*Disclaimer - I do not own the copyright for Genshin Impact or Kingdom Hearts
*A/N - Hope everyone is doing good. The story is not dead lol. Been updating other stories and figured now was the time to come back and get this one back on track. Plus, Sumeru has been released and a lot of cool and interesting things have been plot orientated. I mean, the whole Dendro Archon and the implementation of a dream cycle got me really excited. I kid you not. I almost dropped my controller when the topic of dreams came into play. If there's one person who has an idea about dreams then it's your boy, Sora. Along with the other craziness that Sumeru has to offer especially with 3.1. It's time we get ready to depart Mondstadt and head to Liyue. However, expect to see a few more familiar faces. Take care and hope you enjoy this chapter.
Bringing a hand up to his face, Sora did not want to wake up. The boy's body felt tired, and it didn't help that the position that he was in was making his arm go numb. Having had an eventful day yesterday, the Keyblade wielder felt that his body was being weighed down by something heavy. That was to be expected. He did just arrive in a whole new world, meet a bunch of new friends, get caught up in a bit of ruckus, and did fight a swarm of Heartless and even a giant wolf Heartless. Yeah. That'll do it.
Slowly rearing his head around, Sora looked around and noticed that he was in the room that Eula led him to and that Jean had got him for the night. He slowly began to lift himself off the comfy bed and realized that he did not have his jacket with him. Looking around the room, Sora was worried that he left it somewhere else and that he'd have to go search for it. However, his worry would be dismissed when he saw his jacket hanging up on a dresser.
Letting out a relieved sigh, Sora got off the bed and stretched out a bit feeling so much better. Striding over to get his jacket, he noticed something on the floor next to the door that looked strange. The object sitting on the ground was a white, blue, and silver bow that looked fancy. Sora was left puzzled at the item and took a minute to think about if he had picked something like that up in his most recent adventures. Nothing came to mind. He was half tempted to take it to the front office and put it as a lost item until he remembered something. Or rather a certain someone.
"Oh! That's Eula's hairpin!"
Making sure to be delicate with the item, Sora picked the hairpin up and upon further observation, he knew for sure that it was his friend's. However, that left a big question hanging over Sora's head. How exactly did her hairpin get here? And… How did he even get here?
Having a rattled head, Sora sat back down on the bed and began to recollect his memories of last night or at least remember as much as he could. What he found was a bit surprising.
After Sora and Eula left the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, the two began to make their way toward Good Hunter to grab a bite to eat. Along the way, Sora began to ask Eula more about herself so he could know his new friend better.
"Hey, Eula, what is it that you do? Seeing that you're the Captain of the Knights Reconnaissance Company" Sora asked, crossing his arms.
"Taking an interest in my field of work?" Eula responded, surprised by the young man's question.
"Yeah. I learned a bit about Kaeya's position but not about yours"
"Hmm. Well then, allow me to explain" Clearing her throat and standing up a bit straighter, Sora realized that she took her job seriously and had respect for it. This brought a smile to his lips. "As the Reconnaissance Company Captain, I'm usually out in the wilderness leading a team of scouts to seek and destroy Abyss Order strongholds time and time again. Providing swift support when it comes to destroying enemy strongholds or sneak attacks in areas such as mountains or cliff sides or valleys. I also tend to lend my support to adventures that are having difficulties while out in the wild" Eula explained.
"Whoa… sounds like you have a tough job. That's a lot of responsibility to fall on your shoulders…" Sora said, amazed at the details of Eula's position.
"Thank you, Sora. And yes, it can be quite demoralizing and difficult at times. Knowing that the lives of others and whether or not they come back safe is all up to you…" Eula said, growing quiet after saying that.
Sora could not only understand what she meant but he had also dealt with the feelings she had about the whole ordeal. His time back during the Keyblade War and how the others relied on his help to fight back against the real Organization XIII. Even now, after winning the war, Sora still had thoughts lingering in the back of his mind about how the war would've played out if things had gone differently.
"But… even with all the bad things that have happened to you…" Sora knew what to say. He himself had gone through a war not only once but twice due to the usage of time travel and witnessed how bad things could get in a life-or-death situation. "There are still all the good times and memories that lie in your heart. The feelings and thoughts that push us to want to do better. Know what I mean?"
Eula pondered to herself what Sora had just said—even growing up as a Lawrence and having to deal with the citizens of Mondstadt's hate directed right at her along with her family being harsh and unloving. Eula was used to having a dark cloud hover over her which would result in taking her anger and sorrow down in a gulp making herself drunk to forget all the negativity. And while she still does that… she has found a source of happiness. Her friends whom she has now come to realize genuinely do care for her.
"Yes. I understand what you mean. Thank you for reminding me" Eula said, feeling butterflies in her stomach again.
"That's good to hear. Now then, what kind of food does this Good Hunter offer? I'm feeling a bit…" Before Sora could finish that sentence, a loud rumbling sound could be heard coming directly from his stomach. This left the brown spiky-haired Keyblade wielder to chuckle embarrassingly.
Eula couldn't help herself and started giggling. The timing of Sora's stomach going off was totally unexpected and let the two enjoy a happy yet comedic moment that they could talk about and keep between themselves.
Sora could only chuckle to himself as he recalled the memory. In his defense, he was very hungry and had been dealing with a whole lot in just one day. Though, he was used to traveling to different worlds and finding himself in a fight or two. Yesterday was a rather eventful day getting to meet so many new people and practically making friends with everyone along with trying to get a crash course on the history and rules of Teyvat.
