Xiao walked down the hallway, paper in hand. He read the contents before immediately scrunching it up and throwing it away.
"Worthless."
His voice was rough. He wore a dark hoodie, an oversized hood draped over his head as he walked to class, many other students giving him a wide berth as he passed. His unapproachable demeanor and volatile personality made sure of that. Edgy, many people would call him. Understandable if you knew about his complex past.
Despite his cold outward appearance, Xiao still had his fair share of admirers; the piece of paper he just threw away being a confession proved this. Perhaps they were enamored by his looks. He definitely gave off your typical bad boy vibes - tattoos, a lean and athletic build, and sharp facial features.
Of course, there was also the rumor about his combat skills. Despite being new to the school, Xiao quickly cemented himself as one of if not the best fighters in the school.
He sat down at his usual spot: the secluded back corner of the classroom, away from all the other students. Xiao spent the entire period alone, not bothering to socialize with any of his peers. No exchanging notes, talking with friends or asking questions.
It wasn't as if he didn't have any friends or talked to no one. He just preferred to keep to himself most of the time. The stares he often received were easily ignored.
When the period ended, and the class was dismissed, he was the first to leave. History, Xiao felt, was an intriguing subject - one that held significant importance in Xiao's eyes. Such a shame, however, that the subject was taught by a plain and boring professor.
It was said that the Geo Archon himself would occasionally give lectures in this class, imparting his vast knowledge of the past to his students. He hasn't done it once in all of Xiao's time here. Then again, he was a relatively new student.
Speaking of new students, Xiao heard rumors of there being two new transfer students coming. He even saw one of them in class already. Childe was his name if Xiao remembered correctly. He sincerely hoped that none of them would be assigned to his dorm, and that if they were, they were at least a normal human being.
He already had one idiot as a dormmate, he definitely didn't need another.
"You must be Childe?" Ganyu asked. Her voice was quiet and reserved, yet there was a definite tone of sweetness underneath it all. Innocence. Something pure and naive. It reminded Childe of his own sister when she was younger. "My name's Ganyu and I'll be conducting your archery exams today."
They went over to the shooting range. There were multiple targets of varying size and distance.
"I want you to aim and shoot each target three times," Ganyu explained. "If you can, try to imbue elemental energy into your arrow. I'll be evaluating you based on your consistency, accuracy and form."
Childe brought out his bow. It wasn't his signature bow - he only used that for serious fights. Nicknamed rust, it had a black, red and white color scheme that matched his outfit. Don't ask where the name came from though, as Childe didn't have an answer to that.
"I'm assuming I can't just hit all the targets at once and have to aim to hit each individually?"
"What do you mean?" Ganyuasked, giving him a confused look.
"I guess a little demonstration is in order then," Childe said. He pulled back and charged up a hydro imbued magic arrow before releasing it. "Riptide!"
The arrow flew and hit the bullseye on the middle target. The moment the arrow connected, there was a large hydro blast. The riptide effect was activated and all the targets were shred to pieces.
"Like that?" Childe asked. Always satisfying when he shot arrows like that against multiple targets.
Ganyu's reaction was not what Childe was expecting. She grabbed onto her horns -
Oh, she has horns. I just noticed that.
- and sank down onto the ground in despair. "Wahhh, the targets broke again!"
"Again?"
She looked up at him and Childe couldn't help but notice how cute she looked. Those eyes, so vibrant and full of life unlike his own dull and dead ones.
"I-It's just that sometimes I imbue too much elemental energy into my arrow…"
"I see," Childe said. He turned around to see the various other archery ranges. Some of them even had moving targets. "We could always use another range."
"No!" Ganyu refused. Realizing she came off a bit too strong, she blushed before continuing on. "I'll just put you in S-class okay? You seem confident enough in your skills and your aim is top notch. Your form could use some work though. Other than that, I think you'll do fine being placed in S-class for archery."
"I appreciate your confidence in my skills," Childe said. "So, does that conclude my examinations?"
