The Ruins of Old Mondstadt

"Again!" Jean barked, and I thrust my blade forward, sending a blast of Anemo at a nearby tree, punching a hole through it and into the stone wall behind it. I let out a huff of air, glancing at the woman, and seeing her nod with approval. "Impressive. Your form was near perfect, and the way you controlled the power of Anemo is commendable. It's hard to believe that you've improved by so much after just a bit of rest." I guess I had that Gnosis to thank for it. Still not like I can say anything about it. We'd taken a break at noon, allowing ourselves to eat some food and enjoy a bit of quiet before moving on. Venti and Diluc both seemed tense, as if they could sense what was coming. While the red-haired man had concentrated on making lunch, Venti was staring down the road where we were headed, his eyes not leaving it for the ten minutes we'd been stopped. Paimon and Amber both watched my training, each one probably focused on different things.

"Well, just goes to show how stubborn I am, I guess," I deflected Jean's compliment. "We're getting close to battling a dragon of all things. I should probably make sure I'm combat ready." Jean nodded in appreciation, my excellent execution of her technique seeming to have alleviated some of the concern she'd been feeling these last few days. "Master Diluc, how's lunch coming along?"

"Almost ready, just be patient," he said, stirring up some kind of stew. Whatever it was, it smelled good! I once more went through the motions of Jean's technique, the Gale Thrust. It was such a simple sounding technique, but the actual application required a lot of effort and focus. Despite having had this Vision for a few days and using it to fill my body with Anemo, actually using it for a quick combat-style technique was definitely something else. If this was how intensely Jean trained on a daily basis, then I couldn't blame Sucrose for telling me that the gap between combat Vision Bearers and civilian ones was so vast. In the time it took me to use a single, non-combat oriented power, Jean could have shot off five of these thrusts.

"You Knights of Favonius are really something else," I commented during my training, as Jean once more barked out that I do it again. "Is this really the kind of training you guys do often?"

"Every moment we have to spare," Amber spoke up, looking far too relaxed during her spare moment. "It's necessary for a Knight of Favonius to be diligent and disciplined." I rolled my eyes at her response. Not right in front of her, of course; only when my head was turned away. I heard a snort from Jean, though, so she must have seen the irony of the only non-mascot relaxing being the one talking about discipline and work ethic.

"Very diligent, indeed," Diluc didn't hide his scoff, though. "Diligence in sneaking time with her boyfriend, and yet not helping with lunch as I had asked when we first came to rest."

"A-Ah, sorry!" Amber was quick to apologize and hop back onto her feet. "I completely forgot!" I could almost hear Diluc rolling his eyes as Amber did her best to help, the man giving her instructions on what to do. After a few more repetitions, Jean seemed satisfied. Just as well, since lunch had finished. It was a stew, once again, but it wasn't like I was expecting anything fancy. Venti was barely present when we ate, his mind seeming to drift off to the canyon walls ahead. As a result, it was a quiet and tense meal. Amber sat next to me, but that did little to alleviate the atmosphere. Soon enough, it was time to pack up and leave. It took only a minute to put everything away with everyone helping, and we were once more on our way.

The journey was silent save for the wildlife, and the stone canyon began to rise around us. However, that wasn't what had my jaw agape. Amber's and my heads were practically on swivels as we passed through massive stone brick arches, and the road became of the same material instead of dirt. "Welcome to Old Mondstadt," Venti spoke for the first time in nearly an hour. His voice was laced with... melancholy, I think. "The Great City of Decarabian." Jean and Diluc both kept silent in respect and reverence as we passed by stone houses hewn into the walls, what once must have been small fields dotting the roads in front of them. "This area was outside the main city, and was used for farming and mining. It wouldn't surprise me if we came across hilichurls who've set up camp around here. Especially if the Abyss Order has an interest in Dvalin." I watched as the three other fighters in our group shifted uncomfortably at that. Of course this wasn't going to be an easy trek...

"I guess we'd best keep an eye out," Diluc stated, saying what everyone was thinking. "As well as take watch shifts during the night. It would be inconvenient if they were to sneak up on us while we slept."

"I can take the first watch," I volunteered. "I've slept quite a bit the last week. I think you all should have some time to rest." Venti nodded appreciatively, and nobody else made any argument. Good. As the sun disappeared over the cliffs, we finally holed up in one of the ruined stone buildings. It didn't take long to set up camp; such was trivial by this point. It felt like I'd been on the road for most of my entire life, on account of not having my past memories. Camping, traveling, I think I'd spent more time on the road than in an actual city.