He then vividly recalled getting to Good Hunter and ordering something that came with a large tray of meat and a cup of juice. For the life of him, Sora couldn't remember what Eula ordered but remembered she made a small scene about what she wanted. He then scratched his head trying to remember the rest of what the blue-haired captain had to eat. But to no avail, nothing came up.
However, another memory clicked for Sora and this time it explained quite a lot. He remembered that after he and Eula had finished eating their food, Eula asked if he wanted to stop by the bar and see if anyone else was out and about there. He was about to agree as he could talk with some of the people there but was suddenly hit with a heavy yawn coming from his mouth signaling that he was at his limit and sleep was encroaching closer and closer.
Eula noticed this and suggested they head over to where he'd be staying for the night to which he agreed. The next thing he could recall was getting to his room and almost collapsing into the door. Eula rushed over to help him up and had to drag him to the bed while he wasn't doing much to help her and even moved his hand limply over her head which must have knocked her hairpin off her head. Sora's tied state must have also caused her to practically throw him on the bed which is why he ended up in a weird position upon waking up.
Sora figured that after Eula got him to bed, she went back to her place or something. He felt a bit embarrassed about falling asleep like that on her. Guess Kairi and Riku were right. He is a lazy bum. Although, in his defense, he has been busy fighting. Dealing with the Heartless, Organization XIII, time travel, and ending up in a completely new world. It seemed only right that he would be tired.
Either way, he had to make it up to Eula for helping him. With that determination in mind, he carefully grabbed her hairpin and folded up the bed sheets to help with the innkeepers and made his way out to find her. It was the least he owed her.
Having thanked the innkeeper, Sora made his way out and was about to start heading to the Knights of Favonius headquarters to find Eula when he was instantly met with the blue-haired woman talking with someone he didn't recognize. Perhaps a new friend?
Making his way over to Eula, Sora was greeted by seeing another girl standing there. This girl had long, dark brown hair with a jumper-like outfit mainly featuring dark brown shorts, a red hoodie top, red stockings, and white thigh-high boots. The girl also had a leather belt with two small bags attached and what appeared to be a red insignia. Her Pyro Vision. She also had gloves, a small belt on her right thigh, and gold goggles. However, the characteristic Sora felt drawn to was her headband with the large red bow that was sitting on her head sort of resembling bunny ears. All in all, the girl's attire really suited her.
Hearing someone getting closer to them, Eula turned and spotted Sora heading her way. Though it was very brief, her face instantly lighted up and her eyes narrowed right onto the spiky-haired boy. However, there was one other person to notice the subtle difference in Eula's reaction. The girl with the red bow. And boy did she have a grin on her face seeing her best friend's expression.
"Hey, Eula! Sorry if I overslept" Sora said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head recalling last night.
"Don't worry. No harm done. It was only natural for you to be exhausted" Eula said, having a friendly smile cross her lips.
Without missing a beat, Sora noticed something off about Eula and her appearance until he looked around her face and realized that the missing hairpin really added to her attire. Reaching into his pocket, Sora carefully pulled out the hairpin and showed it to her.
"I found this in my room. Sorry about knocking it off you, haha…" Sora said, feeling a wave of embarrassment hit him.
Seeing the hairpin in his hands, Eula looked surprised but had a comforting look. "My hairpin… Mm. Thank you, Sora. I thought I misplaced it back at my house and was searching for it nonstop this morning. I even thought someone took it from me without me noticing. I was prepared to seek vengeance and confront any thieves, but it would seem I don't have to anymore" Eula responded.
Bringing a hand up to her chin, Eula looked to be in a somewhat thinking pose until she looked ready to say something to Sora.
"If I didn't know any better, I would have figured that you were drunk last night with how off-balanced you were last night," Eula said, having a sly smirk.
"*Sigh* Yeah… sorry about that" Sora could only accept defeat.
"Sounds like you had a fun night, Eula!" the brown-haired girl said, now making herself known.
Hearing her friend join in the conversation, Eula figured she should introduce her, "Where are my manners? Sora, I'd like to introduce you to my dear friend, Amber"
"Hi, there! It's nice to finally meet you, Sora!" the girl now known as Amber said, cheerfully waving at the Keyblade wielder.
"Hey! Nice to meet you, Amber!" Sora said, extending his hand out for a handshake which he happily got.
"I hope Eula hasn't confused you about what happened last night?"
"Oh. Don't worry. She told me what happened yesterday. I can't believe I wasn't here to help you guys. I was out helping deliver supplies to Dragonspine and didn't hear about the monster attack until just this morning" Amber explained, looking dejected that she couldn't be here to help.
"That's all right, Amber. Thanks to Eula, Kaeya, and the knights we were able to stop the Heartless from causing any more problems with Wolvendom. Now, with Jean having a better idea about the Heartless, she can better prepare Mondstadt for when the Heartless attack again" Sora said, crossing his arms and looking reassured about the situation.
"Yeah. Eula was telling me all about these Heartless as they're called. They sound pretty scary" Amber said, having a concerned look on her face.
"They are scary… but they don't have to be. If we all work together, then we can stop the Heartless. It's only if we underestimate them, then they'll get the upper hand and overwhelm us" Sora said, not wanting to scare her but stating the truth.
"Which is why Jean has created a strategy for the knights to follow if they are encountering the Heartless" Eula said, adding to the conversation.
"Mm. Once I returned to headquarters, I was told about the strategy" Amber then lifted a hand and ruffled the back of her hair while also awkwardly laughing. "And I got scolded for not having renewed my glider license. Haha…"
"Huh? Glider license? What's that?" Sora asked, confused about what she just said.
