Only an hour later, Viox had gathered a small bag of some clothes and books she wanted to take with her back to Mondstadt, Kaeya smiled as he pulled from his small pack, the long renewed jacket, holding it put for Viox he smiled, "I got it fixed up a couple months back, when you were kidnapped. I figured your savior would be able to recognize it better if it looked more like its original self." He said as Viox's face lit up with glee, she quickly slipped the warm coat on and took a moment to smell the scent of her savior, but his scent was washed away by Kaeya's cool winter smell. The crisp wintermint and sage, with those small hints of dried out lavender bushes, made her relax as she buttoned it up. Viox looked up at Kaeya as she smiled, "Thank you!" She said happily, as Kaeya smiled, "Good now, let's head out." He replied as they carefully walked down the steps of the Hala home. Kaeya looked at Viox as she rounded the corner of the stairs, leading to the front door, before she paused. Viox looked at her parents, her heart squeezed painfully as her mother looked upset, her fathers gaze was disappointment. She looked down, "Viox...we both have agreed that we can not approve of your courtship with Sir Knight Kaeya." Her mother hissed out as Kaeya stood behind Viox, an unreadable look on his tan face. Viox swallowed against the lump in her throat, "You...don't approve? Or just won't realize that he and I aren't courting?" She asked them to look up at her parents, watching them. Altair frowned, thinking about what his daughter said, "He shouldn't act that way if you two are not courting! Nobody should be threatened in their own home either! He's not worthy of the Cavalry Captain title!" He stated as Viox glared, "Yet you do it to Violet?! She went through years of your abuse! She trained everyday even when she was threatened by you! You did it to me when I decided to leave and be on my own! You sat there and belittled me in front of Kaeya in his own home! You dare say you shouldnt be threatened in your home when you've been doing it to your own children for years!" She spat, as her parents looked taken back, "We would never! You watch your mouth!" Mika barked the order as Viox crossed her arms, "I will no longer be claiming the name of Hala!" She said proudly as both of her parents gasped, "HOW DARE YOU!" Altair roared, "You are a Hala by blood!" he shouted louder. Viox glared, "Maybe I no longer want that blood! I want a family that treats me like family and the Knights already do that!" she screamed, standing her ground. Before she could blink she was shoved behind Kaeya once more as her ears ringed at the slap. Her mother has aimed to slap Viox, but once again she was saved by Kaeya. She looked at the tan man as he glared at her parents, she shivered lightly at the stare, even though it wasn't at her, his milky blue eye was focused on her parents as Viox swallowed the growing lump in her throat, "Mother, Father...I want to leave without this fight...Please, just let us go peacefully." She said softly as Altair turned his gaze to her green eyes. He seemed to be thinking, calculating something. Viox felt the familiar feeling of fear lick her spine, the same fear she got from Fruitia. She took a deep breath as she stood a little closer to Kaeya. "You really don't claim your birth given name any more?" he asked her slowly as Viox blinked, "I don't…" she whispered as Altair sighed, "I see...then you are no longer a part of the Jade Troop either. You are no longer allowed on the grounds of any Jade Troop sites or homes. Not even the Taverns we have. You are now and forever banned from this home." he said in a growly voice. Viox took a stuttered breath, she was free? But an empty feeling crawled its way into her chest, she would longer see any of her friends, family that raised her, supporters, fans, nothing, they were going to scratch off her name from the records due to the banning. She would no longer be a member of the Jade Troop. She gently touched the velvet black choker that she had worn for a few years now. It was a gift for joining. "Viox." her Father barked at her, as she looked at him, "Your choker." he held his hand out as her mother quickly pushed it down, Mika let out a sob as she held her husband's hand down, "Sir Kaeya has possessed your mind!' She wailed as Viox watched, "Mother…" she said as Kaeya moved to the side slowly in case Viox's parents made a move to hurt Viox. She nodded her thanks at the man as he watched them come apart. Mika bit her lip, "Viox, you're my baby! I can't approve of this decision! You and Violet have always been my children! I love you both!" she cried out as Viox looked down, "It's my choice Mother...I don't want…" she paused, looking up and staring at her sobbing mother, "You were a terrible mother. You caused heartache, you made comments about mine and Violet's looks and weight. You hurt us in ways that hurt to even think about! Mother, you were terrible!" she said as she unclipped the choker, taking off her Vision as she flung the choker to the ground, "You can take your mark." she spat as she looked at her parents, "I may keep the scars, but i will never have to be hurt by you ever again." she said as she grabbed Kaeya's hand and walked out of the house she once called home.
