The Investigation of the Holy Lyre der Himmel
The sun had long since set by the time Paimon and I returned to the Church of Favonius. We'd taken some time to stop by Good Hunter and grab something to eat. I'd ordered something called a Flaming Red Bolognese, and Paimon had eaten an entire Sweet Madam on her own. I don't know how her food was, but it must have been good, since she finished the entire thing. The bolognese, however, was delicious. The noodles were soft, but just firm enough to hold their shape. It was seasoned with salt and pepper, and the tomato sauce mixed in with the ground meat added texture and flavor to the filling dish. I'd asked for the recipe, and the restaurant's owner, Sara, had happily parted with it on account of me being both the guy who drove off Stormterror, as well as an Honorary Knight of Favonius. Ahhh, it was nice having some authority. Of course I offered to pay for both the meals and the recipe, but Sara had insisted it was on the house this time as thanks for the work I'd done. Of course, she teased that she expected me to pay the next time I came around, which I agree to. I wouldn't want to completely leech off of the goodwill of Mondstadt's citizens.
Arriving at the Church of Favonius, I was greeted by one of the knights, who I assumed was the dedicated guard for the place. "Welcome, Honorary Knight!" the knight greeted us. I gave him a wave of greeting in return. "The Deaconess told me to allow you in when you arrived. She's asked everyone present tonight to escort you to her room once you've arrived, so feel free to ask anyone inside to help you."
"Thanks for the info," I said to him. "Say, what's your name, anyway?"
"Oh, it's Otto, sir," he told me. "It's a pleasure to meet you!" I nodded.
"Good to meet you too, Otto," I told him. "Keep up the good work, alright? We're relying on you to keep the church safe."
"Ah, well," he trailed off with his voice. "Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything about the thief. I didn't even know anybody was in there! I patrol around every ten minutes or so, but there wasn't any signs of anyone entering or exiting. I swear, we need more hands defending this place, though. We used to have six knights patrolling the place, but with most of our knights on the expedition..."
"I understand, Otto," I rested a hand on his shoulder. "Nobody here is blaming you. Anyone else would have had the exact same problem."
"I know, sir, I know," he let out a sigh, however. "It's just... It's nice to hear someone else say that. I can tell myself it wasn't my fault all I want, but it still feels like it, ya know?" I nodded, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Anyway, I shouldn't keep you for any longer. I heard that you were putting together an investigation on the Fatui who stole the Holy Lyre. I wish I could join in, but I'm needed here."
"It's still an important duty, Otto," I told him. "You're doing good work. Either way, have a good night and stay safe, alright? Once your shift ends, get some good rest."
"Hah! you can bet your bottom Mora I will, sir," he replied. "Sleep well. I'll make sure you and everyone inside stays safe, tonight." With a word of thanks, Paimon and I left Otto to his duties and headed inside.
"Paimon thinks that you made him feel a lot better," Paimon told me as I made my way towards one of the nuns. "It's probably nice that Otto thinks at least one person doesn't blame him for the Holy Lyre being stolen."
"Well, it really isn't his fault," I told Paimon. "The Fatui have proven that they'll stop at nothing to intrude on Mondstadt's freedom. I might not know much about it, but I'm willing to stake whatever honor I have on Mondstadt keeping their sovereignty. Snezhnaya has gone too far, this time; and I'm not even sure this is the furthest they'll go." I scowled. "Unfortunately, as long as Stormterror is still a threat, Mondstadt can't do anything against the Fatui. It's a nation sinking like a flooding boat, and all we can do is throw the water out with a bucket." Paimon followed with me as I approached the nun, and I couldn't help the grin on my face as I recognized her.
"So, about that Holy Lyre," I spoke up, getting her attention as she looked over some papers she'd been holding. Her expression of shock and slight panic was priceless as she turned to face me, obviously recognizing who I was and what must have been told to her. "I'd like to say there's worse hands that the lyre could fall into. Right now, they're in those hands. If you'd only just been a bit more accommodating, we could have possibly avoided this entire situation."
"Please accept my apology, Mr. Honorary Knight!" the woman exclaimed, bowing her head. "If I'd have known who you were, I wouldn't have treated you so callously!"
"If I remember correctly, I told you exactly who I was," I reminded her. "You still were kind of a bitch."
"And for that, I apologize as well!" she continued to grovel. I let out a sigh. This was pathetic.
"Listen," I told her, my tone sharp. "Right now, Mondstadt needs to stick together to weather the storm it's in. Can I count on your support when I need it, in the future?"
"Y-Yes, sir!" She nodded so hard I thought her head would fall off. "Of course! Anything you need!"
"Look, I'm not upset with you," I told her. "Well, not completely. Still, even though you snapped at my friend and I, I understand you have procedures that need done. I'm just ticked off that you got so snippy at me when I wanted to try and go through the legal way of doing things." I conveniently left out the fact that I'd gone rapid-fire with my questions just to irritate her. "Now then, where can I find Barbara? I'll be staying here for the night, and I need a bath, or something."
"Her quarters are just this way, Honorary Knight," the nun led me down a side hallway. These halls were behind closed doors and were probably inaccessible to the public. They had carpeted floors, and most of the doors had plaques by them indicating what rooms they were. It seemed like most of the clergy here had dedicated quarters, and Barbara was no different. As we approached the door, the nun pointed it out and left me to my own devices with Paimon. I was a bit shocked that they would trust me alone with their Deaconess, but I guess she'd spoken up on my behalf while I'd been away. Either way, I knocked gently on Barbara's door, and waited for a response. It was opened within a few moments.