"Wait? Sora, you don't know what a glider license is?"
"Uhm… no. I didn't know that was a thing" Sora replied.
"Eula, have you or Jean or Kaeya not told him about having a glider license?" Amber said, looking straight at her friend with a narrowing gaze.
"I have not. We didn't necessarily need a glider in yesterday's incident. Nor do I think Kaeya or Jean mentioned this to Sora" Eula responded.
"Hmm. I see… well, Sora, how would you like to get a quick 101 glider demonstration?" Amber said, getting all excited since gliding was one of her favorite hobbies.
"Well, sure why not! It wouldn't hurt to learn a new skill" Sora excitedly answered.
"Great! Let's head outside the city, so I can show you a more open area. Eula, will you be coming with us?"
"*Shaking her head* I'm afraid not. I must report to Jean about a personal matter. When you two are done with the gliding lesson, come back to headquarters. Then, we can discuss what your next move will be, Sora" Eula explained, wanting to make sure that her responsibilities would be taken care of while she was traveling with Sora.
"All right then, see you soon," Sora said waving his hand.
"Also, Amber…" Eula's tone of voice seemingly instantly switched from friendly to intimidating. "I ask that you bring Sora back with all his limbs attached otherwise… I will be seeking vengeance on you!" Eula said, pointing her index finger right at Amber.
"Ok. Ok. Eula. I got it. I'll make sure he doesn't crash and burn into a tree or cliff" Amber said, casually brushing off Eula's vengeance talk.
"Haha…wait? What?" Sora said, growing worried.
"Nothing to worry about, Sora. Anyway, let's get going!" Amber said grabbing Sora's hand and dragging him toward the front gate of Mondstadt.
Eula watched as the two continued to get further and further away until they passed through the gate and were no longer able to be seen. This left her to sigh as she wished that she could've gone with them. But if she was to be able to go with Sora on his journey to Liyue, then she would need to double-check and make sure her tasks and responsibilities were taken care of.
Moreover, seeing Sora with Amber… made her shake her head. It wasn't that she was jealous or angry with Amber. She was her best and first friend in the Knights of Favonius. However, Eula was more worried about Amber spilling the beans about her. Telling Sora something about her that was embarrassing or something he could use to tease her…
This train of thought made Eula go wide-eyed and swerve her head at the front gate. If she was quick enough, then she could finish her last-minute tasks and catch up with them. Deciding that was the best option to go for, Eula speed walked to the Knights of Favonius headquarters to get her work done.
Now having been dragged outside the gates of Mondstadt and crossing the bridge over the water, Sora was following behind Amber and had to be quick. The brown-haired girl was quick on her feet which made him have to pick up the pace. Jumping off a small hill and rolling on his back and planting his feet to get back up, Sora was amazed at how versatile she was. It also reminded him that he wasn't up to his original strength.
In other words, he didn't have the stamina that he had when fighting in the Keyblade War. He would really need to check and see what power he still had available to him and how he could make up for the lost power.
However, he would need to push these thoughts to the side as he noticed Amber slowing down while coming up to a small, mid-sized hill. This is probably where she would teach him to glide. Speaking of gliding…
Sora didn't get to finish that thought because Amber started calling out to him.
"All right! Sora let me give you a quick but efficient lesson on gliding 101. Are you ready?"
"Yep! I'm ready"
"Great! Let's get started. First, you're probably wondering what I mean when I'm talking about a glider right?" Amber asked, looking at Sora who nodded his head.
"Well, take a look at this" Amber then took a step back and extended her arms out. Suddenly, two large feather-like wings appeared out of her back. The color of the wings was a dark grey reminding Sora of a bird's wings.
"Whoa! What the… where did those come from?!" Sora questioned, looking confused and concerned.
"Hahaha! Don't worry. These wings are what we call a glider. They're not actually attached to us…at least I don't think so" Amber said, ending her explanation vividly.
"Uh… Amber, why did you stop so suddenly?" Sora asked, becoming worried again.
"N-no reason. Anyway, using a glider is a very convenient method of travel. Getting to jump from high cliffs or even mountains and glide through the air. Of course, you have to be careful about the weather, wind direction, and any objects that could get in your way. Along with watching your stamina. You wouldn't want to be in the middle of the air and feel dreary and at a loss of energy. That would spell really bad news" Amber explained.
Listening to everything Amber was saying, Sora grew really excited about the idea of gliding through the air. However, Sora did wonder if his Glide ability would make gliding with wings not really necessary. He didn't want to make Amber's explanation all for nothing, but how would that play out exactly?
"Yeah… I hope everyone that uses a wind glider has been given a lesson on flying"
"You bet. Mondstadt has a wind glider license so everyone must use a glider around the city. Otherwise, it's marked as illegal, and you'll get reprimanded for it. The license is just to make sure you know what you're doing in the air so that you protect yourself and others" Amber stated.
"Understandable. So, what's next in your lesson plan" Sora asked, tilting his head.
"Well, what better way to get flying than to try it out for yourself! Of course, we'll be using a small hill that isn't that high up" Amber said, pointing to a hill up ahead.
"Mm. Let's do this!"
Amber couldn't agree more and sprinted up the hill with a spring in her step. Excited that Sora was eager to also try gliding. Sora, meanwhile, was considering not showing her his magical Gliding ability and not needing a wind glider. However, he was curious about whether he still had that power with him since that power tended to always get taken away from him.
