To be a knight is to be chivalrous, to uphold justice and protect people who don't have the strength to do so themselves. To be a Knight of Favonius holding the title of "Wolf" is to be the embodiment of the values a knight should hold themselves to, to be a role model for the fellow knights looking up to him and to be the protector of Mondstadt.
His job is not an easy one. The expectations of the people weigh heavily on him and there are many times where he has to do what needs to be done not as an upright knight in good standing, but as somebody else underneath the cover of a mantle. He doesn't like it, but it is necessary for Mondstadt's protection.
That understanding of his actions gave him some consolation and solace, but it didn't ease the guilt entirely. What he had to do underneath the guise of the mantle for his good friend and Grand Master, Arundolyn, is still a constant weight pressing down on his heart. Yet, he has to always smile, because he is the "Wolf Pup" knight that Mondstadt looks up to in their time of need and who they count on to protect them.
There were times that the stress and guilty conscience were simply too much and he thought that maybe he would finally snap, until he met her.
He heard her, if he has to be more precise. It was just another sunny morning in their City of Freedom, he was just doing another routine patrol, the deeds of what he had to do last night under the cover of the moon still leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He was passing by the city square where people would gather and sometimes pray by the fountain when he first heard the voice that sooth his conflicted soul.
He stopped in his tracks and looked. It's hard not to, for the voice had deeply enraptured him so. It took him a few seconds to search for the owner of that voice among the sea of people, but he still found her.
The owner of the voice is a fair maiden that he might or might not have seen before. The maiden sings, the hem of her red and white dirndl dress floated slightly as she twirled about telling the story of a famous love song sung by the people of their nation. The birds around her chirp as even they too, seemed enthralled by her voice and perched on nearby rooftops to listen to the voice of an angel. The maiden continues to sing by the fountain, twirling and singing as though the world had come to a standstill.
His world had come to a standstill.
"I had a long, long dream."
"I dreamt that we created a pure white world."
"I woke up, with you by my side, as you extended your hand and asked me to build that world together."
"Our pure white world."
He couldn't understand why nobody seemed to be paying her any mind, walking past her as though she didn't exist. He is a knight that could move freely even under the pressure of facing the most fearsome monsters, but he couldn't move at the sight of the angel and the sound of her angelic voice. For that brief moment, he had forgotten everything; his guilty conscience, that he is a knight, that he is supposed to be on patrol, none of it mattered at that moment.
It was when her song finally came to an end did his mind begin working once more. She tucked a stray strand of her platinum blonde hair behind her ear, laughing happily as a fearless pigeon flew down and perched on her outstretched arm as she fed it some crumbs from the palm of her hand. She turned, finally spotting him with that mesmerising pair of light grey eyes and waved him a polite hello. He is still unable to command his feet to take a single step, but he could feel the rush of heat to his face as he awkwardly turned his face away to avoid her gaze.
He ran. He ran like a child caught by an adult with one hand in the cookie jar. He doesn't even know why he is running and for what reason as he made a turn to hide in a dark and deserted alley to catch his breath, but he could never forget the voice that took away the uneasy weight in his heart, even if it was just for a moment.
He found himself humming that very same tune for the rest of his patrol.
Our pure white world
As he soon found out, she will be there singing by the fountain every morning. For some reason, he is starting to find himself volunteering for morning patrols more and more often, just for a chance to catch a glimpse of her and hear her voice. Her voice never fails to take away the burden in his heart and makes him feel at ease, giving him the strength to continue to do what is needed to be done to protect Mondstadt.
He soon found out that she really loves to sing, and she loves to sing by the fountain at the city square. He soon noticed that she has a fondness for red and white if the dresses he often sees her in are any indication. Even the animals seemed to love her as they tend to crowd around her whenever she sings her favourite song.
"I had a long, long dream."
"I dreamt that we created a pure white world."
"I woke up, with you by my side, as you extended your hand and asked me to build that world together."
"Our pure white world."
It is now his favourite song too.
He couldn't remember when they started to get to know each other and who initiated the conversation; his mind somehow always stopped working whenever she is involved and it is a miracle that he is able to properly converse with her at all. His best friend and fellow knights teased him to no end when they found out the reason behind his frequent morning patrols by the city square, and generously let him take all the morning patrols he needed to the point that he is now the sole knight responsible for the morning patrols by the city square. He doesn't mind, not if it allows him to hear her voice.
