine dress uniforms.
Delegates from every nation.
And two former enemies—standing at the epicenter.
The Tsaritsa.
Once the iron heart of the Snezhnayan Conservative Bloc. Now, she bore the burden of rebuilding a fractured nation. One forged anew from the cinders of war.
And Neuvillette.
Former Chief Justice. Once Fontaine's voice of law—now President of Teyvat. He had carried his people through the bloodiest war in modern history. Every choice he made weighed on his shoulders like stone—every mission, every order, every name etched on the memorial stones lining Charybdis' shore.
In the crowd stood two figures in semi-formal attire:
Emilie and Mona.
Emilie walked slowly beside Mona, who leaned gently on a single crutch—her right leg still recovering from her mission beyond Earth's cradle.
"How was space, Mona?" Emilie asked softly.
Mona chuckled, her voice still dry from reconditioning. "Kinda boring, if I'm honest. But at least I had a front-row seat to the stars."
Emilie smirked. "Well, you missed the part where a war broke out across Teyvat again."
Mona let out a slow breath. "Yeah… I'd have lost it if I were still on the ground."
"No denying that," Emilie murmured, glancing toward the grand stage ahead.
Mona side-eyed her. "So is it true then?"
Emilie raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Mona bumped her shoulder, grinning. "That you're now third on the list of Teyvat's deadliest aces?"
Emilie shrugged with a smirk. "Yep. Bumped down thanks to Furina. But I'm not complaining."
Mona chuckled. "Right…"
Then, more seriously, she asked, "Does she know about your true identity?"
Emilie gave a soft laugh. "It's not like we're hiding it anymore, Mona. Though… I'm surprised she didn't recognize me when we met back in May. But she does know the story of Emberhowl."
Mona's smirk deepened. "I know what you're gonna do…"
Emilie shook her head. "Let me guess. You're going to say, 'You're gonna meet up with Furina after the Expo to have an Ace-to-Ace chat,' huh?"
Emilie met her gaze. "You do realize you'll be there too, right? After all—you're an ace too."
Mona rubbed the back of her neck, sheepish. "Haha… yeah…"
Then—the lights dimmed.
All eyes turned toward the central stage, where two figures stood behind a long mahogany table.
Between them—resting in the center—was a single document.
The treaty.
The final act of war.
The Tsaritsa stepped forward, her expression unreadable. A silver fountain pen gleamed under the lights. She picked it up… hesitated for just a breath…
Then—signed.
The ink dried in seconds. The moment became eternal.
She passed the document across the table.
Neuvillette took the pen. His fingers lingered on its smooth metal surface. In his time, he had signed launch orders, mobilization commands, deployment papers—all carrying the weight of life and death.
But this was different.
This one would stop it all.
With a slow, deliberate motion—he signed.
It was done.
He stood, lifting the treaty into the air for all to see.
The Teyvat-Snezhnaya Peace Treaty.
Applause erupted. Cameras flashed. Reporters leaned over barriers. Officials stood and clapped. A moment of history burned into the pages of the world.
Then—Neuvillette turned.
The Tsaritsa turned.
Their eyes met.
And before the eyes of the world—they shook hands.
Not as enemies.
But as leaders who had brought an end to something that had nearly destroyed everything.
Emilie clapped slowly, lips curled into a small, tired smile.
Mona, beside her, patted her own shoulder with her left hand in rhythm.
Emilie whispered, more to herself than to anyone else—
"…And that's the end of that."
Minutes Later
Emilie and Mona walked slowly through the bustling city streets of Fontaine, the sharp edges of war now dulled by the gentle hum of peace. The bright banners of the Teyvat City Expo still fluttered in the air, catching the late morning sun.
"So," Mona began, adjusting her pace beside Emilie, "how was business before the war?"
Emilie smiled lightly. "Booming, actually. We were hitting record numbers right before everything went to hell."
Mona blinked in surprise. "Seriously?"
"Yep. Even did a collaboration with a friend's boutique. You've heard of Chioria Boutique, right?"
"Of course," Mona nodded. "I've got a couple outfits from there."
