The Following Day
June 21st
Windrise Air Force Base
Clear blue skies overhead
It was the day.
The long-awaited moment.
The Aces of Emberhowl—the ghosts of a war waged in shadows—were about to reveal their faces to the world for the first time.
Windrise Air Force Base was packed to capacity. Reporters with shoulder-mounted cameras, high-ranking military officers in dress uniform, government officials, and even ordinary civilians flowed through security checkpoints, all funneled toward Hangar Three.
Inside the cavernous hangar, a temporary stage had been erected against a backdrop of steel and sunlight. Atop the stage sat a long black table draped in the banner of the Teyvat Defense Command. Three nameplates had been set neatly on the table, positioned before three microphones:
Starseer
Raven
Soumetsu
Each name carried weight, history, scars. Names that once belonged to specters in the clouds—now ready to step into the light.
And standing behind the stage, looming like sentinels, were four F-14A Tomcats, their matte black airframes polished to a mirror-like sheen. Each one was a relic of fire and fury—jets that carved their legend into the skies of the Dawnfront War.
Still stenciled on their noses, their identification numbers stood unweathered:
Emilie – 016
Mona – 108
Ayaka – 148
Mualani – 103
Though Mualani wouldn't be part of the Q&A session, her aircraft was there with the rest—one of the original four of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron. Preserved, revered. Not museum pieces. Icons.
Behind the stage, partially obscured by scaffolding and supply crates, Emilie, Mona, Ayaka, and Mualani stood quietly. All wore their original flight suits, every patch and insignia, the same ones worn by them. With them stood Imena, her arms folded, gaze fixed on the gathering crowd.
The hangar doors had been left partially open, letting in warm summer light. The audience was beginning to settle, conversations lowering to murmurs of anticipation.
Emilie's eyes drifted toward her Tomcat. The jet-black paint glimmered beneath the sunbeams filtering through the hangar. She smiled faintly.
"Man… lookin' at our F-14s like this, still so pristine… It's amazing," she murmured, voice tinged with pride.
Mona nodded beside her, arms crossed. "All those ops as Emberhowl… seeing them like this again, it's… nostalgic, in a weird way."
Ayaka turned slightly, looking toward Imena. "Are they even airworthy anymore?"
Then a familiar voice—calm, confident, with a slight edge of mischief.
"Of course they are. I always keep my birds in flying condition."
Emilie looked left—and grinned. "What do you know. Chief Mechanic Kaeya Alberich."
Kaeya chuckled and opened his arms. "Been too long, Emilie."
They embraced briefly, the kind shared by people who'd been through fire together.
"Damn, it's good to see you again," Emilie said, stepping back.
"Likewise," Kaeya replied with a grin, then lifted a clipboard. "Also… brought you something."
Emilie raised a brow. "What is it?"
Kaeya tapped a few red marks on the paper and waved Ayaka over.
"You might wanna see this too."
The two pilots leaned over.
Inside red circles—names. Names that immediately jumped out.
Emilie blinked. "Wait… my parents are here? And… Chiori?"
Ayaka's eyes widened. "My brother is here too?"
Kaeya nodded, slipping the clipboard back under his arm. "Yep. They're seated in the civilian gallery near the left wing of the hangar. Apparently, they wanted to see the legendary Aces of Emberhowl for themselves."
Emilie exhaled, running a hand through her bangs. "Well… I mean, they were gonna see us eventually. This whole thing's being streamed live across Teyvat… TV, social media, news wires. Our faces and names are going global."
Kaeya nodded. "No more shadows, huh?"
He glanced at their suits, lips curling into a smirk.
"Better do one last check on your zippers and badges. The host's about to begin."
He stepped back, then raised two fingers in mock salute.
"It's time."
Just then, a voice echoed across the hangar speakers, introducing the event in clear tones. The crowd began to quiet.
Imena turned to them, smiling warmly. She gave a subtle wink to the three pilots.
"I'll head out first. See you on stage, Aces."
And with that, she walked toward the stage stairs as the lights above slowly shifted, centering on the long table and the dark silhouettes of four black Tomcats behind it.
The world was waiting.
And this time, there would be no more hiding.
Imena walked off toward the right side of the stage, waiting for the host's signal.
The host adjusted her microphone and began speaking into it, her voice steady and clear.
"Ladies and gentlemen, hello—and welcome to the Aces of Emberhowl Press Conference.
This broadcast is live across the world: on your television screens, your mobile phones, and social media feeds. We welcome you.
