Hello all.
This is my first real attempt at writing a fic, so I'm a bit new to this. I've been reading fics for years and I finally felt inspired enough by some of the great stories that are already here and thought I would take a try as well. There is also a lack of stories between Amber and Aether for my liking, so here I am to try and help fill the void.
So no promises that this will be any good, but try and enjoy if possible!
"Outrider Amber Reporting!"
Jean let out a small chuckle as Mondstadt's only Outrider entered her office. Her never-ending enthusiasm and cheerful attitude was always infectious. It was one of the things she could always count on from Amber, though Jean wondered if that would last with the assignment she was about to give her.
"Now Amber, there's no need for formalities here in my office, we all know who we are around here," Jean said with a smile and small chuckle to Amber. "Oh right! Sorry Jean, it's a force of habit for me at this point" Amber replied with a small bit of blush on her face. "Interacting with so many Travelers, we have a script to keep to after all! What did you call me for? Those hilicurles along the path to Springfield won't be a problem anymore."
A small group of hilicurles and an Abyss Mage had been causing some grief along the main roads, but that was the least of Jean's worries. "Actually Amber, I was wondering if you knew where our Honorary Knight and his partner went off to? My understanding is that you were there to see him off a few days ago?"
With that comment, Amber turned away slightly from Jean and blushed. It was no real secret that Amber and Aether had gotten a lot closer recently. Amber and Aether had been on an outing/date of sorts when she last had the day off. They had gotten lunch at the Good Hunter and had essentially messed around all of Mondstadt. Gliding Races, sightseeing, hunting, listening to Aether bicker with Paimon. They had done it all. When the day came to a close, Aether told Amber that he was going on a major commission for the Adventurer's Guild and would not be around for a while. Under the city gate, they had said their goodbyes, with Aether giving Amber a kiss on the check, dazzling Amber. That entire moment was enough to make Amber embarrassed right down to her core.
Realizing that she was asked a question, Amber looked back at Jean with a blush on her face. "Yes, Aether told me that he was going on a major commission for the Adventurer's Guild, and said he would not be around for a while. He said that it would be at least a few days. Why do you ask?"
"Did he say where he was going by chance Amber?" Jean asked as a follow-up question.
"No, he didn't say." Replied Amber. "We could ask Katheryne the Adventurer's Guild. She's bound to know where he ran off to."
Jean sighed. When Jean sighed like that, Amber knew that it wasn't a good sign. "Well that's one of the first things I did, and Katheryne said that Aether hadn't taken any commissions at all in the past week."
Amber looked at Jean with wide eyes. Aether always took commissions, after all, it was his main source of income, and he had to feed Paimon somehow. Shaking her surprise off her face, she responded with the first thing to come to mind. "That's a bit odd, Jean, but I don't think it's something to worry about. But you didn't answer my question though. Why are you asking about Aether?"
Maybe he wanted some time off or something? But if that's the case, why didn't he tell her? She and Aether were not explicitly dating, but she thought that they were close enough to tell each other about things that worried did admit now that she was a bit worried about Aether.
"Well, you see Amber, we just got a report from Trade Caravan that just arrived here from Liyue. They said that they had spotted someone matching the description on the missing person posters posted here and in Liyue…"
"A person dressed in exotic clothes and has braided hair, just like Aether? That's great news! We should get going and see if we can find her and….."
"Not so fast Amber, I haven't finished yet." Jean quickly cuts in before Amber could get ahead of herself. "One of the things that I'm worried about is that this is just a false sighting, just like the countless we had before…"
Jean was right, ever since Amber had put up the missing person posters about Aether's sister, the Knights had been flooded with possible sightings. When the Knights investigated, they all turned out to all just be Aether doing something weird or dumb while on his adventures and commissions. Swimming wildly to catch fish, jumping off cliffs to his near-death, they had heard them all. With the defeat of Stormterror, the sightings had gone down significantly now that everyone in Mondstadt knew who the Honorary Knight was.
"...However, I think that this sighting merits investigation. The Caravan claims that they saw someone matching the description passed out by the edge of a cliff, with Ruin Guards patrolling around them…."
Now that caught Amber's attention. Ruin Guards were notoriously difficult without an Archer present. She and Aether had tagged team many of them on their adventures. She had no doubt that Aether could hold himself against one Ruin Guard, but any more than that…..
"So do you think that person on the cliff is just Aether Jean?"
"Yes, it would be the most obvious. Can you go and look around the area, Amber? Even if it's not Aether, they said that the person was clearly passed out and would need help nonetheless."
"Of course Jean! I'll gladly go check it out. Aether or not, I'll make quick work of those Ruin Guards." Jean could only smile at Amber's peppy attitude.
"They spotted the person and the Ruin Guards here." Jean marked a cliffside on the border of Mondstadt and Liyue on Amber's map. "Huh, that's usually not an area where Ruin Guards hang out, is it?" "That's right Amber, Ruin Guards have no business being around there, all the more reason that I'm a bit worried about this. They have never been spotted along the border before. While you're out there, could you also check-in at the Millelith checkpoint there and see if they know anything about this person and the Ruin Guards? Even if they don't, it would be good to let them know just in case."
"Sounds like a plan to me Jean! I'll swing by the checkpoint and let them know." Amber began to pack things once more and rolled up her map.
"Perfect! I'll let Barbara know that you might be returning with someone injured so she can prepare. If they are too seriously injured, just bring them to the Millelith checkpoint and I can have Barbara and some sisters from the church run out there and have a look at them okay?"
With a plan set in place, Amber gave a nod to Jean and began to make her way to the door.
What have you gotten into this time Aether?
"...Oh and one more thing Amber….." Amber had just reached the door. She turned around and faced Jean. "What's up? Do you forget to tell me something?"
"No…. but I do have an ongoing bet with Lisa that I need to win. Ummm, Are you and Aether dating yet?"
Just as fast as Amber let out a sound of embarrassment, Mondstadt's only Outrider was out the door and was gone from Jean's Office within a blink of an eye.
Sigh. Maybe Lisa will win this bet after all. After all, Lisa always had an eye for this type of stuff.