Disclaimer: I do not own Genshin Impact nor the front cover (credits to Hoyoverse)
~Dance of an Aristocrat~
-Friendship level: 10-
According to aristocratic etiquette, one can dance for cherished ones on their birthday, and this dance of celebration will bestow upon both parties their ancestors' blessings.
I have no interest whatsoever in the Lawrence clan's blessings, nor do I intend to observe this rigid aristocratic tradition.
That's why I mentioned it to you.
But come to think of it, maybe I shouldn't have been so biased. Maybe I don't have to do away with the core and form of this tradition alike…
Since dance has always remained noble to me, as long as I perform in my own way, I'll be offering you my own blessings.
Anyway… Don't let me wait for too long.
Somewhere in Dragonspine…
"Ah! That was refreshing! Thank you for the chilled drinks, Amber!"
With a satisfied huff as she finished the last of the Wolfhook juice given to her, Eula smiled in the direction of her friend sitting by the firepit, who she noticed was shaking like a leaf.
"N-No problem!"
Frowning slightly as she heard Amber's shaky high pitched voice, Eula took off her coat and walked towards the cheerful outrider.
In her current state, it was a miracle that she wasn't sick with a high fever.
"Here, you must be freezing."
Sitting beside her, Eula then wrapped the coat around her.
"T-Thanks E-Eula, I-I'm still not used to the cold." Amber muttered gratefully, sighing in relief.
Still shaking, Amber rubbed her hands together as she got closer to the firepit.
Seeing this, Eula couldn't help but sigh.
"You know, you don't have to force yourself to go here every time, it's dangerous."
Amber shook her head.
"I-It's fine, i-it doesn't really bother me, besides, w-what kind of friend am I if something like the cold stopped me from celebrating your birthday?"
Finding that she couldn't think of a response to her words, and given how stubborn she could get, Eula merely hummed, neither in agreement nor objection.
"Hmm."
After their short exchange, a comfortable silence fell between them.
While Amber busied herself to keep warm, Eula on the other hand, was preoccupied with her own thoughts.
Eula noticed that the outrider would still often visit her despite the cruelty of Dragonspine, even though she could handle it just fine, even she would occasionally get affected by the unforgiving sub zero weather, so what more for her friend who was absolutely weak to such extreme cold temperatures?
No matter how much she chided Amber, to either not visit her or at least dress up properly to combat the cold, she still wouldn't listen, or in the case of her advice in having appropriate wear, the outrider would still forget to do so.
Even though it bothered her that Amber would still insist on visiting her to keep her company, especially on her birthday, she was deeply touched by the sheer devotion she had for her.
She was the only one who would stand up for her when most of the knights of favonius held nothing but distrust and contempt towards.
She was the only one who would make sure that she wouldn't be left out or be alone, either during festivals or during lunch break on duties.
She was always there to keep her company when she would be isolated by hushed gossiping whispers and judgemental stares.
Most of all, she is one of the few people who she could truly call a friend, or even family in everything but blood, especially when almost everyone in Mondstadt judged her for her family's background, and her family basically disowned her as well.
And now, celebrating her birthday too, the gratitude and love were becoming so overwhelming that she was starting to feel sick.
One day, she would repay all of the debts she had accumulated with her.
After all, vengeance will always be hers.
"...Thank you, Amber."
The outrider, who appeared to finally have color returning to her face after she sufficiently warmed herself up, grinned at Eula.
"Hehe, anytime!~"
Though before she could reply, Eula heard voices coming from behind them.
"Hello Eula and Amber! We're here to give you gifts for your birthday Eula!"
"...Hello, Eula, Amber, and happy birthday to you Eula."
She heard a high pitched voice followed by a softer one, and immediately Eula knew who they belonged to.
"Greetings to you, Traveler, Paimon."
Sometime later, on the outskirts of Mondstadt…
Eula had been in a fairly good mood.
After her usual trip to Dragonspine, with Amber coming along, and then the traveler and his small friend following suit in keeping her company (and almost got ill like Amber), and despite her concern for their well-being, her birthday this year had been proven to be the best so far.
And right now, as she stood on the lookout at the top of one of Mondstadt's stone walls, alone with the blond traveler, her day couldn't get any better.
"Look, the view here is very good. You can clearly see the alleys and streets of Mondstadt."
Her eyes scanning the bustling streets, Eula continued.
"I usually patrol outside the city, but from time to time, I come here to relax and enjoy the scenery."
At the memory of just watching the dandelions flying through the air, or the slow moving white clouds, she cracked a small smile.
Turning to the traveler standing beside her, who looked rather occupied as he stared at the sky with a wistful expression.
It was an unusual somber expression that was weird to see on his face.
"Ahem."
She cleared her throat, making him snap out of his reverie, and then looking in her direction.
"Oh? I-I'm sorry, I got a bit distracted there," he said with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck as he did so.
Eula felt relieved, before huffing.
"It's of no issue, where was I..."
Pausing a bit, her eyes lingered on the HQ of the Knights of Favonius.
"The team has been very busy lately due to the festival, so I've sent them home as soon as they completed today's tasks." she said cordially, straightening herself up.
It was then she realized that it was the perfect time to bring it up.
