VII.
"Paimon finds it weird that we received a hunting commission during this time of the evening, and it came from Draff no less!" spoke Paimon, as they were on their way to Springvale.
"Heeeey! Traveler! Paimooon!" then called out a voice. It was getting nearer. The two of them looked back and they smiled to see that it was the Outrider.
Amber stopped and gleamed as she showed a commission as well. "Did you guys get invited too?" she asked.
"Eh? Invited?" asked Paimon. Lumine was confused as well.
Amber giggled as she walked beside them. "Draff posted it as a hunting commission, but in reality, it's a hunting contest!" she then explained.
"And the winners that get the best haul will be rewarded with a meal cooked up by Brook and the others!" she added, and at this, Paimon's eyes gleamed, and she was visibly drooling.
Lumine sighed. "Paimon's all raring to go." She merely spoke, and Amber laughed. "Now they can see how well my skills are with the bow!" spoke Amber, and Lumine smiled.
"I guess I'll have to take this seriously." She spoke, and Amber looked at her, determined. "Then let's give our very best later, Lumine!" she spoke, and Lumine merely nodded.
Paimon floated about, still visibly drooling, as she was already thinking of whatever food she would indulge herself in later.
The three of them then heard…hearty laughter. "Such wondrous chatter but heed my words: thine eyes and thou hearts wouldst merely marvel at mine own excellence and shalt bear witness to mine graceful performance!" spoke the voice in all manner of pride.
"What Mein Fräulein means to say is that she's excited to join you all for this hunting contest and is asking that you all cheer for her when she aims her arrow." Then explained another familiar-sounding voice.
As the three of them turned, Fischl was already blushing. "O-Oz! That's not what I—eep!" she spoke, as she quickly composed herself.
Amber was surprised. "Ah, it's the Adventurer's Guild's investigator! You're invited too? That's amazing!" she merely spoke, even more excited for tonight's festivities.
Fischl cleared her throat. "So the famed Outrider has heard of me…how fortuitous! The hands of Fate smile at our prospects for tonight!" she then declared.
"I expect your performance for tonight to be a grand spectacle indeed, Mein Fräulein." Oz commented as he flew overhead the four of them.
Fischl smiled proudly. She then looked at the Traveler and was surprised that she gave her a wink. She instantly blushed once more, redder than the first.
Paimon then chuckled. "Paimon thinks our chances of performing well are quite high too, don't you think so, Lumine?" she boldly stated, asking the Traveler.
Lumine copied Paimon's stance of proudly standing with her hands on her waist, smiling as well.
She then looked at Paimon, confused. "Our chances?" she asked.
"W-Well, Paimon's here for the moral support you know!" Paimon then retorted, making both Amber and Lumine giggle.
Fischl gave a soft giggle as well, as she walked beside the Traveler. Amber was practically prancing about, even more excited, while Paimon floated about with Oz, back to dreaming of the food she would be able to eat later.
Springvale was looking rather festive that Lumine was in awe. Amber was getting more excited, and Fischl was trying hard to hide her childlike wonder.
Paimon was in awe as well. "It's like they doubled on the liveliness of the town!" she remarked, as she watched the children run around while the adults were all greeting each other merrily.
There were banners and beautiful lit torches present on the houses they passed by."
"Ah, here's the rest of our contestants!" then spoke Draff. As the four of them walked towards him, they were greeted by Allan, a fellow Hunter, and Brook, the chef who would be the one to cook them meals once they brought over what they have hunted.
"Hey there Draff!" greeted Amber, and Draff waved at her, a full smile present. The Traveler and Paimon waved at him as well.
Fischl stood proud. "Hark! I hath arrived!" she declared. Draff and his fellows were astonished at how simple and powerful the Prinzessin der Verurteilung presented herself, and merely clapped.
"My lady they are astonished at your mere presence." Spoke Oz, bowing down himself even though he was still in midair.
"I'm glad you all came here. I would like to apologize first about the whole commission thingy: they were supposed to be invitations but were written differently from what I expected." Then spoke Draff.
"Don't worry about it Draff!" spoke Paimon, "we were ready to go at a moment's notice, anyways!" she added. Lumine merely nodded.
"Where would this contest be held, anyway?" asked Amber.
Draff chuckled and held out his hand. "There are three specific locations where this hunting contest shall be held. Allan, if you would do the honor." He spoke, as he patted Allan on the back.
The young Hunter merely chuckled as well. "Our Hunters have herded quite the number of wild boars in three specific places: Starfell Valley, the Whispering Woods, and at Galesong Hill, specifically around Cape Oath." He explained, and the four of them listened intently.
Draff rounded up the other contestants. The rest of the contestants were young Hunters that lived in the town as well.