Making his way up to Amber, he met her at the edge of the small hill and looked over the edge realizing that it was only a couple of feet high. He could jump off the hill and safely land on his feet or roll onto the ground either way he was safe.
"Right then, since you didn't know what a wind glider was until a little bit ago, I'll lend you a spare set that I carry with me," Amber said, reaching into the side pouch on her belt and magically pulling out a wind glider that looked very similar to what she was wearing.
Sora chuckled as he saw someone else also pull a large item out of their pocket. He thought he was the only one with that kind of power. Or maybe he just had really big pockets?
"Here you go. Could you turn around and let me put these on? The glider is like my bow being able to be summoned when needed but floating behind my back and disappearing when I don't need it" Amber stated.
"Sure! But… how does that work exactly? Your weapon and glider just disappear when you don't need them and when you do they appear, right?" Sora asked, wondering if the glider and weapon would work like his Keyblade.
"I… I don't really know. That's just how it's always been. Huh. I never really gave it much thought" Amber said.
"Strange…"
"But putting that to the side, you're all set! Now then, when you jump off a high enough spot extend your arms out and the glider will appear and open. Keep your arms extending and balance yourself while in the air and be prepared to descend" Amber reported.
"Got it. Well, here we go!" Sora said, deciding to try out the wind glider this time around.
Bouncing on the balls of his feet, Sora then began jogging toward the edge of the hill and jumped right into the air. He then quickly threw his arms out and pulled his body back all while the wind glider appeared on his back and let him slowly glide through the air. Sora had to move the right side of his body more to the left in order to find the perfect position. What he had now was a perfect posture and was comfortably flying through the air and coming closer and closer to the ground.
Upon feeling the ground touch his shoes, Sora had to keep on trekking forward until he came to a stable position and was completely on the ground safe and sound. The wind glider then suddenly disappeared from his back leaving him back to normal. In all honesty, that was really exciting! Sora couldn't help but have a bright smile on his face. Wanting to glide through the air again.
Amber could be heard cheering from the top of the small hill jumping up and down. Sora sent her a thumbs-up and began making his way back to her. Now, he was ready to try out his Glide ability. And in the worst case, he could quickly summon his wind glider or just fall to the ground and roll back onto his feet.
Back where Amber was now, Sora could see how happy she was that he got it on his first try.
"You did it, Sora! For most people, it takes a couple of times to try to keep themselves balanced while in the air. Are you sure this is your first time flying?" Amber asked, looking at Sora curious if this really was his first time flying.
"…No. It's not my first time flying. But it is my first time flying with a wind glider" Sora answered, not wanting to lie to his new friend.
"Oh? Really? How did you fly the last time you did then?" Amber questioned, growing extremely curious.
"Well… see for yourself" Sora then bolted toward the edge and jumped right into the air, but instead of pulling his arms out and summoning his wind glider he just moved his body forward with his arms to the side and legs sticking out. It made no sense to Amber.
However, what happened next left Amber speechless. Sora was still floating in the air with his arms and legs out but instead of falling to the ground, he was rising higher and higher in the air until he was straight up just floating in the air while waving back at Amber with a large grin on his face.
"Wh-wh-whaat! Sora! How are you… I mean, how…why… what's going on?!" Amber yelled, losing her mind at how Sora was still in the air without a wind glider.
"Ahahaha! Don't worry. I'm coming back down" Sora said, not wanting to leave the poor girl to go crazy.
Sora began gliding his way over to the hill where Amber was still standing with a confused look on her face. However, while flying over to her, Sora felt something happening through his body. It felt like his energy was quickly being drained from him. This caused him to look at his body and notice that he was slowly decreasing toward the ground.
Worry began to appear in Sora's mind, but he did not want to stress Amber about his situation. His Gliding ability was still accessible, but it did not last long. Still, though, it was better than nothing. Having more abilities under his belt was something he was not against.
But before he could continue to glide over to Amber, he was only a few feet away from landing on the top of the hill when he went wide-eyed and looked down to see that he was not flying anymore but falling. Sora's only reaction to him coming closer to the ground was to let out a meek, "Uh-oh…"
The next thing Sora realized was that he was now staring up at the sky but with leaves and branches blocking his view. His body also hurt but nothing major was broken. He did let out a little chuckle realizing that his Gliding ability was probably nerfed along with some of his other powers. He really needed to do a full inventory check on what abilities and powers he still had.
From Amber's perspective, one moment she was overloaded with questions about how Sora was able to fly without a wind glider and then that confusion turned to excitement seeing something new and amazing. But that quickly turned into dread and fear as she saw Sora start falling out of the air before he could reach the hill. Seeing him drop headfirst into a bundle of bushes left Amber going pale. Didn't she just tell her friend that everything would be all right?
"Oh, no… Eula's really going to take vengeance on me…" Amber said, having both a defeated and worried tone of voice.
However, before Amber could continue to fear for her life, Sora popped himself out of the bushes he crashed into and wiped off all the leaves and branches that were caught on his jacket and even his air. He then started making his way up to Amber seeing that she was concerned about him, looking him up and down to see if he had anything missing.
"Hey, Amber. I'm all good. Nothing is missing, just a few cuts and bruises from the bushes haha!" Sora said, chuckling at what happened.
"Whew. That's good to hear. Had me worried for a minute. But seriously what was that? How were you able to stay in the air for so long? And what happened there at the end?" Amber asked.