"Oh, Honorary Knight, you made it back!" She greeted me with a smile. "Did you have any luck with finding the Holy Lyre?" She exited her room and closed the door behind her as she spoke.
"A little bit," I admitted, crossing my arms. "We managed to track down a location, but it's about a day's march out, from what I hear. Some of the knights and I will be traveling out that way, but as it turns out, the lyre was stolen by Fatui agents." 'Oh no!' Barbara gasped in surprise, and I kept talking. "Legally, we can't investigate their hideout with a warrant. It sounds silly, since it's not even within any city or town borders, but I want to cover our asses with this one."
"So, you would like me to issue a warrant for your investigation?" she asked me. I nodded in response. "Of course! I'll have it ready for you by the time you leave the church, tomorrow." I thanked her, and before long, she showed me to where I would be staying. It was a small bedroom near the front of the church, with a soft carpet floor, freshly pressed sheets, and a desk. Simple and efficient, but comfortable. Paimon got herself situated on the bed, while I took advantage of the bath and bathroom attached to the room itself. It was nice to wipe away the grime and dirt from the last couple of days; hell, even longer if Paimon was to be believed about me rescuing her from drowning. It was also a time of reflection that I could cherish.
I'd suddenly been swept up in this nation's turmoil, but I couldn't find it in myself to mind. Despite missing a good chunk of my life; most of it, in fact, I couldn't help but be fine creating these new memories. What if I didn't want to remember who I was? What if I wanted to stay ignorant to the past? For all I knew, I could have been an evil man, killing puppies and breaking hearts across the whole of Teyvat. After all, it was in my nature to flirt and tease and argue. I'd provoked a potential fight against Kaeya for no other reason than I didn't like his attitude at first. I practically threw myself at any cute girl or guy I came across. What if I was a scumbag before I lost my memories?
It was a reality I wasn't sure I wanted to face. A part of me was thankful for Jean for making me an Honorary Knight of Favonius. Another part of me cursed her for practically shoving me into a problem that wasn't my responsibility. Still, I was here, and that was all there was to it. All things considered, things had worked out smoothly so far. There've been hiccups, but so far, I've been able to use my connections and wit to work things out. I could only hope that my luck would hold up. In fact, if things went as they were, I'd be hearing a knock on the door soon, a suspiciously combat capable nun asking to join me in my investigations against the Fatui. I listened intently.
...Silence. Well, can't win them all, I suppose. Still, as I finished up my shower, I found Paimon waiting on the pillow for me. "Do you need a bath, Paimon?" I asked. She nodded, floating over. "Do you want me to draw it for you?"
"No need!" Paimon shook her head at that one. "Paimon should be perfectly able to turn the faucet! But Paimon appreciates the offer, Hoshi." She gave me a smile, and I gently closed the door to the bathroom partway as she went inside. Sure enough, after a few moments, I heard the water begin to run inside the bathroom. I allowed myself to lay on the bed, feeling the softness below me. I stared at the ceiling, feeling my eyes grow heavy. It wasn't long until I felt sleep take me, even before the water in the bathroom stopped flowing from filling Paimon's bath.
(XXX)
It was a dreamless sleep, and when I woke the next day, it was still dark out. Paimon was gently shaking me awake, hands on my shoulder. "Hoshi," she spoke, her voice at a normal volume. "Hoshi, it's time to wake up! You need to get ready to meet the Knights of Favonius!" I groaned, slowly sitting up in the bed before rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I noticed that the desk lamp was already lit, and resting at the foot of the bed was a set of fresh clothes. "Oh! One of the nuns came by and left these here for you," Paimon told me. "You should probably change into them so you don't get all icky from your old clothes." I could agree with that. As much as I would miss my old clothes, they definitely were grimy and disgusting. No, this new clothing would work just as well until I could buy my own outfits. The outfit I was provided with was a simple t-shirt not unlike my old one, as well as a pair of linen slacks. They were comfortable enough, and allowed me to better fit in with other Mondstadters. Silently thanking the church in my head, I had Paimon attach my wind glider to my new shirt, as well as strapped on everything I had; from my Inventory Bag, to my iron sword, to my Anemo Vision.
"The next couple of days are going to be rough, Paimon," I told her. "I guess I just hope that Dvalin just doesn't come back in that time. I don't think Mondstadt can take another attack like the one he did, before." She nodded, looking away to give me my privacy as I changed clothing. "With only the Knights of Favonius at our call for this, I'm a bit worried that we might be in over our heads. Anyone who can sneak into the Church of Favonius completely undetected isn't going to be a slouch. I have no idea just how capable the knights are, since we can't use Amber as an example."
"Yeah, didn't Sucrose say that the gap between Vision Bearers and non-Vision Bearers is super big?" Paimon asked. I nodded, biting my lip as I tried to think of what we could do about it.
"Looks like we have no choice," I shook my head, coming up with nothing. "We're gonna have to go in blind. I don't like it, but If the Fatui have been putting up a diplomatic front, then their more shadowy members are the kind of people we'll have to figure out how to deal with on our own. I doubt they'll respect our warrant once Barbara provides that for us, but it never hurts to cover our own asses." Frankly... I had a bad feeling about this. Still, that didn't stop me from getting dressed and ready for the day.