"Originally yes. Since your schedule is so full of other various combat exams, I anticipated that we wouldn't have enough time for the usual one on one duel using blunt arrows. However…" Ganyu trailed off, looking at the broken targets.
Childe chuckled sheepishly, feeling a bit guilty. "You're not getting in trouble for that are you?"
Ganyu sighed. "No. I'll just be tasked with fixing them, that's all."
"I can help you with that," Childe said. He walked up to one of the targets and experimentally poked it, accidentally triggering the riptide effect and breaking it even more. "Whoops-"
He quickly turned around and smiled sheepishly as if nothing had happened.
"I was originally planning to use this time to have our mock battle, but if you'd rather help me fix the targets, that'll be great as well." Ganyu said. She walked towards the broken targets. "We can start with the least da-"
"On second thought, let's have that duel," Childe suddenly said, interrupting Ganyu. Sure he was feeling guilty about breaking the targets, but his desire for a fight far far far outweighed his guilt.
"Very well then," Ganyu said. He expected some sort of reaction from Ganyu when he abruptly changed his mind, but her tone was still the same. Her smile still there. She tossed him a couple of blunted arrows. "First person to land three direct hits wins."
Childe spun his bow in anticipation. A fights a fight, even if it was just a side show - he was using a bow after all, the weapon he was the least adept with.
"I'll shoot an arrow into the sky, and when it drops, our duel begins."
"He was a person of mysterious origins. His clothing was unique, unlike anything I've ever seen before. A very quiet but helpful fellow, he had a geo and anemo vision. He showed up at the campus borders one day claiming he was searching for his sister." Andrius explained. "If you want to know more, just ask Amber. If I recall correctly, you two were rather close."
"Huh? Oh yeah, I was the one who found him outside the campus borders while patrolling," Amber said. "And I helped put up missing person posters for him, not just in the campus but all of Monstadt and Liyue."
"I commend you for your effort," Kazuha said, praising Amber. "You went through great lengths to help reunite two lost siblings."
Amber blushed at the praise and scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "Well about that…"
"Hm?"
"He never found his sister," Andrius answered for Amber. "The traveler stayed for half a year, helped us with various things, before setting off."
"I see…" Kazuha said softly. At least she was missing, not dead. To Kazuha, a missing Tomo would be infinitely better than a dead one. "If you don't mind me asking, where did he head off to next?"
Amber and Andrius looked at each other. Hesitantly, Amber answered. "We're not exactly sure where, but he did voice thoughts about heading to Inazuma. Something about wanting to check the school out before the border completely closed."
Kazuha froze at the mention of Inazuma. Thankfully, they didn't know about his past. On the outside, his expression remained unchanged. Inside, however, was a different story. Conflict. Uncertainty. His feelings were divided.
Amber shrugged her shoulders. "No point thinking about it now. He made his decision to leave, wherever the destination may be."
"I suppose so," Kazuha said, trying to keep his voice as steady and emotionless as possible. "I assume he is on a journey to visit all the nations?"
Andrius nodded. "That's where the nickname Traveler came from. He liked to travel a lot."
Andrius stretched his arms. "We've gone off track now. Kazuha," Andrius said, turning to make direct eye contact with him. "There's a reason why I wanted to talk to you in private."
He put a hand on Kazuha's shoulder, his height easily allowing him to do so. "I see great potential in you. It takes great ambition to receive a vision, let alone two."
Now that Kazuha thought about it, perhaps his desire to return to Inazuma was what awakened his friend's vision. To brave the lightnings glow.
"Your fighting skills are phenomenal," Andrius continued on. "Unfortunately, your fighting style is wholly different from mine. And your skill with your sword far surpasses anyone's here. It's safe to assume that no one here could really properly teach you the art of the blade."
There was actually a similar problem back in Inazuma, if Kazuha remembered correctly. The Kamisato siblings were taught their own clan's special brand of bladework from childhood. When they finally attended school, their swordsmanship far surpassed any instructor's skill at school. All except The Shogun, but She would hardly waste her time with the trivial and mundane task of teaching. As such, they brought in their own tutors to train them.