"Well…" Sora ruffled the back of his hair, deciding to tell her about his ability to fly but for reasons, his ability wasn't as strong as it used to be. Which is why he fell before reaching the hill. "A while back, on one of my earlier journeys, I gained a magical ability that let me fly. And over time I learned how to use that ability, but recently I lost some of my power along with not being able to hold some abilities for long. Which is why I suddenly fell out of the air"
"Whoa… that's something else. But back when you had all your power could you fly for a long time?" Amber asked, curious about Sora's ability.
"Hmmm…" Sora took on a thinking pose as he had to really think about it. "I never really timed myself for how long I could fly. But when I could really fly, then I didn't have any problems with suddenly falling out of the air"
Amber crossed her arms thinking to herself about the information Sora had just told her. Hearing that your new friend could fly through the air without a glider is something that would throw anyone off. After taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Amber's eyes lit up as she looked at Sora.
"Say…since you're able to fly without a glider but not for too long. You still need a way to get around right?" Amber asked with an excited tone.
"Yeah. It wouldn't hurt to have another option to get around, especially if I'm going to be traveling" Sora reasoned.
"Well then, you'll be needing your wind glider then!"
"Ah! Right! I totally forgot that I still had it on me ahaha…" Sora said, feeling guilty about still having Amber's spare wind glider and having his Glide ability overshadow it.
"Yep! And with a wind glider, there's also something else you'll need"
"Huh? What's that?"
"A wind glider license!" Amber said, pulling out her own license, and showcasing it to Sora.
"With this, you'll be able to fly around Mondstadt without getting into trouble. I'm not sure if the other nations require a license as well, but it's required here in Mondstadt" Amber stated.
"That's neat. Reminds me of another license I once had on me" Sora muttered recalling his Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee license that he got from Leon and the gang. "Well, how do I go about getting a license?"
"You just asked the magic question, Sora!" Amber said, now with an energetic expression. "Why, I can help you get your license. And all it'll take is a quick exercise!"
"Err… exercise? What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, don't worry. Nothing too crazy. We're just going to run through some courses. Just to prove to me that you have a handle on using the wind glider. You know, safety first and what to do in a what-if situation" Amber explained.
Sora had a bad feeling seeing Amber get this worked up over a license that he would need for flying which has never happened to him before. Well, there's always a first for everything.
"All right. Well, where do we begin?" Sora asked.
Amber couldn't help but pump her fist in the air as she led Sora to the location where she would usually conduct wind gliding training. The obstacle course she had in mind to set up would consist of large balloons Sora would need to watch out for, wind currents that would either send him flying up higher in the sky or shoot him right at the ground or avoid any attacks aimed at him while in the air.
Sora had his work cut out for him and Amber was definitely going to make him into a tip-top wind glider flier.
Back with Eula
Having returned to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, the young blue-haired maiden set to make a pit stop at the Acting Grand Master's room and report to her about all her responsibilities and tasks being handled by her colleagues along with Kaeya stepping in to help her. He was surprised to hear that she was taking some time off but as soon as he heard the real reason, he couldn't help but smirk at the situation and lend his full support to Eula.
Knocking on Jean's door, Eula waited a minute before she was given the go-ahead to enter the room. Upon entering Eula saw Jean working diligently on a paper that had quite a lot of words. Moreover, she also saw the documents that were given to her yesterday which had a significant amount of detail recalling the Heartless incident and everything else surrounding the new foe.
"Jean, I take it you've been working all night?"
"No, though, as much as I wouldn't mind staying up a whole night to get all this other paperwork done there were other things I needed to get done. Seeing that Sora will most likely be taking off later to Liyue, I wanted to draft him a letter that would serve to help him get in touch with the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. Lady Ningguang is a well-respected individual and quite friendly to those who are not after her for favors. She is someone who can greatly help Sora" Jean said, putting down the quill she was using and leaning back in her seat.
"Moreover, since Sora will be on the lookout for any information on the Heartless available to him while in Liyue, I figured a letter wouldn't hurt to have in case he is outright denied access to any libraries. Better to be safe than sorry" Jean added.
"Agreed. We don't know exactly how things will play out while in Liyue" Eula stated.
"Nevertheless, I take it you've cleared everything up on your end?" Jean asked, looking at her friend.
"Yes. Everything has been taken care of. Thanks to the knights and Kaeya, most of my assignments are being handled. Though, if I'm being honest, some knights are probably having the time of their lives right now hearing that I'll be on leave for quite some time" Eula said, sporting a frown on her face.
"Eula…" Jean replied.
"It's fine, Jean. I'm not that bothered by them. In fact, I'm rather very eager to set out with Sora"
"Speaking of him, where is he? I thought he would be with you?"
"He met me while I was conversing with Amber. She then asked if he wanted to get a quick lesson on wind gliders which will most likely result in him working to get his license" Eula explained.
"I see… I'm guessing you still haven't asked him about traveling with him to Liyue?" Jean asked, shooting Eula a look.
"I…have not. And while I should be worried about his response, given that I've gotten to know Sora in a short time. I am willing to bet he will allow me to accompany him. Moreover, he does need a guide to get to Liyue" Eula responded.
"Well…" Straightening her ponytail, Jean also had to agree that Sora would most likely have no problem with Eula joining him on his journey. "It's still a good idea to ask him before he sets out"
"Don't worry. As a descendant of the Lawrence clan, I will make full sure to ask Sora in a stylized and respected to join him in his adventure" Eula said, putting one hand on her hip and using her other hand or rather index finger and pointing it at Jean who had a blank expression on her face.
"All right. In that case, it seems we are just waiting for those two to return" Jean said, used to Eula's behavior.