This press conference is a moment everyone has been waiting for—and wondering about.
Who are the aces behind these jet-black F-14A Tomcats of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron?
But before we begin, please welcome—the President of Teyvat, President Imena!"
Applause erupted from the crowd as Imena ascended the steps onto the stage and approached the podium.
She waved to the audience, then spoke.
"Thank you, everyone! Thank you!
Four and a half years ago—on December 7th, at exactly 0704 hours—three F-5 Tiger IIs and one BAE Systems Hawk flew low across the plains and valleys of Denyu Pass, having traveled through the night of the 6th.
Blocked from returning to their assigned F-14A Tomcats, they were forced to flee Petrichor Island. Branded as traitors—accused of being spies for Khaenri'ah—they were exiled from their own air base.
They had nowhere to go.
Nowhere to land.
No options—except to fly as far as their fuel would take them.
And then… at 0730 hours…
They were shot down.
Declared KIA in a failed operation out of Petrichor Island.
And still—labeled as spies. Traitors.
But…
They weren't dead.
They were never dead.
In fact, they stayed hidden.
Beneath the waves.
Until a Blackhawk helicopter found them.
And brought them aboard the Ousia-class Fontaine carrier Arkhe.
And after a long period of slumber…
They emerged.
As the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron.
And yes—they were connected.
Connected to Wolfsbane Squadron of Petrichor Island.
Four jet-black F-14A Tomcats—the same aircraft you see behind me—took flight.
They flew operations.
Operations I personally authorized.
Not to redeem themselves.
But to help bring this war to its end.
They sealed off the Veltrheim Munitions Facility in the southern Veltrheim Mountains, deep within northern Khaenri'ah.
They aided the Natlan Resistance.
They neutralized the sabotaged Skywarden.
And they destroyed the Judgement Fang Orbital Linear Gun."
Right on cue, a stagehand signaled to the three aces waiting just offstage.
Emilie, Mona, and Ayaka exchanged glances.
"Well," Emilie muttered with a small smile. "No going back now."
The three stepped forward to the stairs on the right and waited for their signal.
Imena gave the word.
"Now, four and a half years later… the files are declassified.
And now…
The truth will be revealed.
Please welcome…
The Aces of Emberhowl: Captain Emilie, Captain Mona Megistus, and Captain Kamisato Ayaka!"
The crowd rose to its feet, erupting into applause and cheers.
Emilie, Mona, and Ayaka walked onto the stage and waved to the people.
As Emilie waved, her eyes locked onto her parents sitting near the front. Her mother had her hands over her mouth, struggling to hold back tears. Her father clapped proudly, cheering her on.
Emilie gave them a small nod and a gentle smile.
Ayaka also spotted her brother Ayato, his friend Thoma, and her parents, all cheering her on from their seats. She pointed at them and winked before waving back.
Mona's gaze scanned the crowd—and then she saw her parents as well. She gave them a firm nod and continued waving.
The three women took their seats at the table, nameplates in front of them bearing their respective TAC names.
The host returned to the podium and looked toward the aces.
"Ladies… please introduce yourselves."
Mona adjusted her mic and leaned in.
"Captain Mona Megistus. Formerly of the Fontaine Air Defense Force, 5th Fighter Wing, 15th Air Division, Wolfsbane Squadron. And former member of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron."
Ayaka leaned forward.
"Captain Kamisato Ayaka. Formerly of the Fontaine Air Defense Force, 5th Fighter Wing, 15th Air Division, Wolfsbane Squadron. And former member of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron."
Then came Emilie's turn.
She cleared her throat and spoke into the microphone.
"Captain Emilie. Former lead flight of the Fontaine Air Defense Force, 5th Fighter Wing, 15th Air Division, Wolfsbane Squadron. And former lead flight and commander of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron."
The host nodded. "Captain Emilie—do you have anything to say before we begin the Q&A?"
Emilie glanced at the host.
Then at President Imena.
Then at the crowd.
"I… I'm currently at a loss for words.
I want to thank the Teyvat Air Defense Force, President Imena's administration… and of course, the nations of Teyvat—for the heartwarming welcome home.
For four and a half years…
We were shadows.
Hiding from the truth of our service.
In those years…
I thought that, one day… I might slip up.
That I might accidentally tell someone that I was the lead flight of the Emberhowl Air Command Squadron.
But… I pressed on.