"Rostam!" She would greet happily whenever she saw him on his patrols. She would sing her favourite song, which is also now his favourite song, that speaks of a pair of lovers building their pure white world.
"Rosalyne," He would greet back with a smile, as the cheerful maiden would sweep him off his feet in their conversation like a whirlwind and he is content to just listen. He is content to just be able to hear her voice.
That would continue for the next two months as they gradually got to know more about each other over time. Her name is Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter, a fair lady living in a corner of the city on her own. Her parents, who were travelling merchants, had unfortunately passed away in an unfortunate accident a year ago, leaving her alone. Learning that fact only serves to have him feel a surge of protectiveness for her, and he soon began to adjust his patrol route such that he would pass by her house on his patrols, to check if she's doing well.
It did strike him as odd why nobody seemed willing to get close with her and why she chose to isolate herself in the very corner of the city until she admitted the unique circumstances of her very being. She is a natural born "witch", a rare oddity among humankind who are able to manipulate the elements without the aid of external magical foci known as Visions. Her manipulation of liquid fire is as mesmerising as the sound of her voice, a sight that he will never forget.
She was unwilling to admit to him about her elemental prowess, afraid that he would shun her like everyone else did the moment they learned of it. Her power is too powerful, too untamed, and she had lost control over it on more than one occasion when she was unable to keep her emotions in check and was the cause of her flames turning into an inferno. She had no friends until she met him.
"I won't shun you for something you are unable to control. In fact, I think it's beautiful, as lovely as your voice. You should embrace it, Rosalyne."
Those words flowed so naturally from his mouth. She had taken the leap of faith and came clean to him about her powers that she had tried so hard to conceal and hide and it pains his heart to see her acting in such a way. All he sees is a young maiden trying her best to live a normal life. Mondstadt is the City of Freedom, she shouldn't be living her life trying to deny who she is when she was simply born this way.
"I love your voice, Rosalyne. Hearing it is what I look forward to every morning. Would you sing for me?"
He would never forget how she looked up at him in surprise, how she tried her best to hold back her tears and failed, and how she broke down crying tears of joy.
She sang for him a song of hope and dreams as a crimson moth flew past. A song of lovers looking forward to building their world together till their hair turn grey and their skin grew wrinkly.
Our pure white world
It took him six whole months to muster the courage to ask her out on a date. It's hilarious, that the formidable Wolf Pup Knight is brave enough to go up against all kinds of malicious beasts, yet struggle for half a year to find the words to ask a maiden out.
Still, he never regretted doing so. The only regret there would be will be to not ask her out sooner.
She was stunned at his question, evidently surprised at the notion that she would ever be asked out on a date. Her face flushed a bright scarlet red almost immediately, her words starting and ending themselves in incomprehensible stutters. Can't she see? Can't people see? That she is the most beautiful lady to ever walk the lands of Mondstadt? That her voice was blessed by Lord Barbatos himself? That her kindness knows no bounds and that she is just merely a girl trying her best to live an ordinary life? That all she seeks is happiness?
He had no idea when he had come to a decision, that if she ever gives him the chance to, he will give her the happiness of her lifetime she so rightfully deserves. All he asks for her is to give him that chance.
Her reply was conveyed to him through a song.
"The west wind bears wine's fragrance away,"
"The mountain wind brings glad tidings new."
"The breeze from afar tugs at my heart,"
"It sings of my longing for you."
"The dandelions carry in the summer wind,"
"Autumn brings the fragrance of grain."
"The wind in all seasons on earth"
"Shall have you gaze upon me again."
"I had a long, long dream."
"I dreamt that we created a pure white world."
"I woke up, with you by my side, as you extended your hand and asked me to build that world together."
"Our pure white world."
That day, she made him the happiest man on earth. That day, he swore to make her the happiest woman for every single day of their lives.
"I had a long, long dream."
He lay with his head on her lap, content to just stay there and listen to her singing into the wind. The leaves rustled and the flowers swayed as though moving in accordance to her song. Birds perched on the branches of the great oak tree at Windrise where they are resting under the shade of, chirping along to her melody.