Kazuha has had the privilege to personally spar with the younger Kamisato sibling. Her skill with the blade was truly a sight to behold. So elegant yet deadly at the same time. Quick. Unpariable. He'd seen her end duels in a single quick strike. It was truly a sight to behold.
When comparing their skills, the difference was clear as day. Kazuha's own self taught style was nothing compared to her's. He'd never beaten her in a sword's only fight.
But when the use of elemental powers were involved, it was a different story.
"Which is why I'll be contacting an old friend of mine."
After saying that, Andrius turned to address Amber. "Amber, you mentioned that you were curious about the 'Golden Generation' I spoke of earlier, right?"
Nodding her head, Amber said, "Right, yeah, I did. I do have an inkling clue to what you're referring to."
Kazuha didn't.
"I might as well explain it fully," Andrius said. He took a deep breath, looked towards the sky as if reminiscing the times of old, and began his story.
"That year was the best year of my life, and likely the school's as well," Andrius said. His tone was prideful, almost as if he was bragging. "As you know, ML High has a reputation for never doing well during the inter school tournament. Natlan and Snezhnaya's school always come out on top for combat related events. Sumeru and Fontaine for knowledge based ones. Inazuma for any events that last long periods of time. And where does that leave us?
"Dead last. Monstadts ideals of freedom often cause students to be lazy. Hm, lazy is harsh. I'd say lost is a better way to term it. With the freedom to do so much, they end up doing almost nothing because they're stuck choosing what to do with no clear end goal. Varka is a prime example of this. A very talented individual, he's always going off on his little adventures to 'broaden his horizons'. These expeditions of his never really amount to anything. Jack of all trades, master of none.
"Liyue's ideals of contracts, on the other hand, have put students in the mindset of being unimaginative. To think inside the box, or contract if you will, only. They stick to the contract and never do more. Not always a bad thing, but sometimes, a little bit of added pizzazz, creativity, is all you need.
"But there was a time where things were different. A time where we, the students of ML High won almost every single event there was to be won by combining the positives of both Monstadt and Liyue's ideologies. Is freedom without a goal in life, really freedom at all? And should the details of a contract determine all that you do?
"I say Freedom with a little bit of guidelines can be just as liberating and that you don't need to follow a contract word for word, action for action. My generation understood that."
A pause.
"Of course, I'm no philosopher. What I just said could have made no sense whatsoever - I teach fighting after all, not thinking."
He put a hand against his chin. "The four winds of Monstadt and the Legendary Adepti. We were unmatched in combat. Rhinedottir was probably the smartest man alive. Ms. Ping was also the wisest and most down to earth person I know. Cloud Retainer was just way ahead of her time with all the neat devices and mechanisms she made. And we can't forget Alice, our ace in the hole.
"Okay, now that I think more about it, maybe we won that year because of how stacked our generation was."
Amber and Kazuha looked at each other.
"Ahhh, I still vividly remember those locker room discussions. Alice was such a bundle of chaos, mixed in with the strict and stoic Rhinedottir and you have a strange combination. Not to mention Cloud Retainer's odd style of speech. 'One shall refuse to deal with one's bullshit any longer'. And the way…"
Andrius went on and on, showing no signs of stopping before Amber interrupted him. "Professor, while I think this is interesting and all, don't we have more important matters to discuss?"
Andrius cleared his throat, looking a bit flustered for a moment. "Right. Kazuha. Old friend."
Kazuha had a vague idea of where this was going.
"Venessa, one of the four winds, was probably the best swordswoman I've ever known. I'll contact her and convince her to train you."
Amber blinked. "Couldn't you have said that from the beginning?"
Andrius let out an awkward laugh and scratched the back of his head. "Can't you let an old man reminisce about the good ol days? I hardly get to talk about it. Besides, it was you who asked about the 'Golden Generation' in the first place"
"I know I did," Amber replied, hands on her hips. "I just didn't expect you to get all philosophical and then go on rambling about your past."
"May I interject for a moment," Kazuha said. "But I'm curious as to why you are going through so much trouble for me. I never stated I was interested in all this in the first place."