Stepping out into the crisp winter air of Dragonspine. Kaeya felt the grip tighten on his hand as Viox dragged him along the streets. "Viox?" he called her name as he felt her grip slip a little, her walking increasing, "Viox?" he called again as they paced turned into a small jog as her hand let go of his, he blinked as she ran ahead. He sighed softly as he ran to catch up with the pink haired woman. Watching as she twisted and turned through the throngs of people, the curves of the sidewalks as she took a sharp turn and dived into a few bushes. Kaeya carefully did the same as he broke from the dark green greenery. His eyes widened as he looked at a broken bridge that crossed into Mondstadt. He was in a little awe as he walked forward, taking in the gorgeous site in front of him. "It was the old bridge." Viox said quietly from beside him, he had to swallow the small scream that itched his throat, he blinked to stop his eye from widening and stood still as possible to not jump away. Viox looked at his tense form, "Did I scare you?" she asked him as Kaeya took a deep breath and looked at her with a tense smile, "No, not at all!" he said quickly as Viox let out a small laugh from behind her hand, "I did." she said lightly as Kaeya sighed with a loose smile on his face, "Alright you tease, you did." he said softly as Viox smiled a little at him before turning her head towards the bridge, "In many ways I think Violet and i are like the bridge." she said as Kaeya stood quietly, letting the other speak. "You see, the bridge broke not in the middle, but closer to the edge of one end, like Violet and I with our parents. Violet and I felt their hate and disappointment in us all the time since turning of Age, that part that tied us to them, crumbled and fell into the waters below. You can try to rebuild, yes, but is it worth the risk? " she asked, looking at the old stone bridge in the distance. Kaeya took a look at it, before he took her hand, "Yes but now comes the challenge of crossing that bridge." he said as Viox looked at him, "Cross it? It's not usable Kaeya." she said as Kaeya nodded, "It very well may not be, but you look like you need help figuring out what to do next, and this way, maybe you'll find the answer." He said as Viox smiled, "Alright." she said as they made their way towards the Bridge carefully.
It took some time to reach the Broken Bridge of Dragonspine, they had to be careful hiking down the sharp rocks as Viox jumped down the last set before her boots hit the stone path of the Broken Bridge. Kaeya stood next to her as they both took a moment, "You ready to cross?" Kaeya asked as Viox nodded, "I've always wanted to do this." she admits to him as Kaeya chuckled, "Not one to adventure much I see?" he said as Viox smiled, "Yet yet you find me flavor in your palate?" she teased as he had once said that line to her, Kaeya smirked, "A personal favorite if you will." he said as Viox flushed, "Before we cross Kaeya, can we talk about somethings?" she asked as he looked at her, surprised. "What about?" he asked as Viox sighed, "Kaeya, people still think we're a couple by how we act. Maybe it would be best if we didn't flirt around each other? Nor have much contact once we reach the city gates?" she said softly as her heart gave a painful squeeze, she didn't want to stop having contact with Kaeya, but to keep him safe, she would limit it as much as possible. "I agree." he said quietly, as Viox felt the air sucked from her lungs, it was so painful to say those words and for him to agree to them. "I…" she swallowed as she felt her face cupped by a set of hands as it was jerked up, her lips firmly pressed against Kaeya's cool ones. Her heart fluttered softly against the crushing weight of heartache. She closed her eyes as she kissed back, she wanted to be greedy as they kissed, their lips moving gently against each other. Her gloved hands gripped the front of his jacket, as she pulled away for air, her breath mingling with Kaeya's as they took in deep breaths. "Let me be greedy once, please?" he asked her as Viox nodded, as he leaned in to kiss her again, holding her head in his hands. Viox felt tears grow behind her closed eyes but gripped Kaeya closer, not wanting this feeling to stop. How long had it been since she had last kissed him? Months? She deepened the kiss carefully as she relished in the feeling of just being here, with him. Kaeya protected her like a Knight should, he saved her from her parents, from Fruitia. Her mind flashed to how he fought during the Festival, even though the odds were against him, he fought to save her. How he didn't lose hope when she was kidnapped, he fought off the Abyss for her. Risked his life for her. Viox felt her heart thump hard, the most important, when he pulled her from the fire that raged against her home. He had burned himself during that event. Viox pulled away again, her eyes looking up at Kaeya's single one, her hand placed on his heart as she felt it beat hard against his ribcage. She smiled warmly, it was weak as he smiled back, she saw the broken feeling in his eye as she watched him, feeling his hands lower from her face as he placed one on hers that gripped his chest, no words spoken as Viox snatched his free one, placing it on her own chest, were her heart laid beneath her ribcage, holding his hand there. Although they wouldn't say the words out loud, they felt the same. They wouldn't say it now, but after their common enemy was taken care of.
"Let's cross now." she said softly as Kaeya nodded, as they slowly pulled away. Viox took a deep breath as Kaeya stood a foot away from her. Looking at the bridge, it didn't seem as scary as she thought it was. They carefully made their way across, watching out for the other as they walked past loose stones and stood closer in the middle of the bridge. Their boots clicked against the stone as they stopped at the broken part.
