"Kaeya?" Viox called as Kaeya walked over from his spot, "Is something the matter?" He asked as she motioned him to lean down. Kaeya blinked but leaned down anyway, as a sweet smelling crown was placed on his head. Viox had made him a sweet flower, flower crown. She smiled as he blinked at her, a small smile gracing her lips as he poked at the plants, "Is this why you were stopping every few moments?" He asked her as Viox nodded, "Yes, I figured since we are friends, I can at least give you gifts!" She said happily, as the two continued their way home towards Mondstadt. Viox hummed softly as she walked through the thick grassland, she was excited to head back to her home, she missed her job, her guard friends, her sister, Diluc, and mostly seeing Kaeya everyday. She looked back at Kaeya, who was walking with his hand holding the two horses reins, his dark blue hair made the Flower crown pop more as she chuckled.
Earlier they had talked to the researchers and got two horses, both were mares but different colorings. Viox's mare was called Blueberry after one of the berries Albedo found deep in Dragonspine. It had a dark dapple coat and a black mane, and bright blue eyes. She was very sweet towards Kaeya and Viox, unlike the mare Kaeya got. Her name was Golden Berry, after the fruit everyone knew, her coat was a bright blonde coloring as her main was almost a white color. She seemed to very much prefer Kaeya then Viox, which Kaeya said was just due to the fact that he had a way with the horse, as he was a Cavalry Captain, that would mean he had skills with horses that most people didn't have. Viox chuckled weakly as she took the reins of her horse from Kaeya, "Let's get home now, I want to stop by the tavern." She said as she climbed onto the horse carefully, she was shorter than the mare, so getting up was a little difficult. "Alright, come on, we have less than a few hours left. '' he said, getting onto his steed without a problem. Viox rolled her eyes at the skill. If she was just a little taller, maybe she could be as graceful getting onto a horse. She had noticed the darker mood around Kaeya as they got closer to the large city of Mondstadt, he seemed to grow a lot colder towards her, but she couldn't place why it was so sudden. She watched him as he pulled his horse in front of hers, leading them on the path. Viox watched his back. Did it have to do with the fact they couldn't be with each other anymore? Was it that? Maybe it was the frustration of Fruitia not behind bars so they could be?
Viox sighed softly as they rode. Maybe it was all of it. She could understand the pain, as much as she wanted to be with him, Fruitia made it clear that if Viox was anywhere near Kaeya, he would get hurt. Viox gripped the reins tightly, she didn't want that. She didn't care if she got hurt, but Kaeya? She looked down, her eyes blurred before she blinked the water away. She wouldn't allow Kaeya to get hurt. She looked back up to see past Kaeya's form, Mondstadt stood proudly in the distance. She smiled brightly, "There it is…" she whispered as Kaeya stopped his horse to allow Viox's steed to trot next to his. "Yes, the sooner there, the sooner we can eat." he chuckled as Viox smiled more, "I can see Violet again." she said with glee as Kaeya smiled a little.
After a while they came across the bridge over Cider Lake. The front gates of Mondstadt stood in front of them as their horses trotted to the entrance, Viox smiled as the guards at the post waved at both Kaeya and herself. She waved back as they entered, Kaeya carefully getting off his horse, before helping her down off her's. "We're back finally." Viox sighed happily as she looked at the main street of Mondstadt. Kaeya nodded, "You go ahead to the tavern, I'll catch up after I take the horses to the main Knight's stables." he said as Viox nodded, waving her hand in a small goodbye as she walked towards the Tavern. She smiled and waved to the busy people of Mondstadt as some greeted her with happy calls and smiles. It felt good to be back as she climbed the steps upwards to The Angel's Share. She gave a large grin as she rushed up to the large wooden door. Opening it she called, "Im home!" as she was greeted with cheers.