"We should be arriving at our destination by tomorrow," Diluc spoke as he sat next to me by the window of the stone house that was carved into the wall. We watched as the girls and Venti cooked and chatted, all seemingly able to ignore the mood from earlier today. Well, the girls were. Venti still seemed a little quiet, but he at least responded when spoken to. That was good. "Do you think you'll be ready to fight, by then?" Had my muscles healed, he was asking. I nodded, getting one of approval in return. We kept silent for a bit, my eyes tracing over Amber and Diluc's focused on the starry night sky outside. "If there's anything you want to do with the Outrider, tonight is possibly the best night for it," he said, patting my knee. "We have no idea what will happen tomorrow, or if all of us will make it back alive. Frankly, I'm a bit concerned for her. If it were up to me, she wouldn't even be here. Yet, Jean insisted."

"Jean?" I asked, a bit perplexed. Why would Jean of all people want her only Outrider here? Diluc's expression soured. Just a bit. "Jean should be the last person to want Amber here."

"She should be," the man agreed. "I even argued against her back at the estate. This kind of duty is too dangerous for her." He glanced down at me. "Yet, Jean knows that you would fight even harder if your friend, your girlfriend, were ever in danger." I felt my fists clench. He couldn't mean... "She's using your relationship in order to ensure you'll fight to the very end. I'll admit, neither she nor I know you very well, Hoshi. We don't know what you would do if push comes to shove. Sure, we have ideas, but ideas only last for so far."

"So, you both brought Amber in order to make sure I'd stay and fight," I finished for him, receiving a nod in response from the man. On the one hand, how dare they...? On the other, I could see the logic in such a move. As angry as that made me feel... I couldn't blame them. "Why tell me this? Why not let me be blissfully unaware?"

"You asked me, this morning, if there was ever someone I wished I could have spent more time with," he began. "There is. There's not a day that goes by where I don't think of him, even in passing." He took a deep breath and let out a shaky sigh. "While the Knights of Favonius didn't take him from me, they were involved in the matter. I won't bore you with the details, but I wanted you to at least have the whole picture, unlike myself at the time. The Knights of Favonius are just and righteous, but they have their own agenda, and will use their people as they see fit. At the end of the day, Amber is another soldier to Jean. A resource to be used how she sees fit. There's undoubtedly a kind, human side to her, but first and foremost Jean is the Acting Grand Master of Mondstadt, a duty that she won't take lightly."

I couldn't help but let out a sigh of my own. I see. "Well, I guess I'll have to be strong enough for the both of us and see this through," I said.

"No," Diluc shook his head. "If things get bad, and I mean this, then I want you to take Amber and run." I stared at him, not quite able to understand what he was saying. Run? When there were people who would be in danger from this? When Mondstadt was basically on the verge of collapse and annexation by Snezhnaya?

"I can't do that," I told him. "I'll make sure Amber stays safe, but the people of Mondstadt are counting on us to take care of Dvalin, one way or another. I'm sory, Master Diluc."

"Just Diluc," he corrected me. His hands were clasped together, and there was a wistful smile on his face. "With a resolve like that, how can I disrespect that? You have the same attitude that my father had. Despite being far out of his league, he faced down a foe greater than he when something precious was threatened." With a huff and a shake of his head, Diluc stood. "Come on, the girls seem to have dinner almost ready. There's a room on the far side of the house that you can set up in. I'll make sure to distract Paimon for you so you and your girlfriend can have some privacy."

"Thank you, Mas- ahem, Diluc," I said, correcting myself midway through. "Just on an off chance, but what would you suggest I do once all of this is said and done?" He hummed in thought for a moment.

"On account of your missing memories, correct?" he asked, and I responded with a nod. "There's a treasure trove of knowledge available within the Akademiya in Sumeru. That nation is to the southwest of here, and it's easiest to pass through Liyue in the Minlin region." I slowly nodded, repeating the information in my head to try and memorize. Giving up after a few seconds, I reminded myself to tell Paimon. "It's possible that they might be able to help you find the answers you seek."

"Thanks, Diluc," I told him again. "If you need anything in return, just let me know, alright?" I saw the traces of a smirk appear on his face.

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind, Hoshi. Might I call you that name? I've heard the others use is, and it's a bit awkward to constantly refer to you as the Honorary Knight."

"Feel free," I told him, waving my hand dismissively. "I would, or Paimon and Amber would, rather it only be used by close friends, though, so please keep it a secret." Diluc rolled his eyes, but nodded. Our talk basically concluded, I joined him soon after for a pleasant dinner. After the quiet of lunch, I think this was what we needed. Funnily enough, it was Paimon who joined me in dinner conversation, since Diluc, Venti, Amber, and Jean all huddled up for a strategy session before tomorrow.