Eula looked like she was about to say something but was stopped short when a knock could be heard coming from outside the Acting Grand Master's door. Jean turned to look at the door before calling out to the person on the other side.
"It's open. You may enter"
What followed was the entrance of two people who were just mentioned. Sora and Amber walked into the room and had vastly different expressions on each of their faces. Sora had what looked to be a worn-out look on his face while Amber had a bright smile on her face. Something odd must have happened.
"Sora. Amber. Good to see you two. I take it things went well?" Jean asked.
"You could say that…" Sora said, clearly shaken by whatever just happened.
"Yep! I say everything went off without a pitch, right Sora?" Amber said, earning a tired nod from the boy.
"How did using a glider fair you, Sora?" Eula asked, getting the boy's attention.
"It was a whole new experience that's for sure. A bit strange to use at first but once you get the hang of it then it's manageable" Sora replied, snapping out of his dazed mood.
"That's good to hear. I also take it that Amber got you certified and now you have a wind glider license?" Jean said with an already knowing tone of voice.
"Yeah… she sure did" Sora mumbled while recalling all the crazy maneuvering that he had to endure.
After he and Amber decided to work on him showing that he was ready for a gliding license, Amber miraculously had an obstacle course already made. Sora had no idea when or how she did it, but everything was there in a nice and neatly stationed fashion. Large balloons in the air, arrows pointing in a certain direction, and Amber holding what appeared to be a large plush doll that looked oddly like her.
The next thing Sora recalled was being in the air and having to dodge all sorts of random things being stationed in his way while gliding in the air. All of this just to earn a wind glider license? What else did Amber have the previous wind glider license participants go through to get their license?
Sora would suddenly stop having these thoughts as he landed face-first into a large balloon. Amber could be heard down below making an "oof" sound at the impact. And let it be known that this wasn't the only time he was hit with one of Amber's obstacles.
Shaking his head, Sora was just glad that he managed to pass her course and test earning him a small license that he tucked away into his pocket.
"I'd say that he has a real talent for using a wind glider. With more practice, he's sure to become a master at using it!" Amber exclaimed, getting excited again.
"In any case, I've prepared you a letter for when you make it to Liyue. If you're unable to enter any of the libraries for some reason, show whoever is in charge and mention seeing Lady Ningguang about some important information" Jean said, handing Sora the professional-looking letter.
"Got it. Thank you, Jean. I'm sure the letter will help a lot to find any information that I'm looking for" Sora replied.
"Of course, Sora. It's the least I could do to help you. You did help us with the Heartless not only by defeating them but providing us with the necessary information to be better prepared. I only wish I could help more" Jean stated.
"Jean quit worrying so much. You've helped a great deal" Eula added.
"Yeah! You were one of the first people Sora sought out for help" Amber peeped up.
"Don't worry, Jean. I'll come back and visit everyone. And when I do, could you help me find the ancient ruins that Lisa was talking about? If things don't work out in Liyue and wherever I'll have to go next, then I'll want to come back and check those ruins out for any old books. Maybe the ruins are holding something that'll help me in my journey?" Sora explained, offering a friendly smile to the pony-tailed blonde.
Jean felt a boost of energy when she heard Sora asking for her help in searching for ruins around Mondstadt. This would be her chance to truly help him. She couldn't help him with all of his problems but helping him with the ruins would be something she would not fail. And if she was being honest, it would allow her to spend some more time with the spiky brown-haired boy and get to know him better. Growing closer to new friends was always something Jean enjoyed.
"Of course, Sora. I'll personally see to it that I help you explore any old ruins located around Mondstadt" Jean said, placing a hand close to her heart.
"Right! Well then, it might be a good time to start heading out" Looking around the room, Sora was seeing if anyone else was there hoping to say goodbye to his new friends. "Where's Lisa and Kaeya?"
"Lisa is preparing a lesson for one of her students to show up later. And Kaeya was tasked with some reconnaissance work on the coast of Mondstadt. They're sorry that they couldn't be here to see you off but rest assured that they are wishing you luck in your journey" Jean explained.
"That's all right. It's not like I'm leaving forever. Think of it as just a see you later kind of thing. Besides, I don't really like goodbyes" Sora replied, bringing a hand over his heart. "It makes it sound like we won't ever see each other again when that's not the case"
Everyone in the room was hit with a strange feeling in their hearts. Hearing how the boy phrased it, they were slowly beginning to understand how Sora felt about the word. In reality, goodbye did sound like something someone said to another as a sort of finalization. Sora must have had some sort of bad experience with the word in his past. This thought left the three girls puzzled. That was until Amber decided to ask for herself.
"I don't think I've ever heard anyone define goodbye like that before. Did something cause you to dislike the word goodbye, Sora?" Amber asked.
"Well…" Scratching the back of his head, Sora let out a sigh as he remembered the many times that he had to leave a new world. It was honestly sad knowing that he wouldn't be able to come back and visit his friends in that world due to the routes being broken or difficult to follow again. And now that he vanished from his world losing the Power of Waking, he might never be able to return home. Goodbye hit a whole lot harder now.
"I feel that goodbye just makes it seem like you'll never see your friends again. And… I don't want to think like that. Even if it sounds strange… my friends are my power. They give me the strength to keep pushing forward" Sora said, full of confidence and even inspiration behind his words.
Everyone else could only be taken back by Sora's conviction. The positivity and inspiration coming from his words were something that each one of the girls would hold onto for quite a long time.
"Strength in numbers. I like that" Eula said.
"Yeah! Having friends by your side will always be a good thing" Amber added.