Barbara, true to her word, was able to provide me with a warrant for search-and-investigation within the whole of the Windwail Highlands. Nepotism strikes again, it seems. Still, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. After giving her my thanks, eating a calorie heavy breakfast provided by the church, and meeting Porthos and his men outside, it was time to work. "Honorary Knight!" Porthos greeted me alongside three other men, who all saluted as I approached them. "Myself and the others are ready when you are! Just give the word, and the Knights of Favonius are at your beck and call, sir!"
"At ease, fellas," I told them. "Come on and introduce yourselves. I know Porthos, but not the rest of you." The men returned to their resting position, each one stepping forward in turn behind Porthos. The guy on the left stepped forward, first. He had clean cut, brown hair and a solid stance. I think I'd seen him walking around the city, actually.
"Knight Huffman, reporting for duty, sir!" he introduced himself. "It's an honor to be working with the Honorary Knight! When you drove off Stormterror, you helped save my family; my father and my little sister, from the devastation he was causing. My family and I are forever in your debt, sir!"
"Heh, ease up, Huffman," the guy in the middle stepped up and slapped the other knight on the back. He was a portly guy, but had a kindly face and a wide smile. "Knight Miles, sir. It's good to know you're on our side. Anyone who can send that nasty dragon packing is pretty praiseworthy in my opinion." He offered me his hand to shake, and I happily shook his hand. Lastly, the guy on thew right spoke up.
"Knight Raymond," he was an older fellow than the other three, with well-groomed facial hair, a clean haircut, and piercing eyes that seemed like they were sizing me up. His gaze wandered my clothing, and I felt a bit self-conscious about it. "I hate to put a damper on your spirits, but I'm not exactly impressed by what I'm seeing," he told me. "If you're the Honorary Knight, then you should have better protection than what you've got now. Clothes worn by clergy isn't fit for combat."
"Er, well, this is only temporary," I told him, waving my hands in surrender. "Once this is all done, and I finally have some time to do some proper shopping." Raymond nodded once in approval. "You wouldn't happen to know any places that would fit the bill, would you?"
"Most of the Knights of Favonius have their armor built by Wagner at his smithy," Huffman offered. "He's a busy man, but you can't get any better armor or weapons in the entire city."
"Paimon remembers that!" Paimon spoke up from the side. "Amber showed it to us when we first entered the city!" Did she? I don't remember that one. I must have been distracted. "The guy at the forge looked hard at work."
"Hah, yes, that must have been Wagner," Porthos offered. "The man never takes a break, I swear. He's even got that boy, Schulz, as his apprentice, but he never lets him do a damn thing!"
"Mind your tongue, knight," Raymond glared at Porthos. "The Knights of Favonius Handbook prohibits-"
"-vulgarities of any kind, both in public and private life, yeah, yeah, we know, Ray," Miles chuckled at the end of his sentence and wrapped an arm around Raymon's shoulder, pulling the older man close in a side-hug. "Loosen up! Once we get back, we can celebrate with a few rounds at the Angel's Share, my treat!" Raymond's expression seemed to loosen up at the offer.
"Well, if you're offering..." he muttered under his breath. "The point being, however, is that the Honorary Knight ought to have more pomp and armor than simple common attire. Especially if we're to relying on him to be our muscle and driving force. Vision Bearer or not, he's just as mortal as the rest of us. Doesn't matter if that god-given-gift can let him take a few more hits."
"Raymond has a point," I agreed. "However, this is to be a simple investigation and search. If combat does arise, I want the rest of you to come straight back here while I buy you time. Am I understood?"
"Yes, sir!" all four of the knights chorused, saluting.
"Alright, let's head to that Fatui hideout and get that Holy Lyre back." With those words spoken, the six of us made our way out of the city. The streets were practically clear, the only signs of life being businesses opening for the day.
"Sir, we should stop at Springvale on the way," Raymond suggested, showing me a map of the nation. He pointed to the small town just south of the city. "Assuming proper resting periods, we should be able to reach the town by the evening. It's also located just north of Windwail Lake, making it a perfect spot to regain our strength before moving in on the Fatui."
"Wait, but why not just go to the hideout, today?" Huffman asked. "We'll have plenty of daylight, and isn't time of the essence right now?"
"No, Raymond's right," I told them as we left through the city's gates. "That lyre isn't going anywhere any time soon. The Fatui want it for a reason, and I imagine it's because of that meeting the diplomat had with Jean, yesterday."
"Oh, right!" Porthos seemed to remember as I'd brought it up. "Man, that woman was pissed!" 'Language, Knight Porthos!' Raymond protested, but it went on ignored. "You think she planned to have the lyre stolen to try and kill Stormterror, sir?"
"I'm fairly certain it's related," I told him in return. "I have it under good authority that the power within that lyre could potentially summon the dragon. For all we know, the Fatui plan to use it to lure Stormterror out and kill him, or may even plan on using him as a weapon, themselves." All four men grimaced at the notion of Stormterror being weaponized by the Fatui. "Stormterror issue solved or not, if they get their hands on him, it would spell bad news for Mondstadt and the rest of Teyvat."
"You can say that again," Miles let out a huff of air, shaking his head as he gave the idea some thought. "A powerful dragon like that, one of the Four Winds, no less, at the Fatui's command? That's the stuff of nightmares."
"I remember how even just Ursa the Drake threatened Mondstadt's wilderness, before even the three of you became knights," Raymond said, glancing at his fellow knights. "Ursa would never hold a candle to Stormterror, and it plagued our history for centuries. If the Fatui got ahold of something like that, it would be a new experience, but I'm sure the Knights of Favonius would prevail. It would just take some time, is all." I glanced at Porthos, who shook his head and mouthed the word 'handbook'. What the fuck was with this handbook? Despite his confident words, even Raymond looked disturbed at the idea of Dvalin being controlled by the Fatui. Though...
