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There was a time in the long forgotten past, her smiles were genuine. A maiden who adored singing in the streets of Mondstadt, her gentle aura and soothing voice had attracted a particular knight whom she also fell in love with by chance.
“You again?” Rosalyne chuckled at the sight of Rostam holding a bouquet of cecilias for her. The maiden was no stranger to the knight always being present during her performances at the town square, she was surprised at how he was able to watch and listen to her singing even if he had important work to do.
Rostam walked towards her and handed the bouquet, “Took a while to convince Arundolyn for me to take a break, in the end, he gave into my constant pestering,” he smiled, embasking in at Rosalyne’s soft gasp as she grabbed his gift.
She looked up at him, with a face as bright as the sun, “No need for fancy gifts like these. As long as you’re here to listen, I’m content with that.”
When the news of his beloved heading to the Academia to study reached him, it broke his heart a little bit. Rostam thought that he could now dedicate his time to seeing her as he’s starting to get more free time than usual; however, he was happy for Rosalyne’s achievement.
On the day of the maiden’s departure, he handed her a cherished gift -- a clock that kept track of her time at the Academia and a small remembrance of the person she truly loved. Although Rostam knew that she wasn’t a fan of gifts, he wished that this small treasure would accompany her in his stead, despite being so far away.
“Time will find a way to bring us back together,” he said as he handed her the chest that contained the timepiece. “If you ever miss me, this special timepiece will remind you of me.”
A pair of arms embraced the knight, he could faintly hear sounds of her crying. “Don’t worry. Once I return, the two of us can spend our life together for all eternity,” she reassured him.
Back then, it was a promise that was filled with ambition and hope. A time that the maiden had looked forward to while she was busy studying in the academia. She was naive and innocent back then, little did she know that the eternity that she had yearned for will never happen.
The cycle had ended and Rosalyne was set to return to Mondstadt, awaiting for the warm welcome that she would receive from her dearest. Yet when she stepped foot in the headquarters of the knights, the grandmaster stood in front of her with an expression so sullen.
“Grandmaster Arundolyn! It’s so nice to finally see you again,” she greeted before taking a pause, noticing his face, “Is something the matter…? Did Rostam do anything rash again?”
Arundolyn bowed his head down, “He’s gone,” those were the only words that came out of his mouth.
At first, Rosalyne was dumbfounded by this. Is this how he planned to surprise her when she came back home? But when the grandmaster showed her lover’s sword tainted with blood, she became furious.
“We promised a future together,” were the only things she could say.
A desire to kill in order to protect her loved ones, ignited.
She became one with the flames. The pure maiden that she had used to be was no more as she was now tainted with the harsh reality right in front of her. Wherever she went, the filth that stood in her way were burnt down to ashes, all to protect the people.
Yet, in the eyes of the people, this protector was a merciless witch.
The words that they said to her, as well as the flames that consumed her body gave her immense pain. They don’t realize that she’s only just trying to cleanse the stains that this purified world had. Despite everything, she accepted her fate and reputation.
As time passed by, the fire that burned everywhere at her body continued to hurt her more. This body of hers was already burning but she didn’t mind because she doesn’t dare to witness the torment she is experiencing. With a hat so big, she couldn’t see her own reflection in the waters, just the flames she had.
Freezing, ice cold cryo powers were offered to her while she was on the brink of disintegration.
The masked man gave the young woman his invitation. An invitation to rebel against the gods responsible for the destruction that had lost her beloved. Leaving the person she was once before, a pure and joyful maiden, was now a merciless and harsh person.
All things have their ending.
The Musou no Hitotachi was hers.
Defeated at the battle before the throne, the memories of her desperate past start to flash before her own very eyes. The fast that she had long avoided had finally arrived, burnt to ashes.
She awoke in a room full of cecilias and in front of her was the fountain where she had used to sing her heart out. There stood Rostam, who had his arms open, happy to see the person he had loved once again.
In this world, she was no longer La Signora, the 8th of the Fatui Harbingers nor the Crimson Witch of Embers that was feared by everyone around her. She was just Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter, the maiden that loved to sing at the streets of Mondstadt, and loved by the Wolf Pup of the Knights of Favonius.
A moment of serendipity came over the female as she rushed towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist, just like she did when she left for the Academia but this time, her knight lifted her off the ground, twirling her in delight.
The future Rosalyne had wished for in the past was finally here.