Allan continued with his explanation. "This contest will not be based on how many of these boars you get to take home with you, but rather it will depend on the hunting techniques you will use, and the skills that you all have within you."
Brook then smiled. "If you're worried about the game you'll bring back, then don't worry: I'll be sure to turn them all to meals alongside the help from anyone else left here so that a proper feast would be in order once you get back." She spoke, and the contestants became even more excited.
Allan cleared his throat, implying he wasn't done. "We have also gathered ingredients for the taking in boxes placed at the locations of the contest. However, these ingredients are limited, so whoever gets to have a good haul plus get some ingredients would ensure that a feast shall be present upon everyone's return here." He further added, and everyone became even more determined.
Paimon's stomach grumbled. "Oh, can you hear that Lumine? Paimon's becoming hungry AND excited!" she spoke, and Lumine merely giggled. "Aren't you always hungry and excited, Paimon?" she teased.
"Am not!" Paimon replied, annoyed.
Amber then approached them and handed Lumine a bow. "I actually brought another bow for you to use!" she spoke, and Lumine was grateful for her action. Paimon noticed a faint blush on her face.
"I could've used any bow, really, but thanks for this, Amber." Spoke Lumine, as she inspected the bow.
It was the Favonius Warbow, yet another weapon in the Knights of Favonius' disposal.
Everyone then spoke in awe and was marveling at something, and as the three of them looked at the source of such, they too were shocked.
At the hands of Prinzessin der Verurteilung was a beautifully crafted bow, doused in the colors of violet and black, with a dash, nay, hint of white, fitting colors for the lady that wields them.
One could say that it was, indeed, the colors of midnight.
"My lady, they marvel at the fine instrument of justice you so casually wield." Spoke Oz, and Fischl merely said "Hmph, it is not common indeed for a mortal's eyes to lay witness upon a weapon that transcends worlds."
"That is indeed beautiful." Spoke Paimon, and the two nodded. "Do you think she named it?" asked Lumine.
"Does it have a name?" Amber then asked, and Fischl merely twirled the bow and aimed for the sky.
"Mitternacht's…" she spoke, channeling Electro energy onto the weapon, forming an arrow.
"…Waltz." She finished, releasing the arrow up in the sky, letting it vanish into the night.
Amber was amazed and as everyone gave Fischl a round of applause, she followed suit.
"Well, if all of you are ready and raring to go, we'll start the contest in a few minutes!" then announced Draff, and all the Hunters present talked amongst themselves, and did last minute preparations.
The excitement was extremely present.
"Ah! I forgot to bring Baron Bunny!" then spoke Amber. "Don't you think he'd only burn the grass and scare the boars away rather than aid you in your hunt?" asked Lumine, and Amber shook her head. "Ah no no! I also made Baron Bunnies without the explosive, flammable materials that I normally use!" she spoke, smiling.
"They'll act as moral support by simply just dancing around!" she then explained. Lumine giggled. Paimon was surprised at such an idea. "Whoa, that's actually really cool!" she remarked, and Amber beamed proudly.
"You wanna help me get them?" asked Amber, and Paimon vigorously nodded. "Lumine, Paimon's off to get moral support!" she spoke, and the Traveler merely waved her goodbye as she quickly followed Amber.
As soon as the two left, someone tugged at the Traveler's clothes. "Lumine…" the voice softly spoke.
Lumine smiled, as she knows to whom it belongs. She turned around and gave Fischl a sweet embrace.
"My lady, you look nervous." She spoke, and Fischl blushed.
"Well of course I am! I-Its my first time joining such a contest…" she timidly admitted, and Lumine gave her a kiss on the forehead.
Fischl blushed even further.
"Good luck out there, then~" she spoke, and the Prinzessin der Verurteilung returned the embrace fully.
As the contest began, the three of them were assigned separately on the three locations.
Fischl was assigned to hunt at the Whispering Woods, and even though she gave off a proud and haughty demeanor, she herself was surprised at her own performance.
She has already brought down three boars all by herself. She didn't even need the power of Electro to bring them down.
"As expected of someone from the Adventurer's Guild!" praised the Hunters she hunted alongside with. She was flustered, but she must keep the act, after all, she is the Prinzessin.
"They sing praises of your wonderful performance tonight, my lady. Perhaps a word with them would erupt more cheers?" asked Oz, and Fischl cleared her throat.
"S-Such things are of no chore before me, likewise such a feat can be done by anyone else, not as majestic as mine own, however!" she proudly declared, as she aimed her bow at yet another boar she spotted. "Come Oz, the stars shine ever so brightly, as the hunt still has just only begun!" she announced, and her fellow Hunters cheered.