"So, what happened to Ursa the Drake?" I asked. Raymond waved his hand at the question.
"It's the reason why we're allied with Snezhnaya," he said. "One of those Fatui Harbingers slew Ursa, and for that, Mondstadt's been under Snezhnaya's heel ever since." He had a scowl on his face. "The ancient enemy of all of Mondstadt, slain by an outlander who used it as a political move to drive us into the ground! Bah! I'd rather Ursa be alive and well rather than be forced to play nice with those northlander stooges!"
"Well, Paimon guesses that's why the Fatui presence is so strong in the city," Paimon spoke, looking to me and ignoring the others for now. "But what do you mean the ancient enemy of Mondstadt?"
"Ursa the Drake was alive for more than a millennium," Huffman explained. "The first Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius and its founder, Vennessa, fled Ursa with her tribe back in the day. It hounded them and starved them out, so she and her tribe fled to Mondstadt's capital at the time, only to be enslaved."
"Wait, slavery is legal in Mondstadt?" I asked, feeling a bit perturbed about the City of Freedom legalizing a way to strip away someone's freedoms just like that. Thankfully, Huffman laughed and shook his head.
"No, not at all," he clarified. "In fact, it was Vennessa who helped eliminate it completely from our nation. She was forced to fight Ursa in a gladiatorial ring, and eventually came out on top. As a result, she was gifted Mondstadt and rose against the aristocracy who were in favor of slavery at the time. The Lawrence Clan being chief among them." I watched as all four men's expressions soured a bit. "Still, it's thanks to her that we have the Knights of Favonius. Most people think she'd be appalled by how Snezhnaya's treating us, and how Mondstadt is just laying here, belly up, and I'm inclined to agree."
"Hear, hear," the other men grumbled. Guess the disdain for Snezhnaya ran deep in Mondstadt. Though I really couldn't blame them. What the Fatui were doing was tantamount to indentured servitude, forcing Mondstadt's citizens to play nice under threat of force. Even if this place wasn't perfect, it did deserve to rise or fall under its own power. I thought carefully about this as we walked along, the sun beginning to rise as we walked the main road to Springvale. It was a boring walk, and the other men seemed to enjoy conversation with one another during the journey, with Paimon and I chiming in every so often. The topics ranged from favorite foods, to city gossip, to ideal fishing spots. I didn't have a whole lot to add, but it was good to take down some information that they had about the local areas. Paimon, though, was enthralled by hearing about what dishes people within Mondstadt preferred. As we walked, though, I glanced up a few times to see a hawk watching us as we traveled along. From the looks of it, it was following us, as well. I could clearly make out the markings on its feathers, and it was definitely looking at us from a relatively close distance.
"Looks like we go with Vennessa's blessing," Mile stated when I pointed out the bird to the rest of the group. "When Vennessa died, when ascended into Celestia and became a god. That giant tree," he pointed to the distance to the west, where I could just make out a massive tree resting over the rolling hills, is where she ascended. I like to believe that all the hawks and falcons we see are guardians of her will. She's known as the Falcon of the West, after all, one of the Four Winds." So, she was on par with Dvalin, then? Or at least, I could imply that much. But most of what the guys brought up is in relation to her feats of will and dedication to freedom, not her actual power.
"It is a little strange that this particular bird is following us," Porthos muttered loud enough for us to hear him. "Still, it's not made any moves on us, so we should leave it be, for now." I nodded, agreeing to the point. We still had a mission to do, after all. The walk was silent for me after that. I paid attention to the men talking, but kept to myself as I watched the hawk following us. Its gaze was piercing. Intelligent. Staring at it, I felt that same sensation as when I'd approached the Statue of The Seven, before. Waves of power and pressure. I couldn't stare at it for too long, or I'd find my head throbbing.
"Are you alright, Traveler?" Paimon asked, noticing my discomfort. I nodded slowly, trying to ease my throbbing head.
"I'm fine," I told her, resting a hand on the side of my face. "It's just a headache. Let's take a break here. The sun's up, and we've been at this for a few hours." The knights seemed thankful for the break, and I realized that they had been waiting for my order. I grimaced a bit as I realized this, sitting on a fallen log alongside the road. The knights had broken out some travel rations to eat for lunch, and Paimon was digging through our food to make some sandwiches. I was their leader in this, and I had to act like it. Thinking about it, I'd been pretty much following the lead of other people all the way up until the night before. Amber, Jean, and even Venti, to an extent. This was the first real time I'd be directing others and giving out commands, if you didn't count us interrogating Venti about the lyre.
"Something's bothering you," Paimon stated as we sat a few feet away from the knights. I nodded slowly, contemplating why I've been experiencing pain whenever it comes to gods and such. Even worse, why was it selective? That hawk and the statue made my head feel like it was about to split open, but Venti was absolutely fine; not to mention Dvalin's crystal thing he left behind. Just what was wrong with me?