It was the happiest two years of their lives. They are hopelessly, madly in love with each other. It truly is like a dream, where he would wake up each morning to see her sleeping soundly by his side with a happy smile on her face. It truly is like a dream, where she would sing for him and just only for him in their most private moments as her voice alleviates the great burdens that he could not let anyone know and could only bury in his heart. She is privy about the things he has to do as the Wolf Pup Knight, things that he had done both in the light and under the cover of the darkness, but she never judged him for his actions. When he is on the verge of breaking down from the weight of his burdens she will be there to share it with him with her songs that cleansed the lingering darkness in his soul.
She is his hope and salvation, his beloved that he is so madly in love with. It is a long, long dream, one he wishes would never end.
"I dreamt that we created a pure white world," he sang along as her fingers gently combed through his hair and for a moment he wondered if Lord Barbatos had heard their voices, for he is sure that she possesses a voice that could move even the Gods themselves. That will be something that he would never know, but hope is true.
"I woke up, with you by my side, as you extended your hand and asked me to build that world together," She sang with her eyes closed, enjoying the breeze caressing their faces as he etched this particular moment in his memory. She is beautiful, so beautiful, that sometimes he would wonder why she had fallen for him too.
"Our pure white world."
Their song ended as the wind seemingly stilled for a moment before continuing its journey once again. Their gaze met before they both burst out into childish giggles.
"How was my performance, Sir Wolf Pup Knight?"
"I am starting to run out of vocabularies, Rosa," He laughed as he accepted the sandwich that she took from their picnic basket and offered it to him. He sat up, allowing her to rest her head on his broad shoulders as they enjoyed the picturesque view of Windrise together.
"You want to talk about it?" He asked softly when he sensed that something was not quite right with her. Never had he seen her this hesitant in front of him, but he wants to be there for her, to be her pillar of support just as how she had been his.
"I…" Her gaze averted his as she tried to eventually find the courage to admit the truth. "I received a letter from Sumeru Academia. I don't know how they know about… about my powers, but they are offering me a chance to learn how to control it and I… I don't know. I just don't know what to do with it."
"Sumeru Academia?" He asked, a little bewildered, that his beloved was offered this one in a million chance by the prestigious Sumeru Academia. His first thought was ashamedly, adamantly against sending his beloved far away from him to a land where he cannot reach. However, after he cooled down, he understood the chance that this offer entails.
Rosalyne's powers have been steadily growing. Not at a gradual pace, but at an astonishing rate that scares even herself. It is getting harder and harder for her to control her powers, and it is starting to be a common occurrence where she would accidentally set a tablecloth on fire or almost accidentally burn the house down by mistake. This is why they have to live in a secluded corner of Mondstadt, so that she wouldn't implicate anyone else with the accidental outburst of her uncontrollable power.
He realised that this is an offer that she cannot refuse, and he knows that she had realised it too. Be it for her sake or for his sake, or for the sake of everyone else around her, she has to learn how to control the power she was born with but there's nobody in Mondstadt that is able to teach her how. Going to Sumeru Academia, however, is able to grant her the opportunity she so desperately needs.
"I will wait for you, however long it takes," He promised with a light kiss to her cheek. "And after you return, let's…"
His words were stuck in his throat as he started to feel his mind shutting down as it did when he first saw her.
"Let's…?" She asked with a tilt of her head, unaware of his thoughts.
"Let's get married!" He blurted out using all of his willpower as he felt that familiar heat rushing to his face. He saw how her face turned redder than the flames she was born with as she buried her face into his chest in embarrassment, but he didn't miss the small nod she gave as her answer.
She agreed. She agreed!
He hugged her tightly as he laughed, and after she got over her embarrassment they started to envision their future together. They would have four children, preferably two sons and two daughters. They will build a small fountain by their front porch, underneath an oak tree where they will plant their favourite flowers. They might have a dog, maybe a northland hound. He will teach their sons how to wield a sword, she will teach their daughters how to sing.
"I had a long, long dream."
"I dreamt that we created a pure white world."
"I woke up, with you by my side, as you extended your hand and asked me to build that world together."
"Our pure white world."
He yearns to see the day where they could create their pure white world together.
Three years had passed since he saw her off as she set out on her journey to Sumeru, and not a day had passed where he missed her dearly. Her face, her voice, her touch, even her scent, not a day had passed where he would wake up in bed and turn to his side, hoping to see his beloved beside him only to be greeted by an empty space.
