It was a peaceful morning when Amber set out on her daily patrol. The chirping birds and the cooling breeze were tempting her to kick back and nap under the tree, to just forget about work and enjoy the day. She shook her head, to chase away the whispers of rest and continued with her patrol.
By the time she returned to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, the last vestiges of sleep were finally gone and she was pumped to continue with the rest of her day, feeling energetic and excited. But what was she to do now that she was free for the rest of the day?
She remembered hearing rumours of the Traveller and Paimon during her patrol, their feats had increased exponentially ever since the first day she met them and expanded beyond Mondstadt to various nations. And yet, even with all the amazing things they have done so far, they always seem to find time to spend with their friends, chatting or hanging out, and occasionally going the extra mile to find them to drop a quick 'hi' before disappearing off to their next adventure.
Amber knew that the Traveller was in Mondstadt, at least for a week or so before they had to move on elsewhere. They had dropped by the library at the Knights of Favonius headquarters the night before to chat with Lisa. She had been passing by to deliver a document to the Acting Grandmaster when she overheard the Traveller informing Lisa that they would be staying in Mondstadt for a while. Perhaps they would be available to hang out with her on her birthday?
Before she could leave the building however, she noticed Jean walking down the stairs with a large stack of documents in her hand. Amber quickly moved to assist her without prompting and Jean could only smile apologetically as Amber took half of the stack from her hands.
"I'm really sorry for this," Jean said after Amber set her stack of documents beside Jean's.
"It's no biggie!" Amber said before throwing a quick salute and turning around to take her leave.
"Wait, Amber!" Jean called out before Amber could open the door. She walked around her desk and opened the drawer, pulling out a neatly packaged item before walking over to Amber and placing the item in her hands.
Amber was stunned as she looked down at what was obviously a nicely wrapped present in her hands.
"Happy birthday from the Knights of Favonius," Jean said with a smile that Amber could not help but return.
Amber returned to her home, a nice quaint house close to the Knights of Favonius headquarters and away from the main streets. She placed the gift on the table, carefully and almost reverently, before stepping away to find her writing materials. She sat down at her desk, old and worn but still mostly undamaged. She set the paper down on top, humming to herself as she picked up a pen and used it to tap a rhythm on the paper. It was to help her concentrate, to figure out what to write on the blank sheet, but also to fill up the depressing silent loneliness in her home.
She wanted to hang out with the Traveller and Paimon today, a selfish wish now that she thought about it. The Traveller was popular in Mondstadt and most likely, in the other nations as well. But she looked back on the first day she met them, unaware of what a large impact they would make on this world. It would be nice if they could go back to those simple times of blissful ignorance, unaware of the looming dangers of the world just a few hours later.
But she was an Outrider, a person who stood at the forefront of exploration and reconnaissance. Outriders ran head first into danger, to scout it out so others would know what to expect. To live in blissful ignorance would be to ignore the potential danger that awaited the rest of the world. Those were the words she remembered in her grandfather's stories, tales of Outriders before they became what they were today.
The pen in her hand stilled before it shifted and the words flowed, inking themselves into the paper below.
Hello! Do you have time to return to Mondstadt today? I wanna see you!
The Traveller was out doing commissions and they might not return to the city today but Amber hoped that they would.
I happen to be patrolling the area around the city today. How about we decide on a place to meet up? I'll come get you, and then we can find something good to eat in the city...
Maybe they could get some Sticky Honey Roast or be a little adventurous and try something different.
Recently, I heard that "the golden-haired traveller and their floaty companion" have been doing some pretty amazing stuff in lots of places. I'm sooo proud of you!
From saving Mondstadt to saving Liyue, and even opening up Inazuma to the world! The Traveller really was an amazing person.
But compared to hearing it from other people, I would love if you could tell me all about it in person.
The stories they must have, Amber was excited to listen to them all. The tales people sing of their deeds were things that they heard and witnessed but what went on in the Traveller's mind when they defeated gods? Were they okay?
It's always good to return to somewhere familiar for a break before embarking on your next adventure, right?
A Traveller was that, a traveller. They would always be walking off somewhere, whether it was to another land or a place in the same country. They walked a road untravelled, to a new adventure wherever they may go, like an Outrider dashing off into unknown danger. But a break once in a while, to rest those tired legs, to tell tales of their adventures and the unknown, it was a comfort and Amber wanted to be there.