"Just thinking about some things," I told her, shaking my head slowly. I wasn't sure just how to explain all of this to Paimon. She'd listen, for sure, but given her track record so far, I wasn't sure if she'd actually understand any of what I would tell her. "It's nothing, for now. Let's just enjoy this short rest while we can." It was a quiet day. The wind was pleasant, and I could see the fluffy clouds floating through the skies above. How strange was it to be sitting here, relaxing, with a nation-ending dragon on the loose and a Fatui conspiracy taking place. I watched as travelers passed us by on the road by where we were sitting, giving us waves as they moved from place to place. Children eagerly spoke to the knights as they came by, only to be taken away with many apologies for bothering us by their parents. They didn't even know that their nation was falling to pieces, going on about their lives as if nothing really mattered. A vacant Grand Master who seemed hyper focused on one issue that nobody else even knew of, an Acting Grand Master being worked to death, and a god who was so weak that even utilizing his own power brought him to his knees. Not to mention an amnesiac outlander basically acting as the water-soluble glue trying to hold everything together. What a mess. What a peaceful, pleasant mess.
"Sir, it's been fifteen minutes, and according to the Knight's Handbook, that is an appropriate amount of time to be well rested and ready to continue," Raymond interrupted my thoughts. I must have zoned out, as I already had a sandwich in hand that was practically half finished. When did Paimon hand this to me...? No matter.
"Well, I suppose we should get going, then," I spoke up, getting the attention of Miles, Porthos, and Huffman. The three of them seemed to be playing cards, with Paimon looking over their shoulders. Judging from the louder protest from our husky knight, Miles, I assume he was just about to win.
"Damn, just a few more minutes, sir?" said knight asked, sounding heartbroken from having his win taken from him. "I was about to show these two bozos how a real man shows himself as a genius!" I sauntered over after grabbing my Inventory Bag, glancing down at the card game. It was a colorful thin with pictures of Hilichurls, various other monsters, and even a few familiar faces, like Jean and Kaeya. "Ah, I can see by your expression that you've never played Genius Invocation: The Trading Card Game?"
"I have not," I replied. "Unfortunately, you'll have to teach me another time, Miles. We have work to do, knights." Miles groaned and both he and Porthos packed up their things. I suppose Huffman was just another spectator, like Paimon.
"Much appreciated, sir," Porthos said as he finished tossing his things into his pouch and grabbing his bag. "You just saved me two-hundered Mora."
"And you just cost me two-hundred Mora!" Miles complained. "I'm on a winning streak against this guy for the first time in months, and it's ruined by our dang jobs! I swear, once we get back, I'm challenging you again, double or nothing!"
"Hah! You're on," Porthos shot back. "You beat me fair and square, and I'll even throw in a free meal at the Angel's Share!"
"Oh, you'll regret that, Port-man," Miles grinned, rubbing his rotund belly with a laugh. "I'll eat you and your kid brother out of house and home! Just you wait." The two men clasped hands, grins on both of their faces.
"Oh, Seven provide for us," Huffman spoke with heavy sarcasm in his tone as he rolled his eyes, though there was a smile on his face as well. "There you have it, boss. You've started another one."
"I take it this is a common thing?" I asked.
"Those two have been friends since we were all little," Huffman explained. "They've also been practically at each other's throats for half of that time. It took them both getting stranded together on Dragonspine for them to finally stop trying to kill each other. Well, now they make up for it by killing us with their dumb competitions." He glanced back at the two men. "Hey! If Sara kicks your butts for breaking another table at her restaurant, I'm not bailing you out, this time!"
"It was once!" Miles exclaimed back. "Only once! I can't help that I have big bones!"
"Master Diluc has big bones," Porthos shot at his rival. "You're just a fatass." Miles, to his credit, took the jab well.
"Oh, I'll show you what a fatass looks like barreling down on you!" He laughed, starting to run towards Porthos. "Get your ass over here!" Porthos ran as Miles chased him down the road as Huffman and Paimon burst out laughing. Even Raymond seemed to be in a better mood. I guess taking a break really worked wonders for their mental states. We continued walking for a few more hours, and I could finally see a large windmill in the distance. Looking a bit more closely, I noticed that the twon itself rested against the side of one of the large mountains within Mondstadt. Acting as a backdrop behind it was an even larger mountain, with snow sapping the peak and a blizzard raging in an almost constrolled sphere around it.
"That's Dragonspine," Raymond told me, as we approached Springvale. "Legend has it that Stormterror and the Anemo god, Barbados, fought another dragon there to the death. Of course, nobody can really say for certain, but the strange stone structures around the mountain are rumored to be the bones of that dragon." I hummed in thought, crossing his arms as he stared at the mountain. "I spent about a year patrolling out there when I was younger. I was part of Captain Albedo's Investigation Company, see, and he normally tends to shut himself away on that mountain. Well, our company was sworn to follow. Anyway, Grand Master Varka eventually recalled the Knights of Favonius from the area some few years back, leaving it to the Adventurer's Guild to investigate. Though, from what I hear, Captain Albedo still conducts research up there. Not the most personable fellow, you see."
"Well, it's definitely impressive. Why exactly did you guys patrol there for, anyway? Seems like more of a hassle to stay someplace so blisteringly cold."
"Well, legends say there used to be a civilization there, long ago," Raymond explained. "The Knights of Favonius began searching the place around seven hundred years ago, give or take a few hundred. We basically wanted to see if we could find any information on what happened to them and what they were capable of. There're even ruins, you see. Unfortunately, nothing ever turned up that was useful." I hummed in acknowledgement. Well, I guess you can't win them all.
About half an hour later we arrived in Springvale, and it was then that Miles took the lead. "Don't worry, I know a gal who can put us up for the evening," he told us. Apparently, Springvale didn't have an inn, so any knights who passed through had to stay with a family or someone else who owned a house, here. Suffice it to say, most Knights of Favonius were on their absolute best behavior when they came by. Mile led us up the mountain-side town to a particular house with several food stores and even a large cooking fire outside.