"It's pretty crazy how things have been so hectic these last few days," Paimon talked as she ate, gobbling down at least four portions worth. Thankfully Diluc had the sense of mind to pack extra food for the little fairy. "Paimon thinks everything's been moving so fast! It's making Paimon's head spin a little bit. It'll be nice when this is all over and we can relax, though."

"Well, don't get too comfortable," I told her. "We'll be headed to Sumeru after we've settled things, here. Diluc told me about the Akademiya, and how we can potentially find some answers, there."

"That's right!" Paimon chirped, excited for some reason. "Sumeru is known as the Land of Wisdom, and is ruled over by the God of Wisdom, Lesser Lord Kusanali!" I thought for a moment, picking at her words.

"Lesser Lord? Was there a Greater Lord?" I asked, wondering what it was that was gnawing at my brain. Something didn't sound right. Lesser Lord?"

"Ah, Paimon isn't exactly sure," the fairy admitted. "It's been a while since Paimon has thought about Sumeru, but Paimon promises to look into it as soon as possible!" I reached over and gently ruffled the hair on top of her head, chuckling.

"Thanks, Paimon," I told her. "You're a great guide. I'm lucky to have met you."

"Eheheh, you should praise Paimon more!" The girl giggled with glee, beaming a smile so bright it nearly outshone the campfire. Well, not really, but she seemed pretty happy about the compliment. "Let's go to bed early so we'll be nice and rested for tomorrow!"

"About that," Diluc spoke up as if on cue. "Paimon, I had a few questions I'd like to ask of you. Some menial things, but perhaps you might be able to provide insight."

"W-Well, maybe tomorrow?" Paimon tried to refuse.

"It's about food," Diluc pulled his trump card pretty early. "I would like to run some recipes by you and have you act as a taste tester."

"U-Uh... Paimon couldn't possibly refuse a friend in need, right?" she asked, giving me a desperate look. I smiled at her and gave her a nod of approval, the fairy wasting no time in flying off to Diluc's side by the fire. In the meantime, I went and grabbed Amber, holding a finger to my lips as I led her to one of the rooms further into the house. It wasn't too much further, but it was still dark enough to need a torch.

"Is something the matter, Hoshi?" she asked only moments before I silenced her with my lips. "H-Hoshi?" She gasped and stammered as the kiss ended. "What's gotten into you?"

"Just the thought of this being a life threatening mission, and I'd really like to get into you before we get to the climax," I told her. With the torch's glow, I could see her face turn a bright red. She stood her ground and didn't run, though. I could see her mind working at a mile a minute trying to figure out just what she wanted. "If it's alright with you," I added, taking a small step towards her. She didn't back away.

"You'll be gentle, right?" she asked me, her eyes wide and her breathing heavy. "A-And you'll take responsibility if I...?"

"Of course," I told her. "I know it really hasn't been long, but I've practically known you for as long as I can remember. I love you, Amber." I heard her gasp and nod. She stepped forward and kissed me; a light touching of lips.

"I think I love you too, Hoshi," she replied. Our gazes met, and wouldn't leave one another's for what seemed like hours.

(XXX)

"That's the last of them," I called out as our group began to reconvene back to the main road. I gently shifted the corpse of a hilichurl to the side, out of my way, now about one-thousand mora richer than I was before. "Seems like this was the main guard post, given we're so close."

"That's what I thought, as well," Jean said, Venti being the last to join us. His bow dematerialized, and I found it rather funny that I'd never once considered if he knew how to fight or not. "We must be getting close. The Abyss Order wouldn't have forces this large in someplace unimportant." I looked over the ruined camp, the bodies of what must have been just under one hundred hilichurls and mitachurls staining the stones red with their blood. This Abyss Order must be pretty big, just as Venti warned me about.

I felt Amber rest her hand on my shoulder, gripping it in a comforting way. "Let's get moving," I told everyone. "We don't have time to waste. The quicker we get this done, the sooner we can make our way back and celebrate!" Though my declaration was to try and lift the mood, it fell a bit flat. I guess we were just too close to the actual end. The continued march was made in silence as we ascended a staircase to what seemed like a retainer wall of some kind.