Viox took a long deep breath as she walked into her living room about a week later. When she had gotten back a few nights ago with Kaeya, she had headed to the Angels Share and settled down some as people crowded the young woman. She had enjoyed the company of the Knights, including her own sister, who had rushed up to Viox and hugged her tightly, happy to see VIox once more as the two quickly rushed up the stairs of the tavern to talk, Diluc had waved them off as he worked the bar. He had later on told Viox She started her job back up after she was fully settled back into her home. Viox smiled as she held her small tea cup filled with a new flavor that had passed through Mondstadt a few weeks ago, a Lavender berry sweet tea. It was good in Viox's opinion but she had to admit, Diluc had a large arrange of Tea's she often sipped on while at the Winery. Now that it was the next week, Viox's door was knocked on through most of the mornings and evenings, as she had been receiving quite the range of gifts from mostly the Elders in Mondstadt, some Knights, and some children that had missed her. Her house quickly became crowded with large flower arrangements and small gift baskets of foods and wines. She chuckled as Violet moved a few out of her way, "Mondstadt missed their favorite Head of Affairs. Got enough gifts?" she asked her sibling. Viox smiled, taking a sip of her tea, "I'm not sure yet, I'll get back to you." she said as Violet picked up a smaller vase, "This one is pretty, no note." she said as she held it up to Viox. who blinked, a beautiful Gaze Lily sat in a dark blue vase. Freshly cut that morning it looked like. A small black ribbon tied around the neck of the vase as Viox set her tea cup down and gently took the vase from her sister, "It's my favorite flower." she smiled warmly, as Violet smirked, "It must have been Kaeya." she said as Viox rolled her eyes, "You can't say that just because it's my favorite flower, besides, I haven't talked to Kaeya since we arrived together yesterday evening. I'm sure Acting Grandmaster Jean gave him an ear full for leaving Mondstadt." she said as she picked up her tea cup again taking a sip. "But she didn't." Violet said as she moved more flowers over towards the front door. Viox raised a brow, "How so?" she asked as she carefully placed her cup down on the coffee table along with the Gaze Lily. "Because Kaeya has been in his office since last night." Violet said as she walked back to gather more flowers, Viox grabbed a few as well to help move most of these out of her living room, "Why is he there? Did he get a case?" she asked as they walked, "No, last I heard, he's researching something. His case keeps getting denied by Jean. Ive over overheard them talking one time and she said something about it being a case for more fitted Knights. It's all weird, especially since the Fruitia case is top priority. Especially since you're back in Mondstadt." Violet replied. Viox found that odd, why would Kaeya be researching? She set the flowers down, with a small frown, "Odd." she commented as Violet shrugged, "I said the same thing." she agreed softly. She had remembered a few nights ago while talking at the Winery with Diluc and Violet about Kaeya and his recent disappearance as of late.
"I don't understand why he has yet to speak with you, it has been a couple of days Viox." Violet said gently as Viox wrote out another document on the Winery's latest Tax form. Viox sighed softly as she carefully started the statement, "I am not surprised. If he and I get close at all we could put all of Mondstadt in danger again. Worse, he could get hurt." Viox said as she carefully tallied what Mora she had to budget for the transportations of the wine. Diluc gently knocked on Viox's office door as he held a few more papers, "Miss Viox, I have a few new workers in the Vineyard. Here are their forms and pays." he said, setting the paperwork down on her desk as Viox gave him a light smile, "Thank you Master Diluc. I'll get these out right away and make sure that it's all fair." She said as Violet rolled her eyes. "Diluc, before you go. I have a small question for you." Violet said as Diluc paused, "What is it?" he asked, surprised at Violet's rougher sounding tone. Violet crossed her arms, "Doesn't it seem a little out of Knight Kaeya's character that he isn't out and about? He hasn't left his office since returning back to Mondstadt?" She asked as Viox pinched the bridge of her nose. Diluc rose an eyebrow in surprise, "Not if he was put onto a case, Knights here tend to work a little differently than the Knights in Dragonspine. Kaeya also is a Captain in his own right, he is going to get busy eventually. So no, I don't find it too odd, what would be odd is if he wasn't contacting Miss Viox." he said honestly, as Violet turned to her sister. Viox laced her hands together and placed her elbows on the desk, leaning on them, "Violet this doesn't prove your point, this just says Jean gave Kaeya a few tasks that are keeping him busy." she said as Violet huffed, "I think it's weird he hasn't even sent you a note at the least." Violet said. Diluc looked between the two women before nodding his head in a quick goodbye.
"Violet just because you see it as odd doesn't mean i do, besides, he and I are in a difficult spot as it is." Viox said, leaning back against her chair. Violet frowned, "Maybe I should go talk with him." She said as Viox shook her head, "Do as you wish my sister, I'll be here working." Viox said as she picked up where she left off, calculating the Mora for everything.
Even though that was a few days ago, Viox smiled at the Gaze Lily. She missed the other terribly and wished she could help him in some way. Maybe the case was with Fruitia? She looked up at Violet who had moved a few more flowers around. "Anyways enough about Kaeya, what about you and Diluc?" Viox asked as Violet smiled, "Well a couple days ago...Diluc and I shared our first kiss." she flushed as Viox gasped, "No! What happened?!" she asked her twin. Violet blushed as she moved more flowers with her sibling, "Well it wasn't anything special really. We were walking around upper Mondstadt and he leaned over and just kissed me gently." she explained softly as she touched her lips, "His lips were warm and tasted like cinnamon and campfire." she flushed red thinking about it. Viox giggled, "You love him!" She teased her sibling as Violet rolled her eyes, pushing her sister a little, "Maybe I do, is that a crime?" she asked as Viox chuckled, "Not at all!" she said as she heard a knock at her front door, "I'll grab it!" she said as she went to the door, holding one of the vases in her hand, it was tucked neatly into the crook of her arm, "Hello?" she greeted, as it was the Mail Carrier, "Letter for Miss Viox." he said in a happy voice as Viox nodded, "That's me, thank you." she said as she took the letter from the man and closed her front door after waving him off.