"Of course Miles knows the person who's got all the food," Porthos jested, chuckling under his breath with the rest of us. "Hey, Miles, I know you gotta eat, but save it 'till after we find a place to stay!"
"Ah, shove off, pretty boy!" Miles shot back before knocking on the door. "Hey, Brook, are you home?" Brook? I glanced over at Porthos, who shrugged and looked just as confused as I did. It wasn't long until the door opened, and a portly-looking woman with light brown hair and a giant smile on her face greeted us."
"Well, if it isn't my precious Sweet Flower!" she exclaimed, wrapping Miles into a hug and pressing her lips against his. Miles returned the hug and kiss, laughing as he seemed to be in a pretty damn good mood. "What brings you to my neck of the woods, sweetie? Oh! Knights business?" She glanced over to the rest of us, and I could see that the other guys were just as confused as I was from the sudden introduction to the woman in Miles' life.
"Er, yes, miss," I stepped forward, watching as a beaming Miles stood off to the side so I could speak to his... lover? Girlfriend? Food provider? "It's good to meet you. I am an Honorary Knight of Favonius, and we've been tasked with investigating a nearby area for... well, knight's business. We were wondering if we might be able to intrude on you for the night before taking a look in the morning?"
"Oh, you don't even need to ask," Brook replied. "As Mondstadt's Rotisserie Queen and this big hunk of lovin's girl, how could I possibly turn down guests? Especially ones who happen to be friends of my sweet Miles." I could see the visible blush on the big man's face, and I couldn't help but smile and roll my eyes at his goofy grin.
"Well, on behalf of the Knights of Favonius, I'd like to offer you my sincerest gratitude," I told her.
"Alright, boys, come on in," she invited us into her home. "Just be sure to wipe your feet on the mat and take your boots off, you hear? I'll have supper ready in a few hours, and beds set up not long after. I normally don't house so many guests though... would you boys mind sharing a bed or two?"
"I can sleep outside," I offered. "These city slickers can take the beds. Porthos, with Raymond. huffman, you and Miles can-"
"Oh, that won't be necessary," Brook interrupted. "Miles and I will be sharing a bed. What say you, Sweet Flower?" I shared a look with the other guys as Miles stammered out his response, obviously not telling his girl 'no'.
"I think I'll be fine sleeping outside as well," Porthos offered, a sheepish smile on his face as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Yeah, same here," Huffman decided to join the men who wouldn't have to hear Miles getting it on with his girl. Raymond rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as he scoffed.
"You're all a bunch of pansies," he told the rest of us before turning back to our host. "I'll happily accept any bed you give me, miss Brook. Thank you very much for hosting us." Huffman, Porthos and I chuckled and shared one more look before going to set our things outside. Guess it would be a night out under the stars for us.
(XXX)
Truthfully, it wasn't a bad evening. Brook cooked up a delicious steak for each of us, and there was definitely a difference in his cooking and what we had back in the city. all the while, Miles had a shit eating grin on his face as if to say, "I told you so." After that, the night passed rather quickly. We were able to get some decent rest, and in the morning, we were greeted by the beaming faces of Brook and Miles, and the dead-eyed stare of Raymond. He glared at us as we all sat down at Brook's table. "Speak a single word," he growled as Porthos made to open his mouth. "And nobody will ever find your body." Breakfast was an easy enough affair, as was making our way out of town to the south, a bit further up the mountain to Windwail Lake. Searching around the surprisingly peaceful lake, we finally found what we were looking for; a cubby in the cliffside, with old footprints leading inside.
"No door," Porthos commented. "Guess we can't just knock and tell anyone we've got a search warrant. "What's the call, sir?" He looked to me, as did the other knights.
"I'll take point," I told them. "Being a Vision Bearer, I can take a few hits if it comes down to it. That, and I'm not completely useless in a fight. Assuming that these guys are normal fighters, we should be fine. The four of you watch my back. I want eyes in every direction. I'm almost certain they're expecting someone to show up, and I'm not entirely sure what they've set up in preparation for them." The men under my command nodded, and we delved into the cave that the Fatui were currently calling home.
As we entered, though, the stone walls quickly made way for chiseled pillars, stone brick floors, and incredible patters on the walls. I glanced at the knights, who all shared a look with each other and myself.
"These designs," Raymond spoke after we'd gone in some distance. Before us was a massive pit of magma, and a bridge leading across it that spewed flames out to the sides. Broken pillars rose from the pool of magma to the ceiling, just enough of them still supporting the room from collapsing in on itself. "These ruins are like the ones in Dragonspine, sir." So that ancient civilization may have created this place, and the Fatui had found it and were using it? This was worse than I thought. A part of me debated going back to get backup, but I ultimately decided that we should press on.
"Be careful, fellas," I told them as we walked across the flame bridge over the magma, the heat nearly unbearable even from how high up we were. "Let's not make this any harder than we need to." We proceeded up the stairs on the other side of the room, and I couldn't help but stare in awe at the architecture here. It was... Home. I blinked slowly at the voice, glancing around, only to see the other knights dutifully following me. No, I didn't have time to think about it. Entering the next room, I saw a man with a blade outstretched and a black mask on his face.
"Back!" he shouted. "Back, I say! You won't step another foot closer, Knights of Favonius! You have no right to be here!"