"Mm. Thank you, Sora. I'll be sure to keep those words close to the heart" Jean said, offering a smile to the Keyblade wielder.
"Another phrase that I've started to keep close to my heart is…" Bringing his hand to his heart and closing his fist, Sora had a pleasant and humbled smile on his face. "May your heart be your guiding key"
"Whoa… that's a really powerful phrase!" Amber said, excited and feeling chills in her arms.
"Indeed. It offers a sort of deeper meaning behind it. Listening to your heart…" Eula said, staring down at her chest and specifically her heart.
"May your heart be your guiding key… I like it" Jean replied, having her own thoughts on the phrase.
"I've also got a bunch of other quotes my friends and I used to inspire each other, but those can wait until after I come back," Sora said, smirking to himself as he remembered the many hilarious catchphrases that he, Donald, and Goofy used to share with each other.
A moment of peace seemed to settle into the room as everyone was having their own thoughts on processing the phrase Sora just said. It wasn't until Jean looked outside that she could see that the day was now shifting to around noon. If Sora was to make his way to Liyue, then he would need to leave soon to make it before it became too late.
"Looks like the day is coming close to around noon. Sora, if you're ready to get going to Liyue, then you might want to start heading out now. You don't want to be caught out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. Encountering elemental slimes, treasure hoarders, hilichurls, and other kinds of enemies will be out and about" Jean explained.
"Yeah. You're right about that. I still don't know exactly how to get there aside from using the map that was in the library yesterday" Sora replied.
"Oh? It's almost noon?... Oh! It's almost noon! Oh no, I gotta get going. Sorry, Sora. I've got a bunch of new knights getting ready to earn their wind glider license and have to be there at noon" Amber said, jumping up and getting ready to bolt out the door.
"Ahahaha! That's all right, Amber. I understand… I really do" Sora muttered, recalling the crazy obstacle course.
"Mm. Well then, Jean, I'll see you later and get my assignments done later. Eula…" Amber looked over at her friend and gave her a bright smile and two thumbs up. "Good luck! And Sora take care!"
With that said, Amber sprinted out of the Acting Grand Master's room to her wind glider appointment leaving everyone else to chuckle at the brunette's behavior. Sora realized that now would be a good time to start heading out and making his way to Liyue. Pulling out his Gummiphone, he was about to start opening his map when Eula spoke up.
"Sora…"
"Huh? Yeah, Eula. What's wrong?" Sora asked, wondering what was eating at the blue-haired captain.
"I was…" Eula stopped herself and mentally facepalmed. Why was it so hard to say what was on her mind? It was just a simple request. What kind of Lawrence was she to freeze because of anxiety and nervousness? Grasping her fist, Eula mentally prepared herself and asked the million-mora question.
"I was wondering… if it would not be too much trouble if I accompanied you on your travels to Liyue…" Eula said, looking at Sora right into his blue, beautiful eyes.
Sora was surprised by her sudden request. Of course, the way she said it made it seem like something almost controversial or like he would outright deny her. From Sora's perspective, he was always traveling with Donald and Goofy and especially with his new friends whom he met when landing in a new world. So, hearing Eula ask if she could travel with him was something that got him all excited.
"Of course, you can, Eula! Did you think I wouldn't want a friend traveling with me?" Sora asked, having a bright smile on his face while tilting his head.
"I was of the mind that you might say no" Eula said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Well, you thought wrong. I love traveling around with friends. Besides, I still kind of need a guide to help me get to Liyue. Eheheh…" Sora said, awkwardly laughing at the thought of him getting lost and wandering off the path to Liyue.
Eula could only fault herself for thinking like that. Even though she only met Sora yesterday, he was someone who seemed to keep a conversation going for hours and not have it get boring. Or that he was beyond friendly and understanding even knowing a person's background and did not think ill of them. A real friend everyone wished to have in their lifetime.
"What a ridiculous assumption I've made…" Eula muttered while shaking her head and offering Sora a small smile. "Very well, I look forward to traveling with you, Sora"
"Yeah! It's gonna be fun" Sora replied, excited to not be traveling alone.
"Took you long enough," Jean said, having stayed on the sidelines.
"…*sigh* Longer than it should have" Eula agreed.
"In any case, Sora, I wish you the best of luck on your journey, and stay safe," Jean said.
"I will and we'll both be back before you know it" Sora confidently said.
"I look forward to when you'll return. And Eula do take care of yourself" Jean added.
"Hmph. You doubt me too much. Need I remind you that I still have unfinished business to get through if I'm to achieve my goal" Eula retorted.
Jean could only sigh and shake her head while offering her friend a nod of acknowledgment. No more words needed to be said as the trio knew their time was coming to an end. Sora offered Jean one more wave followed by a smile before looking over at Eula and giving her a nod to which she also nodded. The two then offered Jean a bow before making their way out of the Acting Grand Master's room and out of the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
Now left alone in her office, Jean sat back in her seat and twiddled with a pen on her desk while closing her eyes. She still had a lot of work to get done and preparations to be made to counter the Heartless. However, she couldn't help but let out a small smile appear at the corner of her lips. While she couldn't accompany Sora this time around to help him in his search. There would be a next time.
Walking next to each other, Sora and Eula were now of the same mind on what materials and equipment would be needed for their trek to Liyue.
"So, what sort of equipment will we need for the journey?" Sora asked.
"Well, seeing that this will be your first time traveling and the landscape will be all new and unfamiliar. We will need enough food and tools to help with cooking. The weather around this time is calm and peaceful without much rain, so that won't be a concern we need to worry about" Eula said.