After I 'retired' from the Air Force…
I started over.
Returned to Fontaine.
Opened a business.
A perfume boutique.
It was something I'd dreamed about since stepping foot aboard the carrier Arkhe.
Traveling… experimenting with fragrance… it helped pass the time."
She looked toward her parents.
"And to anyone I didn't respond to—when you heard that the three of us were killed in action… I'm sorry.
There was nothing we could do… except pretend we were gone.
But we're here now.
And we're starting again."
Emilie looked back at the host and nodded.
The host returned the nod.
"All right. We can officially begin the question and answer portion."
A reporter raised a finger.
"Captain Emilie! A question for you. Regarding the 5050th Squadron—did you ever find out who they were during the Meka One incident over the Deshret Desert four years ago?"
Emilie shook her head.
"No. After the presidential 747 made its emergency landing, our IFFs registered seven F-15S/MTDs. They responded to our signals as friendlies. Allies. So we didn't question it. They were there to help the President. We never knew at the time that they were actually the Mechshade Squadron of Khaenri'ah."
The reporter nodded. "Thank you, Captain."
Another reporter stepped up to the mic.
"A question for all three of you—can you explain what happened at Petrichor Air Force Base during your exile? And what led to it?"
Mona leaned forward.
"We were tasked with a strike operation at Chuwen Fortress, located deep in mainland Natlan. Our ground forces had already failed twice to take it. The third attempt required close air support—so we were called in."
Emilie picked up from there.
"We flew the sortie and provided top cover, engaging enemy air defenses and helping our forces breach the fortress, which also doubled as an air base."
Ayaka then spoke, her voice calm and steady.
"After completing the sortie, we began our return flight. We had to refuel mid-air over Tepeacac Rise. Our IFFs showed friendly tankers and escorts—F-15S/MTDs flanking a 767 tanker. But as we approached, their IFF signatures suddenly flickered—then turned hostile. There were dozens of them. Our RWRs lit up like a Christmas tree. Captain Emilie ordered us to dive into the valleys below and weave through Tepeacac's terrain. We turned south, toward Ancestral Valley, and eventually lost them."
Emilie continued.
"We landed at Petrichor just before midnight. We knew our base commander, Colonel Courbevoie, wouldn't believe a word of what we saw—he never respected President Imena's authority to begin with. So Captain Megistus and I went straight to his adjutant, Commander Maksim. Captain Kamisato contacted Lieutenant Alberich and journalist Houallet."
She paused, a bitter note in her voice.
"Maksim refused to listen. He pinned the incident on us—blamed us for the so-called massacre over Sector Papa Alpha. We knew then the Khaenri'ahn spies had already gotten to him. So I knocked him out, and Mona killed the power."
Mona gave a faint nod as Emilie continued.
"When we regrouped, the ground crews had already locked down our F-14As. We had no way out. But Kaeya still had our original F-5 Tiger IIs and a BAE Hawk stashed in his private hangar. We used those to escape."
The reporter scribbled a few last notes and nodded.
"Thank you."
Another journalist took the floor.
"A follow-up to that, regarding the incident over Tepeacac Rise—Sector Papa Alpha. This question is for Captain Emilie."
Emilie leaned into the mic with a slight grin.
"Sounds like an interrogation at Charybdis."
A few laughs rippled through the room. Then she grew serious again.
"Our assignment was to intercept and eliminate retreating enemy transports—intelligence said they were falling back to reinforce Natlan's capital. We entered Sector Papa Alpha, executed standard procedure, followed ROE. Then, suddenly, a new voice crackled through our comms on the allied frequency. They identified themselves as the 5050th Squadron."
She paused.
"Our AWACS reported hostile ECCM activity—communications degraded rapidly. We heard yelling on enemy frequencies... chaos. The 5050th, callsign Mechshade, had opened fire on an aviation engineering college."
A heavy silence hung over the room.
"Civilians were killed. That incident got pinned on us. Higher-ups in the Defense Force didn't believe our report. From that point forward, everything we did was viewed with suspicion. We flew harder, cleaner missions to clear our names—but eventually, it caught up to us. That's what led to our exile at Petrichor."
The reporter gave a respectful nod.
"Thank you, Captain Emilie."
Another stepped forward.
"Captain Kamisato Ayaka, a question for you. The documents mention that your first combat flight as Wolfsbane was during the defense of Petrichor Air Base, early in the war. But it also says you were working with the mechanics at the time. Can you elaborate?"