He would often find himself staring at his special hydro timepiece which he had given her its matching pair, wondering if she is alright, if she is eating well, if she is doing well in her studies, if she is missing him too just as how he misses her. She will be back soon, he reminded himself as he took out the latest letter he received from her and read it for what could be the thousandth time, as she told him all about her experience at Sumeru and how she would be able to return to his side within a year. Made by a hydromancer said to be able to tell the fortune from the stars, the timepiece is the indication of the time she needed to finish her study at the academia. One cycle of the timepiece is the time needed for her to finish her studies at the Academia and by the time the countdown ended she would have returned to Mondstadt.
The timepiece is so close to completing a cycle, she will be back soon.
He lightly slapped his cheeks with his hands to get rid of all the unneeded thoughts as he hummed a merry tune and changed into his armour before heading to work. She will be back soon and when she returns, they can finally be together. This time, as husband and wife.
"I woke up, with you by my side, as you extended your hand and asked me to build that world together."
"Our pure white world."
How he yearns to wake up with her by his side, and he cannot help but look forward to the dream that will soon come true.
Soon
He doesn't understand what is happening and neither does Arundolyn. In fact, nobody knows what the hell is going on.
All they could tell is that Mondstadt is in peril and that their people are dying.
It is a catastrophe, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that whatever is happening before their very eyes is a cataclysm. Monsters which they had never seen before seemed to swarm out of nowhere and everywhere at once. The people screamed, they cried, prayed, begged as they desperately cling onto the hope that someone can save them from this hell.
O Lord Barbatos, if you can hear us, please save us all from this hell.
But Lord Barbatos wasn't there to hear their pleas. Their Anemo Archon never appeared like how he did to save their ancestors from the God of Storms. The knights, led by his best friend Arundolyn, took up their arms as they charged right into the depths of hell to save who they could. He has no idea where Lord Barbatos had disappeared to but he does know that if they don't rise to protect their people, then nobody will.
For Mondstadt, for their people
For Rosalyne, his beloved, so that she will have a home to return to
For their future, their pure white world
He's tired, his eyelids heavy, as he gazed upon the fight of titanic proportions taking place up on the peak of the mountain. Their Anemo Archon had arrived along with Dvalin of the Four Winds, fighting against a shadow dragon as their fight tore apart and irreversibly changed the landscape of Mondstadt.
He could only lay on his back tiredly and stare, unable to move with an axe impaled through his chest and pinning him to the ground. He bore witness to the fall of the shadow dragon and a smile crept up on his face, knowing that Lord Barbatos had won. Mondstadt is saved.
His thoughts cannot help but wander to his beloved. She is abroad studying, so she should be well. But ah, how he wishes to hear her sing again. At least Arundolyn and Roland are alright. When she returns, this calamity should have blown over.
With great difficulty, he turned his head to his left. In the palm of his left hand is the timepiece he treasured so, still miraculously intact, as he watched the water droplets in it continue to drip by.
He struggled to open his mouth, to sing, hoping that the wind could carry his last words to Rosalyne, his beloved.
"I woke up... with you by my side... as you... extended your hand and asked me... to build that world... together..."
Blood filled his throat as he struggled to complete their favourite song of a dream that can no longer come true, but the smile on his face is a peaceful one as his eyes gradually grew shut, never to open again.
"Our pure... white... world..."
AN: Originally planned this to be published on my third anniversary on FFnet, but decided against this in the end. I'm unsure if I should end the story here or add a chapter of Signora's pov, so this story will be temporarily marked as incomplete until I come to a decision.
I never liked Signora when I was playing the games, never felt anything even as she was slain by the Raiden Shogun. It wasn't until today that I came across a drawing from 4dango on instagram on my explore page that I became invested in her backstory (Why did he have to do that on a Monday morning Goddammit I wasn't ready for it). A picture speaks more than a thousand words, I never resonated with that saying so strongly until then. His drawing really tugged at my heartstrings and it was after looking up Signora's backstory through the lores of the various weapons and artifacts describing her past that I realised just how tragic a character she was. Clearing her domain today to get the weekly boss drop just felt so different after understanding her past. That one picture was my inspiration for this story.
In any case, I hope you enjoy this story. Now that this is published, I would have to squeeze for more ideas out of my brain on just what I would write for my third anniversary on FFnet.
Cheers,
BANIX