"How do we cross?" Viox asked, looking at the loose rocks and jagged stones from when the bridge crumpled to the waters. "Well we can cross by climbing down, or I can make a bridge with my ice and we walk across?" he said, cupping his chin in thought as he looked at the distance, "I might be able to make it, I'm not sure though." he said as Viox went over to the thicks part of the edge, looking down at the water, "Kaeya, could you possibly make one across the water?" she asked as he walked over to where she was crouched down, "I can, why?" he asked as Viox pointed, "It's not too long of a distance if you use those floating pallets of wood as a base, and it'll take less time then you having to build a part of the bridge, we can cross safer and it'll be fast enough that well be in Mondstadt in less than two minutes." she explained as Kaeya nodded, "You're right, let's head down carefully and then I'll use my ice to build the bridge."
Viox smiled as he took a liking to her idea as he headed down first, using the stones sticking out as a ladder of sorts. Viox watched as Kaeya made it down, his feet hitting a small stone slab, as it was her turn next. She took a breath as she made her way down. Once her feet hit the stone below, Kaeya snapped his fingers as a shard of ice formed at his fingertips, he placed his hand onto the water as he grew it all the way to the shore ahead, covering the waters with a thick sheet of ice, including the wooden pallets. Viox smiled, as they crossed with no worry. She chuckled as Kaeya quickly got rid of the ice as they climbed up the small grassy hill into Mondstadt.
"Finally...out of the cold and into the warmth of summer!" Viox cheered happily as Kaeya rolled his eyes, "Yeah yeah, it's not over yet, we have to take off these winter clothes before we overheat. Let me see your jacket." He said as he took off his pack from his side, taking off his black long coat and folding it to place inside, "Here." Viox's voice carried into Kaeya's ears as the smallish gray and black coat entered his eyesight, he looked up as Viox smiled, "Thanks he said softly as he took the folded item and placed it into his pack, before slipping the strap over his shoulder once more. "So how do we get to Mondstadt? It'll take a few days by foot." Viox asked as Kaeya chuckled, "We can snag a horse or two from the Mondstadt research station." He pointed towards what looked like a small archway, "It's only a couple miles away, we can cover that ground easily." he said as Viox nodded, "I see, did you know that this was over here?" she asked him as they started heading towards the Archway. "Honestly yes and no, I was expecting it to be more towards the new bridge, but I noticed they moved over here due to the research of a new berry." he said. Viox looked at him, "A new berry?" she asked as Kaeya nodded, "Yes Albedo said they had uncovered the new species and are planning on seeing if it's edible or poison, and I'm assuming all the basics within that. Albedo didn't say much about the Berry, but it's a pinky color compared to the yellow ones we all commonly know about." he explained as they made it to the top of the hill fully. Viox looked as the Archway was in the distance, maybe a good ten minute walk. She looked at Kaeya, she really didn't know what to talk about next with the man. Was that a bad thing? They started walking along the pathway that looked dug out by many if not thousands of people at one point, she let out a small huff. "Did you ever finish The King of Dragons novel?" Kaeya asked out of the blue, startling Viox before she blinked, "Oh yes, it was a lovely ending, I can't believe that Nyx and Anna ended up together." she said as Kaeya tilted his head a little, "I saw that one coming a mile away! I always liked a good love story." he chimed up as Viox chuckled, "You can't be serious! Anna had no interest in Nyx till he saved her from the flood! It was too predictable! Nyx claimed it was love at first sight but he clearly insults her throughout the book!" She said as Kaeya shook his head, "But they were out of love for Anna, he clearly expressed that to her during the change, he was turning into a Dragon as she was human, to him, she was untouchable, unattainable. You have to see his views as well, not just Anna's." he explained as Viox paused, "Like you and I?" she asked, before covering her mouth, as Kaeya raised his eyebrow, "An interesting way to look at it." he said with a shrug. Viox flushed a little, "You don't think the relationships are kinda the same?" she asked as Kaeya nodded, "They seem the same in some ways, but the difference is that, we aren't together now, unlike Anna and Nyx." he said as Viox sighed a little, it was a big difference, the Dragon got his maiden, yet the Knight had yet to fully obtain his princess. "That and I'm not a Dragon." Kaeya piped up as Viox chuckled, "You could be with how frosty you are." she said as Kaeya smiled, "So did you actually enjoy the book?" he asked as Viox nodded, "I did. I don't remember if they came out with another Novel or not." she said looking up at the clear blue skyline, "They did, it's called The Hoard of the Dragons." Kaeya said as they passed through the Archway, "I highly recommend it. I would rate it a good four out of five stars, but nothing is as good as the original work." he said as Viox looked at him, "I'll have to buy it after i beg for my job back. Diluc has probably given it away to someone already." She groaned out as Kaeya shrugged, "I'm not sure, I kept myself rather busy with Knight work, kept away from most people in general. Anyways, you can borrow my copy once we reach Home." he said as Viox spotted a few large tents in the distance, "Well good thing that's soon, with a couple horses, we can reach home by nightfall." she said pointing at the Researchers camp as Kaeya nodded. "Alright let's hurry up. I'd like to sleep in my own bed." he said as they quickened their pace.