"Alright, enough chatting. Would you like to have a meal with me?"
At her invitation, Aether nodded, a bright teasing smile appearing on his face.
"I would be more than willing to dine with a fine lady such as yourself, "
She couldn't help but smile as well as she realised that he was attempting to sound like a noble, before letting out a scoff.
"Hmph, while my lessons of etiquette seem to be put into good use, you should be more grateful for receiving my invitation, therefore, because of your insolence, we shall return to this place at nightfall to enact my vengeance."
Aether laughed, which sounded like music to her ears.
"Hehe, while I can't say I'd be looking forward to this vengeance you have planned for me, a meal with you would be nice."
She for the longest time, only ever doing so while she was with Amber, giggled in delight.
"I will hold you on that, traveler."
They both shared a laugh, and afterwards, a peaceful silence settled between them, and fortunately, his high spirited travelling partner was far too busy stuffing her mouth at Good Hunter to ruin the moment.
And once more, she was left to her own thoughts.
Compared to Amber, Aether was vastly different from the outrider, especially in how the relationship she had differed between them.
Amber is always cheerful and outgoing, often initiating the invitations to keep her company or to go out and eat. Aether is gentle and quiet, only ever inviting her when they would meet by sheer coincidence or special occasions.
Amber would always exude an energy full of cheerfulness that was infectious that she couldn't help but be driven along and feel joy as well. Aether had an aura that was strangely calming that quelled the sadness within her.
Amber would always want to engage in conversation with her, stringing her along with diverse topics that would remain interesting while she would respond occasionally. Aether though would only speak occasionally, mostly allowing her to talk throughout their interactions.
Amber was someone she knew for far longer, to the point where she had a clear grasp of her personality and character, with Aether, while she knew him to an extent, just enough to gauge that he's someone of the gentle and noble kind, he was still as enigmatic as people said he would be.
He carried himself as if he knew things she didn't despite his appearance that was years younger than her, it was as if he was someone who has already seen the world.
It was strange, he was very shrouded in mystery.
No background of which nation he belonged to, no information of his family beside a missing twin sister, nothing.
Not even his unique characteristics of being able to manipulate the elements without a vision, nor the fact that he was capable of fighting a literal god that ruled over a nation.
Nevertheless, despite his unknown identity and unique circumstances, he still helped save Mondstadt from Stormterror, then Liyue Harbor from an ancient threat, and then apparently fought against an archon in Inazuma and freed it from a vision hunt of sorts, and even outside of those awe-inspiring feats, he would selflessly help anyone in need, just his efforts in the recent weinlesefest alone had set the Knights of Favonius and numerous business a profit that would benefit them until their grandchildren.
Despite the fame he had attained with all of his achievements, and the influence he had in every major events, he still only ever had one goal.
To reunite with his sibling.
An ambition like that was what Eula strived to have, ambition that was purely noble.
It was then she realized that it was unfair to compare him with Amber.
One was an outrider of the Knights of Favonius, the other a heroic traveler from a foreign land.
Two different people, one she knew for much longer, the other for less than a year.
And yet, despite the short time she came to know the unique blond traveler, he somehow became one of the most important people in her life.
It began with her first meeting him in front of the large statue of Barbatos, to meeting with her uncle that led to an exposure of a connection with the fatui, and amongst other things that took place in their first meeting.
It took months of going out with him on his commissions, random encounters, and finally on every special occasion that he made his way into her life.
Was it his openness with her? Was it him looking past the stigma her family's curse imposed on her? She would never know.
All she knew that like with Amber, Aether was someone who she could call a true friend.
And as they continued to quietly bask in the midday breeze and the sunlight shining down on them, with her thoughts still about the blond beside her, Eula decided that she would go through with her plans tonight.
She would perform her dance, one that was of her own, to show him that even with her lineage as a noble, she was still Eula, a Knight of Favonius, his friend.
She would do the same dance she had shown Amber long ago, because he was someone who she came to cherish, and would willingly fight with if the time ever arises.
The smile that graced her lips as she thought of it, grew wider.
And like with Amber, she had accumulated a debt with him.
Eula would have her vengeance on him tonight.
Under the pale moonlight, her movements were as graceful as a crane yet had the ferocity of a boar.
The sway of her hips, the smooth whipping of her arms through the air, and the rest of her upper and lower body that glided through her expertly practised choreography.
Eula had never felt so invigorated in a long time, so full of spirit and passion as she expressed herself through her dance.
All the while, her only audience, whose golden gaze took in her every move, stayed affixed on her, and her alone.
The Traveler who she had left mesmerized, and for once, Eula could proudly say that she had left the hero of Mondstadt speechless.
She continued dancing through the night, with nothing but her lone spectator and the full moon casting its pale rays on her.
A/N: Happy birthday Eula! My physical queen! And the finest designed 5* I've seen so far.
This took me longer because I attempted to mimic Eula's mannerisms into this one and tried to switch up my writing style a bit, so I hope I didn't do too badly with this one.
Once again, I know I've mentioned it in my previous Ayaka birthday entry, Retreading Destiny Part II is still underway, I'm still working on its dialogue but rest assured, I'll finish that story if it's the last thing I do.