The Traveler and Paimon were assigned to Starfell Valley, where the boars ran freely and wild.
"Ah Lumine! Right behind you!" yelled Paimon, and the Traveler did a backflip. While in midair she aimed her bow and hit the boar two times.
Paimon was the one holding a quiver of arrows, and yet with the help of Anemo, Lumine was able to make arrows on the spot and pierce the animal's hide.
As she landed, the Hunters who saw her merely clapped. "That's the Traveler for you! As expected of someone who saved Mondstadt!" they all cheered.
Paimon floated towards her, and Lumine took the quiver of arrows from her. "It seems that you're better at this than Paimon initially thought!" she remarked, and Lumine merely patted her head.
"Come on, we still have a lot more to take!" spoke Lumine. Paimon nodded and the two of them ran towards the nearby box of ingredients.
Amber was assigned at Galesong Hill, where she proudly displayed what an Outrider can do. As she took ingredients and kept it on the bag she has on her back, she immediately moved towards Cape Oath.
The boars were peacefully loitering around, and Amber giggled: the sight was truly breathtaking.
But the hunt must take priority. As her fellow Hunters began releasing arrows, Amber laid down Baron Bunny to dance.
It was meant as a distraction for the animals.
One boar saw the Baron Bunny, but it was clear that it did not seem to be distracted.
Rather, the animal was agitated. Amber prepared herself. She took out a hunting knife she borrowed from Draff back at Springvale.
As the boar charged towards Baron Bunny, Amber kicked it aside and jumped onto the boar. The animal ran wildly, but Amber was faster: she immediately stabbed the animal three consecutive times before it ran even wilder.
As the boar fell, Amber got off and gave a sigh of relief. She smiled, looking at the knife. "Even an Outrider has read about hunting guides, you know!" she spoke to the dead boar.
And so, the three of them continued with this wild night of free game, and soon enough, they will rest and recuperate with a promised feast once they have returned with their spoils.
Amber found herself wandering around Starsnatch Cliff. The festivities were long from over, but for her, it the night has already gone darker, and it was about time to rest.
And yet, she found herself sitting by the edge, the point where she read most lovers would go and just admire the view it provides.
She smiled. It was indeed a lovely view.
She gave out a sigh of relief and stretched. "What a feast indeed!" she spoke, and softly, she giggled. "The Traveler looked cute too…"
"Strange how the usual couple I see here isn't around here." Then spoke a voice that surprised the Outrider.
She almost fell off the edge, but the Traveler was faster.
"L-Lumine?! Don't scare me like that…geez…" she spoke, as Lumine merely giggled, pulling her from the edge a bit.
She then stood up and faced her, and immediately she blushed. "Did you—"
"Hear what you said? Yeah…" the Traveler merely replied, and she too was blushing.
Both were now blushing messes, and yet they laughed.
Amber then cleared her throat. "There's something you have to know, Lumine…" she spoke, and the Traveler listened intently.
"I don't know how to put it, and I really think this sounds childish but…the day I met you was the best day of my life." She explained, smiling. Lumine merely listened.
"I had all sorts of fun with you, and we were even able to save Mondstadt together!" she remarked, now looking at her. "W-When you went off to Liyue back then, I was starting to feel something…strange. It scared me, really! But the thought of you calmed me down…"
At this, Amber was fully red, and Lumine giggled.
The Outrider covered her face. "Oh, this is embarrassing…!" she spoke, and yet continued. "When you returned, I felt myself jumping for joy. I could finally meet you and do all fun things again, and…and…" she trailed off, as she was getting even more embarrassed.
Lumine removed the hands covering her face and smiled. "Look at me, and go on." She softly spoke, and Amber felt her heart skip a beat.
"I…I…I like you, L-Lumine!" she confessed, and even Lumine got flustered. She maintained her smile, however.
She gently held the Outrider's hands and giggled. "I found you adorable too, Amber…" she spoke, and Amber screamed internally.
"T-Then…c-can we kiss?" she asked, fully red, and looking at Lumine with gleaming eyes.
Lumine smiled at her and merely held her hands even more. "With pleasure~" she simply replied, leaning closer.
Amber smiled small, closed her eyes, and leaned closer as well.
Starsnatch Cliff was known to be the perfect spot for a couple to simply rest and enjoy the scenic view below.
It was also the perfect spot for confessing one's feelings towards someone, and sealing said confession with a sweet kiss, as evident with what the two were now doing.
Amber has a passive skill called 'Best Girl EX (True)' which allows her to pull off stunts and things worthy of the title of best girl, alongside other attributes that only add to her being adorable. She is the only one in the game that has this said skill, as it is indeed only reserved for the 'True Best Girl'.