Amber had fallen asleep under her grandfather's desk. It was something that she had done often, especially when her grandpa had long trips away from the city and from her.

Though, she had never done this so consecutively.

The girl had her face in her arms. Her shirt was soaked and her face hot from all the crying she had done in the past few days.

The search for her grandpa had been officially labeled non priority.

A burst of emotion swallowed her and she sobbed, grabbing her Mr. Barron and launching him across the empty space under the desk, watching as it hit with a soft slap. She met Mr. Baron's eyes and guilt immediately overtook her.

The young teenager quickly scooped him back up, burying her face into the stuffed animal.

"Amber?"

The girl gasped, scrambling back and banging her head against the underside of the table. "Oh! Ow! Uh… Jean!" Amber's already flushed face got even more red and her lip trembled.

Jean Gundihger. The up and coming knight that would one day rule Mondstat… It caused her to feel embarrassed and ashamed.

"I'm sorry…" the first words out of her mouth after the shock. Jean was going to chase her out, there was no doubt about it. Amber sniffled, looking away from the older girl.

The young knight felt a bit unsure of herself. She didn't understand why Amber had apologized. If anyone was to apologize it was her, she had scared the poor girl.

Jean kneeled down, hand moving to rest on top of Amber's head and she sent a pulse of healing through her. "Your bunny is cute."

The future archer felt overwhelmed. She was both in awe and embarrassed. Amber had stopped crying but her shame overtook her. Surely, she was too old to have an attachment to stuffed animals! But no matter where she went, she couldn't leave him behind.

"I… Thank you."

Her voice was quiet and unsure. Would Jean ask her to leave now? Since her grandpa stopped showing up, would she no longer be allowed here? It was so scary…

"You must be hungry. The chef said he hasn't seen you in days and no one has stolen his food." She added a bit of a playful chuckle at the end of her sentence. "You got to keep your strength up for your grandpa, right?"

Amber's stomach growled at the mention of food. The only thing she had done was cry herself to sleep. She hasn't been home or even interacted with anyone, often hiding away in the knight's building.

It made her wonder briefly why Jean had found her. It was rather late at night, shouldn't she be sleeping?

A gloved hand was offered to the child and Amber carefully took it.

She liked Jean. They both had family in the knights and felt at home here. She didn't get to interact with her much, but Barbara was fun! Jean was quite intimidating at times, but Amber wasn't scared. Why would she be scared of someone she trusted?

Eventually, the girl with the red bandana was pulling Jean along, leading the way to the kitchen. "Do you like fisherman's toast!? What about sticky honey roast!? That's my favorite!"

The two girls sat at the kitchen table, Jean drinking a coffee as Amber happily munched on all the left overs that they had left and all the snacks, her baron bunny on her lap.

Amber wasn't giving the future grandmaster much time to answer but Jean didn't mind. As long as this girl was smiling and being her bubbly self, Jean found she didn't mind at all.

———

"Amber!"

The voice was strained and harsh, coming from the office turned storage room, of the outriders.

Jean was walking the halls with updates on some important events happening in Liyue and Inazuma but it seemed as if there was another more pressing issue.

"What are you thinking!? You cannot just run off into the wilderness like that! You're a child!" The voice lectured her bunny friend, causing Jean to frown. She didn't like that tone. "Your grandfather is gone and yet you're still causing trouble! No wonder he left!"

The next words cause the Captain to force herself into the room and clear her throat. "I'm afraid that this conversation is getting out of hand."

Two pairs of eyes looked at Jean and the Outrider frowned. "Captain… With all due respect, she needs to learn her place. Because of her, I couldn't finish my dutie-"

"Your duties are to protect the citizens of Mondstat above all else." Jean told him. Her voice was firm, eyes shining with authority.

The Outrider shifted a bit, letting go of Amber's wrist which he had been holding a little too tightly. The girl shrunk back, backing into one of the shelves and looking away from both Jean and one of her grandfather's subordinates.

Amber had rarely seen Jean like this. Wherever the Lionfang knight went she was given respect. It wasn't often she had to use her position of authority to force it though.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I was out of place."

Jean kept her eyes locked on his for a second too long. An intentional act on her part to intimidate him.

He squirmed a bit more and Jean moved to Amber, once again moving down to her level.

Apparently, the child had decided to take up the responsibility of finding her grandfather herself. It resulted in her getting a few cuts and burns and the return of a "borrowed" wind glider. She gently moved her hair from her face and gave a small smile.

"I know you're worried, Amber. I hope you know we are too. We aren't going to abandon your grandpa. He may not be listed as a priority at the moment, but that doesn't mean we've given up on him." Jean told her, a hand on her head.

Jean was so sweet to her, so gentle and friendly and Amber couldn't help herself hugging her tightly.

"I'm sorry." Amber whimpered out, burying her face deep into Jean's neck, letting out another sob.

Jean rubbed her back, shushing her and pulling her into her. "There's nothing to be sorry about, Amber. You don't have to apologize to me ever again." Jean reassured her. "You have the heart of a knight. I hope that in your passion to be an Outrider, you consider becoming a knight too."

——

The acting grandmaster's back was flushed against the wall as she sank to the floor, chest heaving with the overwhelming emotions.

Many times, she forced herself to repress these feelings. There were duties she had to prioritize and actions she must take with a clear and logical head.

These emotions though, she couldn't seem to repress at all.

Amber's final apology had rattled her to her core and there was nothing Jean could do but wait. It was painful, her chest twisting and her vision blurring.

This world was neither just nor fair. It was cruel and unforgiving. Deceiving under all its beauty. That's why they existed, that's why they were knights; swearing to snuff away the evil in the world even if it costed their lives.

But… This one hurt. It hurt a lot.

The grandmaster hadn't even noticed someone sitting next to her, fingers clinging onto the dark material as she sobbed into his chest.

Fingers trailed through her hair, Diluc wrapping an arm around her as he rocked the woman. He didn't dare interrupt her. Jean rarely gave into her own selfish humanity. She needed this just as much as Amber needed their prayers and support.

They might as well have been there for years, waiting for any sign from Barbara and Lisa.

Finally, the door clicked open and Barbara peeked around the corner. "Jean?" She called out, "Amber… She's-"