"Well," Emilie grinned, "we partnered up—every dress purchase came with a matching perfume from my line. Our sales jumped through the roof. Nearly doubled our monthly margins."
Mona raised her eyebrows. "That's… actually impressive."
As they turned the corner, they spotted the café ahead—tucked neatly by a plaza, with tables placed just under the warm light of the early winter sun. Sitting alone outside, dressed sharply in a formal Air Force uniform, was Furina.
Emilie glanced toward Mona. "Why don't you grab a seat with our reigning ace? I'll get the coffee."
Mona gave a small nod. "Right."
Emilie stepped ahead and disappeared inside the café. Mona approached the table slowly, crutch in hand, and gently called out.
"Miss? Mind if I sit here?"
Furina looked up, surprised at first, then smiled politely. "No, not at all. Please—go ahead."
"Thanks," Mona said, lowering herself carefully into the chair. She placed the crutch beside her.
Furina tilted her head. "I don't mean to sound rude, but… the crutch?"
Mona glanced at it, then back at Furina. "Recovering from an operation. Still doing rehab."
Furina nodded. "Ah, I see."
Mona then extended a hand across the table. "I'm Mona, by the way."
Furina blinked. Her eyes widened slightly as she took Mona's hand.
"Mona… as in Mona Megistus?"
At that moment, Emilie stepped out of the café, two cups of steaming coffee in hand.
"Looks like our ace just met our astronaut," she said, placing the drinks down.
Furina looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Oh—Miss Emilie!"
Emilie pulled up a chair and sat down with a casual air. "Been a while, Furina. I've heard great things."
Furina flushed slightly. "U-Umm… thank you!"
Emilie chuckled. "You know, you're officially number one now on the Teyvat ace list."
Furina nodded. "Yeah… got told that a few weeks ago."
Emilie leaned back, her gaze drifting upward to the sky beyond the rooftops.
"With peace finally here… I wonder what the Aces of Emberhowl are thinking right now."
Furina nodded softly, her expression turning thoughtful. "Yeah… I wonder, too."
Mona and Emilie exchanged a look—an unspoken connection between survivors who'd seen both the fire and the ashes.
Then.
They turned to Furina.
"Miss Furina?"
Furina looked at Emilie.
"Yes, Miss Emilie?"
Emilie smiled gently.
"I want to tell you a story…"
She paused for a moment, her eyes drifting upward toward the pale sky.
"When history witnesses a great change, Emberhowl reveals itself… first, as a dark demon. And as a demon, it uses its power to rain death upon the land. And then… it dies. However, after a period of slumber, Emberhowl returns — but this time, as a great hero."
She looked back at Furina.
"The Aces of Emberhowl... they knew how you felt. Being labeled a traitor. Being thrown away. Losing everything."
Emilie's voice softened.
"They lost their ranks.
Lost their planes.
And were exiled from their home base at Petrichor Island…"
She paused.
"Then... shot down. Presumed dead."
Furina's eyes widened slightly.
"Until…" Emilie continued, "a new, independent squadron rose from the ashes... under the Emberhowl name."
Furina raised an eyebrow, confused and intrigued.
"Wh–Why are you telling me this, Miss Emilie?"
Without another word, Emilie pulled out her phone and turned the screen toward Furina.
A photograph filled the display.
"This was the last picture Houallet took of us — the Aces of Emberhowl. Right before we left Windrise Air Force Base. December 31st. Nine years ago."
Furina leaned in.
There they were: four pilots standing proudly at the tail of their F-14A Tomcats. Behind them, emblazoned on the aircraft's vertical stabilizer, was the emblem of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron.
A shield. And at its center — the Demon of Emberhowl.
A male figure clad in an open-faced knight's helmet, his great wings unfurled. Black hair whipped back like a storm's fury, eyes blazing with fury and defiance.
Furina's gaze locked on the faces of the four pilots.
Then she snapped her eyes back to Emilie, pointing at the screen.
"Is this… you?"
Emilie nodded calmly.
"Let me formally introduce myself."
She lowered the phone, her voice steady.