Andrius let out a loud laugh. He slapped Kazuha in the back. "Kid, you're part of ML High now. Think of this place as your new home; you could even think of us as your new family. We strive to help all those here part of our community reach their full potential."
Home. A foreign concept to Kazuha. He was a wanderer before he was roped into attending Inazuma's Triple E School. Because of his vision.
Wanderer's don't have a home. At one point, he might have considered Inazuma's Triple E School to be his home, but after all that's happened…
"Professor…" Amber said.
"Ah, of course, there's also the fact that there's the tournament that's coming up. It may be my optimistic thinking, but I feel like we might stand a chance and do well this time around. Of course, I say that everytime…"
Andrius' words from before still stuck in Kazuha's mind. From his brief time here, Kazuha could feel that the atmosphere here was much different than back in Inazuma. Less oppressive. More friendly and open. Something he could get used to. Something he could call home.
Kazuha looked up at Andrius and said, "Thank you."
"Don't worry about it kid," he said, smiling. "Think nothing of it."
Andrius had to go teach his next class. Well, not teach really, more like spar with.
"It's so cool," Amber said excitedly, "that you might get trained by Venessa herself. She's Jean's idol, you know? Mine too, to some extent."
"Is that so?"
Kazuha only half paid attention to what she was saying. Instead, his ear's were focused on the words Andrius was mumbling to himself as he walked towards the four students in the center of the arena.
"...feel it. A new 'Golden Generation' is upon us. And the new students. First Xiao, and now Kazuha? This year just keeps getting more and more interesting…"
Ganyu attacked first. As soon as the projectile hit the ground, she released two arrows in quick succession.
"Whoa!"
Childe was forced to dodge. A flurry of arrows came shortly afterwards and he was forced to dodge those as well. While avoiding getting hit, Childe couldn't help but notice how elegant Ganyu looked. She looked so smooth and angelic while firing each arrow with deadly precision.
When Ganyu stopped her combo, Childe was finally able to go on the offensive. His rough and unpolished style contrasted greatly with Ganyu's. In fact, Childe all but threw his arrow at the end of his combo.
"Ngh! Didn't see that coming," Ganyu exclaimed, pain evident in her voice. Despite being blunted, getting hit by an arrow still hurts. And the force behind Childe's arrow shot… throw…? Whatever it was, it packed a punch.
Up until that point, Ganyu had gracefully dodged all of his arrows with no sweat. She hadn't been taking the duel too seriously. There was an air of casual elegance around her. Now however, her demeanor completely changed.
"Born of ice and frost!"
Childe shot two quick arrows in succession at Ganyu, only for them to harmlessly impact a cryo mirage of Ganyu.
There was also a cryo flower that Childe couldn't help but be entranced by. It reminded him of his home. Ever since she was little, Childe's sister always had an obsession with flowers. But the icy cold climate of Snezhnaya wasn't a suitable environment for them. Thus, Childe took time to painstakingly freeze the water he produced from his vision into the shape of a flower for his sister.
The distraction was all Ganyu needed to end the duel.
"I assume you will be leading me to my dorns now? To rest?" Kazuha inquired. He was still feeling tired from the fight with Andrius. His body was heavy and lethargic and he struggled to stand.
"Well…" Amber said, uncertainty in her voice. "I originally planned to show you around some of the well known and popular places around campus in between your exams. I still can if you'd like."
"I suppose one such destination couldn't hurt."
"Great! Well then, let's head off!" Amber exclaimed as she walked away. Kazuha followed suit.
Amber turned around, hands on her hips. "Aren't you gonna ask where we're headed off to?"
"I would, but you would just say: 'it's a surprise', so I chose not to ask."
Amber couldn't help but pout in response. "Nghh, okay, you got me there. The place isn't too far ahead anyways, come on!"
Amber ran off ahead all excited before she realized the condition Kazuha was in so she ran back, apologizing. The duo soon exited the forest into a large open, grassy area with a massive tree at the center. A statue of what Kazuha assumed to be the Anemo Archon stood erect in front of the tree.