Ayaka nodded politely.
"That's correct. At the time, I was a Second Airwoman, still in the Replacement Pilot Training Program. I was working on my F-5 Tiger II in the hangars with the mechanics when the base alarms went off."
She glanced down, her voice softening.
"By the time they got my aircraft airworthy, the battle outside was nearly over. But I took off anyway, just in time to provide limited support to Second Lieutenant Emilie, Captain Megistus, and Teppei."
Time ticked on. One question became ten, then twenty. And still, they answered every one—without hesitation, without flinching.
Finally, the host returned to the stage.
"We'll now take our final question."
A young journalist stepped forward.
"To all three of you Aces. If you were given a chance to start over—knowing this war would happen again—would you still join the Air Force?"
Emilie looked first at her squadmates.
Then slowly turned to glance behind her—at the silhouette of their F-14A Tomcats, sitting in the shadows beyond the stage lights.
She leaned forward.
"Yes. Because it runs in my blood."
She turned her gaze toward her parents in the audience.
"My mother is a forensic analyst with the Fontaine Forces. My father serves in the Marechaussee Phantom."
Her eyes locked on the reporter.
"So yes. I'd do it all again. Not because I want to fight a war... but because I want to serve my nation."
Mona leaned in next.
"My answer's the same. I'd do it again. For my country."
Ayaka added with quiet pride.
"It's in my blood too. My brother was among the first to storm the Natlan capital. So yes—I'd do it again. For Inazuma. For Teyvat."
The host stepped back onto the stage.
"And that concludes today's question-and-answer session. Thank you all for coming. And salute the Aces of Emberhowl!"
The audience rose, offering a chorus of applause.
The crowd began to disperse.
The aces stood tall—unshaken, unbroken, and unmistakably proud.
The three pilots joined up with Mualani, who stood waiting near the aircraft, arms crossed and a proud smile on her face.
Mualani clapped her hands.
"Was it so hard? You three did well."
Emilie chuckled as she let out a breath.
"Yeah... I guess so."
The four of them began walking toward the row of F-14A Tomcats, each heading to their respective airframes.
There they stood.
Their birds—silent, majestic, preserved.
These were the same fighters they had flown as Emberhowl.
The same aircraft that tore through the skies in the Battle of the Skywarden.
The same wings that soared into space and destroyed the Judgement Fang Orbital Linear Gun.
The very machines that helped end the war.
Then, Emilie heard footsteps behind her.
She knew who it was before turning around.
Her parents.
Her mother and father—alive, safe, and standing right there.
The moment their eyes met, they rushed forward and pulled her into a warm embrace. Emilie didn't hesitate—she hugged them back, tightly, as if she could make up for the years lost in one moment.
Four years apart.
Now over.
Her parents stepped back, still holding onto her arms, eyes full of emotion.
Her mother spoke first, her voice trembling.
"Emilie... we're so happy to see you again."
Emilie nodded, her throat tightening.
"I know, Mom... I'm so happy to see you too."
Her mother let out a heavy sigh.
"But why all the secrecy? Why couldn't you just tell us?"
Emilie exhaled, her voice calm but firm.
"Because we couldn't just walk back into your lives after the war and say, 'Hey, we're alive.' You needed time to process everything. To recover from the trauma of the war... and from losing me."
Her father rubbed his temples.
"I get that. But... why not just have a confidentiality agreement or something? It would've been easier."
"I asked the President the same thing," Emilie replied. "She said it wasn't worth the risk. One slip-up in a conversation, one overheard detail, and everything would unravel."
She paused.
"Look... we just reunited. Let's not argue about what's already done. What matters is—I'm here now. There's no more secrecy."
Her father looked at his wife and gave a small nod.
"She's right. She's alive. That's what matters. We're a family again. She's a damn hero... a Teyvat hero. Arguing about the past won't change anything."
Her mother's eyes glistened as she nodded.
"Right."
Emilie smiled.
"Come on. Let me show you around my fighter."
Together, the three walked toward her F-14A Tomcat.
They talked.
They laughed.
They shared stories—some light, some heavy.
And they savored the moment.
The day had been a resounding success.
The classified documents detailing the Dawnfront War—now officially being called the Khaenri'ahn Conflict—had been released to the public. Historians, journalists, and everyday citizens were beginning to piece together what had truly happened.
And to the Aces of Emberhowl—
Their names were cleared.
Their honor restored.
They were alive.
And most importantly...
They were reunited.