"Captain Emilie. Former lead flight of the Fontaine Air Defense Force, 5th Fighter Wing, 15th Tactical Fighter Squadron — Wolfsbane Squadron. And former lead flight and commander of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron."
Furina's jaw dropped slightly.
"You… You're… Raven?"
Emilie pulled an old ID from her jacket — the FADF crest still visible, faded but unmistakable. The name and callsign were printed clearly: Raven.
Furina stared.
Emilie smiled and tucked it away.
"Nice to finally speak with another ace. Especially one with more confirmed kills than I ever had."
Furina stumbled for words.
"I… I don't know what to say! It's an honor to meet an Ace of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron!"
Emilie chuckled warmly.
"Relax, Furina. You and I share the same rank now. No need for formalities. Besides, I'm mostly a civilian these days."
Then she turned to Mona with a knowing glance.
"Mona. Why don't you introduce yourself?"
Mona nodded.
"I'm Captain Mona Megistus. Callsign Starseer. Formerly of the Fontaine Air Defense Force, 5th Fighter Wing, 15th Tactical Fighter Squadron — Wolfsbane Squadron. And former member of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron."
Furina blinked in awe.
"You're Emilie's wingman!"
Mona smiled.
"That's right."
Furina leaned forward, eyes sparkling.
"Tell me — which mission did you like the most… and which one did you hate?"
Emilie thought for a moment, then answered.
"It'd have to be that mission when we attacked Imperatora Industries in North Dornman."
Mona chimed in instantly.
"Same here."
Emilie chuckled.
"Think about it. That was the 'final' mission — the final sortie. We hit their mountain facilities, dove into that underground tunnel, and destroyed the control core hidden in the border region between North Dornman and North Khaenri'ah."
Mona groaned, nodding.
"Right? Flying into that tunnel felt claustrophobic. And Maksim was right behind us, hell-bent on blowing us out of the sky. Firing non-stop."
She scoffed.
'Wolfsbane Ghosts' my ass."
Emilie nodded grimly.
"As for the mission we hated..."
Her tone shifted.
"There's only one. And... we really don't talk about it."
Mona lowered her gaze.
"Yeah… May the Archons rest your soul, Teppei."
Furina raised a hand.
"Wait, wait — Imperatora had something to do with the Dawnfront War nine years ago?"
Emilie nodded.
"Yes and no. Yes, because their company president was part of a Khaenri'ahn group known as the Khemian. Their goal? Restore Khaenri'ah to its former glory — before the Khaenri'ahn War."
She paused.
"The Khemian had spies planted in the ranks of Teyvat's armed forces. Manipulated high-ranking officials. Stoked a civil war between Teyvat and Natlan — all to reunify the two Khaenri'ahs: North Dornman, formerly South Khaenri'ah, and North Khaenri'ah itself."
Furina's eyes widened.
"So the Teyvat-Snezhnaya War... might've been part of the same plan?"
Emilie nodded solemnly.
"Seems like it. I met a doctor named Hroptatyr. He uploaded Arlecchino's flight data into those two ADFX-11 drones."
Furina narrowed her eyes.
"That name… I've heard it before. During Operation Blind Sky. My squadron picked it up over comms."
Emilie nodded again.
"I've read the reports from Rotchev and Belinda. Khaenri'ahn tech from Imperatora was used to manipulate Snezhnayan citizens — even the Tsaritsa herself. And that same tech pushed their UAV research fifteen years ahead."
Furina sat back, blinking.
"So you know all this?"
Emilie smirked.
"That's what happens when you're a part-time analyst for the forces."
Furina laughed lightly.
"You've got that right."
Then she snapped her fingers.
"Hey — I need to take a picture with the three of us. Something to remember this by!"
Emilie nodded.
"Of course."
Mona chuckled.
"Sure thing. Make sure I look good."
Furina turned her phone around, setting up the selfie. The three women leaned in, forming peace signs.
Click.
A picture taken. A memory sealed.
A moment where Teyvat's living legend — the Ace of Waltz — met the legendary Ace of Emberhowl.
And the world, for that fleeting moment, felt a little lighter.