Kazuha couldn't help but admire the beautiful scenery.
"Welcome to Windrise," Amber proudly said.
Extra scene/ future chapter teaser
"Your posture is off. Relax your shoulders a bit. And your stance is too wide - it leaves too many openings."
"S-Sorry," Ellin said. "I'm just nervous, you know…"
Jean sighed. "It's fine. Just remember to focus on technique first before power. You need to have a better understanding of the basics before we can really go any further. Now go practice your swings on those training dummies over there and be mindful of your stance."
"Of course."
Jean shook her head as she watched the girl run off. She was in charge of the swordsmanship club, a position that Lady Venessa was once in. In fact, Venessa was the one who founded the club. The thing was, she couldn't help but feel vastly inferior to her.
The club was meant for the best of the best swordsmen to be able to hone and polish their skills against each other. It wasn't easy to get into. At least, that was how it was supposed to be. Nowadays, the talent the club produced and sharpened was on the decline. The standards have fallen.
Just look at Ellin, the wannabe knight. Jean will admit she had passion and enthusiasm; those were great traits. But she lacked any ounce of talent or skill.
It wasn't as if there weren't any talented sword wielders apart from Jean herself. Kaeya, Albedo and Keqing were among the few that first come to mind. But they were far too busy doing their own things to even participate. Okay, that was a lie. Jean didn't know what Kaeya was up to half the time. And as for Albedo, he just wasn't interested.
Jean herself had entertained the thought of relinquishing her position - she did have an incredibly busy schedule after all. But she knew that the declining club would fall into further disarray should she leave. Their budget has already been cut multiple times, today's student council meeting furthering that fact. Jean didn't want to see a club that Venessa founded fall into ruin. At least, not on her watch.
It was a difficult task, that was for sure. The training dummies were old and the practice swords have unquestionably seen better days.
The club session soon reached its conclusion and Jean left the room along with the other various members. Ellin, being the ever diligent and passionate woman she was, opted to stay behind to practice her swings a bit more. Jean wasn't one to stop her.
But as she was walking down the hallway, she suddenly remembered an item of importance she left in the clubroom.
"How careless of me," Jean said, as she opened the clubroom door. Upon entering, she was greeted with the sight of Ellin practicing against a couple of training dummies.
"Gale Blade!"
Jean halted in her tracks and closed her eyes. She inhaled and exhaled slowly. That was not what she was teaching the club members. Was Ellin trying to copy her? Without a vision?
Tired. Overworked. Seeing things. Maybe Jean was just imagining things. As soon as she opens her eyes again, she'll see Ellin diligently practicing the techniques Jean taught her against the practice dummies.
She opened them. "Gale Blade!"
She let out a long and loud sigh. The club was doomed.
Ellin heard the sigh and turned around. The sight of Jean made her blood run cold. "Y-You didn't see that, did you?"
One look at Jean's expression told Ellin everything.
"AAAAAHHH!" She screamed. Pushing past Jean, she ran out of the clubroom, face redder than a tomato.
Jean offered a silent prayer. "Oh Barbatos, please guide me."
Retrieving the item of importance she left behind, she made way to leave the clubroom. Rest and relaxation were on Jean's mind when she opened the door only for her to be greeted by a certain transfer student at the door.
"Hi there," the student said. "I would like to apply to be a member of the swordsmanship club."
AN: Late again. Might as well make updates every Monday now, though this time I had the excuse of being busy finishing the Irodori Festival - should not have left that for the last minute. Anyways, I'll be working on editing the previous chapters. I won't be changing the plot or anything, just fixing up the wording and some grammatical errors. Plus, I'll be adding a more in depth summary soon.
Anyanyways, thank you very much ItsSouls24 for your review. I'm trying to include as many characters as I can into my story while mainly focusing on the main ones. I'll try to add more Yanfei. You likely won't see Ayaka for a while though, but she will get mentions. Also, kageroudaze13 my bro, my guy, my dude, thank you so very much for your continued support and reviews. Appreciate a lot.
And also a huge thank you to all those who favorited and followed. I'll try not to disappoint you guys.