"I am an Honorary Knight of Favonius, and we have a warrant to search this location in relation to the stolen Holy Lyre der Himmel," I spoke, pulling the warrant from my Inventory Bag.
"Yeah, now get outta the way!" Paimon added.
"W-What? How did you know that the lyre was here!?" the Fatui asked, visibly panicking. I glanced at Paimon and the others. This was just sad.
"Did you think the Knights of Favonius would just lay down when a holy artifact has been stolen?" I asked. "Stand aside, or you will be cast aside."
"Y-Yeah, whatever you say," the Fatui moved aside from us. "You're gonna regret this, though! La Signora is already here in Mondstadt, and once she gets her hands on you, you're going to wish you'd never come here!" I glanced at the others, who stood frozen.
"A Harbinger is here!?" Raymond came to his senses, grabbing the Fatui by the lapels of his coat. "Just what in the seven seats of Celestia is she doing here!?" Wait, La Signora was the name of a Harbinger? Oh, fuck, this was not what we signed up for!
"I-I don't know!" the Fatui screamed back at Raymond. "If you see her, you don't tell her I was here, you got that!? I don't know where exactly she is, but she wanted the lyre! that's all I know, please don't hurt me!" Raymond stared back at me, hands shaking.
"W-what are your orders, sir?" he asked, trying desperately to put on a strong face. Even Huffman, Miles, and Porthos were starting to shift uncomfortably. I glanced over each of them and took a deep breath.
"We keep moving," I told them. "We've come too far to go back, and it's either we get that lyre, or the Fatui have their way with Stormterror. Either way, we're fucked, but at least this way we have a chance." The knights seemed to agree, and followed my lead. We moved with weapons drawn, and I kept my eyes peeled for any sign of a dangerous looking woman. We advanced through the ruins, looking around as the next hallway entered up into a massive foyer, with a double staircase leading up to a second floor and even beyond on the far side of the room. Below that set of stairs was a door that led into what seemed like an old storage room. Old murals adorned the walls, the architecture keeping true to the intertwined and beautiful designs that made up this place. What took my breath away, though, was the massive mural that remained untouched on the ceiling. Looking up, all of us could only stare in awe.
It was a gorgeous scene of a starry night, the stars represented with four points, all perpendicular to their neighboring point. The focus of the mural, though, was of a faceless girl, wearing vibrant white clothing and what must have been beautiful blonde hair, given the use of gold for that feature. In her hair were two flowers, each with five petals. The mural itself only portrayed above her waist, but she held her hands clasped together, as if praying. Symbols decorated the space around the ceiling that bordered the walls, but for the life of me, I couldn't read a single thing.
"Something, something, goddess among humanity, something or another, ascended to the heavens to one day return, something more," Raymond spoke out aloud, staring at the words. He smirked after glancing to the rest of us and seeing our confusion. "I've seen this writing before, and studied up a bit of it during my time under Captain Albedo's command. Still, it's surprising to see that ancient civilization's stuff this far down Dragonspine."
"We'll have to bring the Investigation Company here, sometime," I told him. "For now, though, we need to keep moving forward. Spread out and see if you can find where the lyre is being kept." Investigations went slowly as we each took a side room to look through. some were trapped, and some had monsters lurking about. Huffman, though, was the one who finally made progress.
"W-Who are you? How did you get in here?" one of the guards had been caught off guard by Huffman, who'd jumped him and tied him up. "I swear, when I get out of this-"
"You're currently under arrest in suspicion of stealing or assisting in the theft of the Holy Lyre," I told him, already feeling the words coming out of my mouth getting old. "Just tell us where we can find it, and maybe you'll be let go. Otherwise, we'll have to search you and leave you here for La Signora to find." His face visibly paled, and he shook his head frantically.
"Wait! Wait! There's a key in my jacket pocket for the door up ahead. It's being held through there, I swear it!" He nudged his right arm, and I nodded to Miles. The big knight searched his pocket, and sure enough, there was a key. "You'll let me go, now, right!?"
"Tch, if we remember to collect you on the way out," I told him. "Leave him tied up until we get the lyre. Once we have it, then we'll let him free." The knights nodded, and I had Miles lead the way up the stairs to the supposedly final door in this building. At least, the only one that mattered to us. I kept an eye out, frowning as we entered the last room. It was furnished. Well kept. Clean. Something was wrong here. Sure enough, though, sitting up against the back wall was a lyre. "Is that it?" I asked Raymond. the older knight nodded.
"That's the Holy Lyre der Himmel," he confirmed. "Let's grab it and get out of here before that Harbinger swings by." I could agree to that. Moving forward, I gently swiped the lyre from its resting place and turned to the others.
"Mission accomplished, boys. Let's get the hell out of here."
"You won't be going anywhere," a woman's voice spoke as we made our way back to the door we'd come through. Coming from around a corner in the wall, a tall woman wearing a dress of white and black, with red sleeves and a black headpiece that covered her right eye. "My, my, what do we have here? Little rats from a sinking ship who scurried too close to the fire burning within it." I grimaced, noticing a chill pass through the air. I watched as our breathing all became visible.
"And to whom do we have the pleasure of speaking to?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. The woman gave me a knowing smile, as if looking at a child who had said something particularly silly. She brushed a few strands of her hair over her shoulder before answering.
"I am La Signora, Eighth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers. You must be the Honorary Knight of Favonius, who drove away the dreaded and powerful Stormterror. Your reputation, though recent, precedes you." This was a Harbinger!? Damn, why the fuck was someone so villainous so fucking hot!?