"Are you able to carry equipment like Amber? With the whole pulling things, out of nowhere" Sora asked.
"Yes. I'm also able to have an inventory with me so that I can carry some things. To be honest, I don't know exactly how it works but if it allows for me to carry the equipment I need, then I won't say no to it" Eula responded.
Sora could relate to that. Carrying around all the magic potions and charms that he found in his adventures. He had to wonder if his pockets were that big. But that question would have to wait as he spotted something strange up ahead. It looked like a small pillar that was floating and glowing blue.
"Hey Eula, what's that thing?" Sora asked, pointing to the strange object.
"That's a waypoint pillar. It's mainly used by those who have a large amount of magical energy on hand. Using it without being prepared can take a great toll on your body" Eula explained.
"What kind of toll?" Sora asked, concerned about what she was getting at.
"Nothing dangerous mind you. But think about it," Crossing her arms, Eula explained. "Say you were looking to travel to another point across the land and you used a waypoint. If you were not adequately prepared to use the waypoint and just foolishly used it. Then, after you teleported to where you wanted to go you would be dealing with a great amount of energy stripped away from you. Similar to the symptoms of being sick and tired with no real energy to help you"
"Moreover, you'll have a massive migraine to deal with which will ultimately leave you defenseless and at the mercy of monsters or bandits or worse" Eula added.
"That sounds…rough. Have you tried teleporting using a waypoint pillar?" Sora asked.
"Yes, I have. Though I was well prepared to do so beforehand and I knew exactly where I was going. But for now, it won't do us any good to use one. Plus, you need to have already connected with a waypoint pillar before you can use it" Eula said.
"Ah. Gotcha. Well, it might be a good idea that while we're heading to Liyue to connect with any waypoints that are along the way"
"Correct. That would be a wise decision"
Sora then raised his hand up to the waypoint pillar and could feel a sort of energy flowing through his body. It reminded him of the strange healing circles he and his friends encountered while traveling through the worlds, only this time it wasn't healing him. But it did provide a nice feeling.
Having connected with the waypoint, Sora turned to Eula and continued to make their way to buy some necessary supplies that they would need for their journey. Even though it was a somewhat straight shot to Liyue, with the appearance of the Heartless things were bound to become difficult. This meant that getting to Liyue was something that they needed to do soon but not at the cost of their safety.
Hence, the Keyblade wielder and Reconnaissance captain both made their way to one of the vendors where Eula got her supplies for operations. The road to Liyue would be one that she was familiar with having been to Liyue a few times, but there was still the possibility of things not going as planned. Better to stay prepared than unprepared. Thus, the two continued to get ready for the start of their adventure together.
Back in Liyue
Within the streets of Liyue, many citizens were out and about. Old and young running back and forth on a busy day like today. However, sitting at a table located to the offside of the busy streets was a dark-haired man. This individual was Zhongli. The Geo Archon. And like the many times, he had encountered the traveler and his companion, Zhongli was enjoying his cup of tea all while listening to the storyteller remark upon the stories of Liyue's past.
This was one of Zhongli's hobbies that he enjoyed. Listening to storytellers tell passing merchants or young children the history of Liyue and the many great stories featuring not only monsters or Adepti but Rex Lapis himself. There were many times when Zhongli had to put on a stone-faced expression given how badly a storyteller or two depicted detailed stories featuring the Geo Archon, and how those depictions were nowhere near the truth of what really happened.
But alas, it did not matter. His time was now spent working in the funeral parlor amongst other things. However, while sitting at his table, Zhongli began to feel strange. Almost as if someone had blown cold air his way and forced his body to become tense. Not wanting to make a scene, he promptly stood up from his seat and pulled a few Mora out as thanks for the tea. Next, he began to make his way toward the gate nearest to him so that he could take a step outside of the city.
After walking past the gate and offering a friendly wave to familiar faces, Zhongli found himself standing near a cliff that offered a beautiful view of Liyue in all her glory. A small breeze could be felt blowing leaves around his feet. There was so much more to life that he still wanted to find out even being the Geo Archon. Thanks to the help of a certain traveler and his fairy companion, Zhongli had many more things that he wished to achieve. New sights and new experiences are to be had.
However, at the moment, he felt that something was off. Lifting his right hand right in front of his body, he grasped his hand and closed his eyes. There was a feeling in the wind that seemed…off. Something that was not good but evil. It made him frown while also opening his eyes and looking out at Liyue.
"It would seem that there are still many mysteries left to be unraveled in this world. I only hope that the people of this new age of Liyue are prepared to confront whatever this new threat may be…" Zhongli said, crossing his arms and looking out to Liyue one last time before turning around and looking in the direction where Mondstadt was located.
"May you also stay well, Barbatos…" Zhongli added.
The Archon then began to make his way back to Liyue to catch up with his colleague Hu Tao on a business order for the funeral parlor while still holding many thoughts in his heart about the strange feeling he sensed.
Perhaps, his concerns would soon be answered in the form of something or rather someone new.
*A/N – Sorry for the delay. Was focused on updating a few of my other stories and then school started making things a whole lot more difficult. Haven't had much time to work on anything really and probably won't for a minute. Nevertheless, this story is not stopping anytime soon. With Eula at his side, Sora is now bound for Liyue. I wanted to incorporate the waypoint system and statues of the Archons somehow in the story but not really let them be a quick warp for Sora to get from place to place. For now, at least. But getting to each nation on foot first is bound to have some crazy situations for the Keyblade wielder. Hope you stick around for more to come and take care.