"Another piece of mail?" Violet asked as Viox nodded, "No name on the sender." she said as she opened it carefully. Inside was a small note, Viox plucked it out of the envelope and read it over. Before the vase fell and shattered to the floor. Viox dropped to her knees, holding the paper tightly as Violet let off a cry of surprise, rushing over to Viox, but stopping as there was glass everywhere. Viox kneeling in some of it, as Violet rushed towards the bathroom, grabbing a towel, she threw it over the shards so her feet and Viox's, would be safe from any more glass. She walked over to her twin and carefully pulled her from the broken glass. "Viox what happened?!" Violet asked as she helped a bleeding Viox sit onto the couch. Viox looked up at her sibling, "Fruittia." she whispered as Violet's eyes grew wide. "We have to get the Knights." Violet said as Viox nodded, looking at the small note. In bold black inky letters, it read clearly,
"Congrats on getting your Vision Viox. I wonder how long you can last? Want to play a game? We start with your closest. Keep an eye on Violet." - F
Viox and Violet walked up the steps of the Knights Guild as Viox looked at her sibling, it was a gorgeous grey brick building with the Mondstadt symbol of freedom stitched into the tapestries that hung. Small hints of green on the roof tops and some gold touch ups here and there, but it was still pretty to Viox. She had never been in this part of town since she was about 18 years old, helping Violet with Knight training. Her knees hurt after Violet spent about an hour pulling glass shards from them, then Viox poured a cleaning solution onto her knees. It still burned as her sibling wrapped them carefully. She put on her pants afterwards as Violet cleaned the shards. They left quickly because Violet said that this was no longer a Case, this was a mission to keep Viox safe at this point. She looked at her sister with a smile, they had been so young then. Violet turned, "What is it, Viox?" She asked her twin as Viox shook her head, "Remembering things." Viox answered as they entered the large building. Viox looked around the large hall, there were 6 doors on each side, some of them labed but some not. "Which way to the Acting Grandmaster Jean's office?" Viox asked her sibling who took a left towards the first door, "This way." she said as she opened the door. Shouts reached both siblings' ears as they looked inside.
"Jean, we have to do something! You can't deny me again. I told you this is my case to handle!" Kaeya's voice hissed as he slammed a hand onto a large oak desk where a blonde woman sat, "Kaeya...I told you already, you can't take on a whole case by yourself, you have to have a group for this one. You have too much emotion for this case anyways, how can you be sure that your emotions won't get in the way?" she asked as she then perked up, noticing Violet and Viox. Kaeya turned, his eye locking onto Viox's form, he blinked and looked away quickly. Viox frowned, she hadn't been in contact with the man for about a week now, but she brushed off the feelings of hurt due to the problem at hand. "Master Jean, we have a report to process for immediate safe house protection." Violet said, walking up to Jean and next to Kaeya as she saulted her higher up. Jean nodded, "You may proceed Knight Violet." She said as Violet handed over the note Viox had received. "This was delivered to my sister's house this morning, as you know Viox has been stalked by a woman named Fruitia. This letter came from Fruitia herself and Viox needs a safe house immediately." She explained as Viox walked up next to Violet, her eyes darted to the quiet man beside her sibling. Jean took the note and read it over, "And this was delivered today?" She asked as Violet nodded, "We need to do something about this now Jean, this case just got more serious." Violet said as Jean looked over at Kaeya, who had crossed his arms. "I see, we'll put her here in the guild in the rooms upstairs. Violet, you'll be paired with kaeya on this, I'll pull in a few others to help you both. We need to find Fruitia now and I shall join this Mission as well. Please Viox, was it?" Jean's green eyes looked at the pink haired woman, who nodded in greeting, "You can not leave the Knight's guild without a Knight with you at all times now, we've been working on your case due to you being back in Mondstadt, it makes you a high target for anyone in your position. Please understand this for your safety. At this point you are at even more of a risk than ever before." Jean said with a small smile. Viox nodded, "I understand." she said softly as Jean nodded, "Please Violet, show her one of the safe rooms." she said as Violet grinned, "Yes Master Jean." Violet said as she grabbed Viox's hand and walked from the room. Viox's eyes looked at Kaeya as she left. Frowning as the man didn't look her way. Viox sighed as she was led up the stairs by Violet.