"Hey, not the time, Hoshi, focus!" Paimon shouted at me from behind me. I grit my teeth. Right, serious time. I glanced at the floor around her, seeing it ice over. Fuck, her very presence was doing that!? We didn't stand a chance!
"So, what's a beautiful woman doing with my name on her lips?" I asked, trying to keep the banter casual. Make her think I was stronger than I actually was. "If you wanted a booty call, there's easier ways to do that then stealing a holy artifact, you know." 'Really!?' I heard Paimon shout.
"Oh, my, what a crude man you are," La Signora played along, gently pacing the room. I did the same, following her direction. She was trying to cut us off from the door, but I wasn't about to let her get in the way. I saw her single visible eye narrow, realizing that I'd realized her plan. "I'm afraid my loyalty lies with the Tsaritsa. Besides, you appear to be a bit young for my tastes." I glanced at Raymond.
"Think I found your perfect woman, Ray," I told him. He frantically shook his head with a fearful expression. "So, you've caught us reclaiming the stolen goods from you. What now?" She brought a finger up to her chin, pretending to think as she tapped it against her face. "I can't imagine you only stole this for a word with me."
"Truthfully, I was intending a must different guest," La Signora admitted. "Someone a little... shorter, and stronger." Venti... "Ah, I can see from your expression that you know exactly who I'm speaking of! The plan had been to steal the lyre and cut a deal with him when he inevitably came running. Unfortunately, it appears I caught some unfortunate pests in his place. I gripped the hilt of my sword, and I heard the men behind me do the same. "Now, I can't allow you to just leave with that lyre, Honorary Knight. In fact, I'd be very sad if you did."
"Well, I seem to have a habit of making pretty girls cry, recently," I told her. "Afraid I'll have to make it happen a second time." Her eyes narrowed on me. Ok, playtime is over, I guess! Her hand thrust forward. "Scatter!" I shouted, leaping out of the way as frost and ice flew towards us. "Get the hell out of here, now! I'll hold her off!" I tossed the lyre into my Inventory Bag and rushed the woman, who was already throwing another ray of frost in my direction.
"Sir, she killed Miles!" I heard Huffman scream. I couldn't look, already trying to avoid being frozen into a Hoshi-cicle as I avoided the next wave of frost, feeling the hair on my head freeze over. I swung my sword at her, channeling Anemo into it from my vision. My sword was stopped, though, as It struck a barrier of ice. Her hand outstretched, a pillar of ice had grown from the frosted floor and trapped my blade within its clutches. I immediately let go, flinging myself to the side as she swung her other hand, bringing down an ice blade that had formed over my head in that moment. I took a quick second to look at the door, seeing nobody remaining but the frozen solid corpse of what was once Miles.
"Ah, ah, didn't your mother ever teach you to never ignore a beautiful woman on a date," La Signora purred, stretching her hand out. With a wave of frost, the doorway was covered in a sheet of ice.
I snarled and turned back to her, hoping I could give them a few more seconds before making my own escape. I surged Anemo into the palm of my hand, lunging back towards her as I struck at her shield of Cryo with it. I heard it grind and tear as the two elements clashed, but it was ultimately futile as her power far exceeded mine.
"Why do you bother to keep fighting me, Honorary Knight?" she asked, looking no worse for the wear as our one-sided fight continued. All I could do was dodge her attacks, the strain of combat wearing down my endurance as I tried to land a single hit on her. Mistakes became more frequent. I lost my footing. I only barely made it out of the way of her ice lances. All the while, she kept hurling words my way to draw my attention and make me slip up even more. "Your knights have certainly fled by now, long gone. All you have to do now is give up, let me kill you, and reclaim the lyre that you snatched from me. I'll even make your death painless. What do you say?" I panted, glancing at the frozen over doorway. "You're trapped, with no way out and no way to defeat me. Just give up like a good boy and hand over what I rightfully took."
"Question," I spoke, glancing back at her. She said nothing, but continued to stand there without a care in the world. I took that as a sign to keep going. "I don't see a Vision on you. How the hell are you controlling this ice?" She laughed into her hand, all too entertained by my question.
"Why, it's called a Delusion," she told me, moving her hands and showing me a white object shaped like... well, a sickle or a scythe, maybe? Either way, it looked like bad news. "The illustrious Tsaritsa has provided this for myself and many others, granting us elemental power similar to that of your Vision; yet even greater. My will is enacted upon this object, which in turn allows me to harness Cryo, itself. Do you not see how hopeless your situation is, Honorary Knight? Your death is inevitable." I glanced at my hand, and focused the power of Anemo. I concentrated, allowed it to take shape. "Please, don't tell me you intend to still fight? Your courage is admirable, yet your foolishness is a stain on your handsome face."
"Yeah, well," I grumbled. "You can kiss my ass." I took that shape I'd formed, and PULLED. I heard La Signora gasp for air as she stumbled forward, the air literally drawn from her lungs. I focused even harder, maintaining my grip on the air within her lungs, not letting a single molecule through. She choked and gasped, grasping at her neck as her porcelain, beautiful face went blue. I felt my head throb and voices scream at me as I continued to lay on the pressure, not allowing myself to let up. If I let up, she'd be free, and I'd die. Fuck, I was so dead! I glared at her, sweat beading down my brow as I finally saw her collapse onto her knees. I felt my head go light at that moment as I mirrored her actions, the exertion catching up with me. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as I heard Paimon screaming my name. Thanks Venti. I owed you one.