"This used to border the city of Old Mondstadt," Venti explained as we ascended. "Here, people would come far and wide in order to gain protection from the God of anemo at the time. He was... not cruel, but he wasn't kind, either." The rest of us remained silent as Venti reminisced, only Amber seeming a bit confused as to why Venti seemed to know so much. "I wouldn't call him a friend, but he wasn't exactly an enemy, either. There are days..." He pursed his lips and shook his head as we reached the top. I could hear from here the howling winds blowing beyond the pillars of this room we found ourselves in. "That's the barrier. Until recently, they've not been active. I guess this is the Abyss Order's doing." He stepped forward, pulling his lyre from his bag. "All of Mondstadt should be free to know their history, and this city is part of it. Even if we didn't have to face Dvalin, this shouldn't be here."

It was frighteningly strange to see Venti this calm. His voice didn't lift in his normal teasing way, staying flat and stoic. The Gnosis, granting me sensitivity to the shifting of Anemo in my immediate surroundings, could feel the power radiating off of him like hot steam. Seeing this, all of this, had made Venti livid and focused. "I'll be just a moment," the bard said, staring at the barrier of winds. With the same sensitivity, I dared not try and reach out to the pure Anemo surrounding the city proper. It was... even from where I was, it was terrifyingly powerful.

We all watched as Venti strummed a few notes on his lyre, the sound pleasant, and ringing out even through the howling turbulence. All at once, with the final note played, the winds ceased, leaving it quiet as animals began to cry out through the evening. He looked tired, though I wasn't sure if it was emotionally, physically, or both. "Should we rest?" I asked, but Diluc, Jean, and Venti shook their heads.

"We're here now," Diluc replied before anyone else could. "We should finish it now. Full strength or not, a day wasted is a day lost." I hated to admit it, but he was right. Even though my feet ached from all the walking, a surprise given how the power of Anemo was easing my pains, this had to be done here and now.

"This is it," I mumbled, taking Amber's hand in mine as the five of us walked (and floated, in Paimon's case) through the empty and abandoned streets of Old Mondstadt. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when we arrived. Half-ruined temples, vast open spaces long since buried by time and nature. Well, what we got were crumbling houses and roads that were almost livable, as if preserved by time. "Why did the people of Mondstadt leave here?" I asked Venti, who was taking point for the group. "These places look like they could easily be repaired. If Mondstadt ever needed another large city, this could be it."

"The people first fled during the rebellion against Decarabian," Venti explained. I watched closely as we began to approach the final battle. Already, I could hear the sound of thunder from above; the telltale flapping of Stormterror's wings. "After that war, the new Anemo God, Barbatos, moved the people to the new city of Mondstadt. Blood had been shed here, and freedoms trampled and lost. It was a time of strife and hurt." The massive tower at the center of the city drew closer. I expected more resistance, but maybe the Abyss Order didn't want to get too close to a potential threat, even if it was currently on their side. "Many people died here, and the memories made it all the harder to come back. Even Barbatos hasn't returned here until... recently." We stopped at the massive gates of the central tower, and I could feel the power of Anemo swirling around it, protecting it.

"Do we have to find another way in?" I asked. Venti merely shook his head and smiled. It was a genuine one, lacking any of the teasing and mirth he normally has.

"I'll need your help with this," he told me. "Hold your hand against the winds. It will hurt for a moment, but trust me. I'll guide you on what to do." I did as he said, pressing my left hand against the barrier. Saying it hurt is an understatement. I let out a loud yell as the wind sliced against my palm. I could feel the flesh being rended off, scraped like it was being peeled slowly. I could only just barely feel Venti's hand on my back. "That's it, feel where my elemental power is going? Do it like that. Focus." I huffed and let out several gasps and puffs of air, trying to focus through the pain."

"I'm gonna fucking kill you when this is done," I snarled, doing as Venti instructed. The little fucker had the gall to laugh!

"I'll hold you to that," he teased, his old self coming back for a moment. "There, just like that. Now... release!" I did as he said when he said it, and saw a hole blasted through the barrier. "Now, everyone in before it can reform!" I grabbed Paimon and threw her through the hole, making sure Amber was in before I tossed myself through the now closing breach of winds. I grunted, falling to my knees and clenching my left fist, trying to ignore the pain I felt. "Easy, easy," I heard him whisper, hand once more on my back. A soothing sensation enveloped my left hand, and I felt the flesh literally grow back. This guy was fucking insane. "You did well, dear Honorary Knight. There, feel better?"

"If we didn't need you," I growled, slowly standing on my own feet. "I'd kick you in the balls and laugh." I brushed my bloody and dirty hands on my pants, gazing up at the tower above us. "Fuck, we have to walk all the way up there?"

"That's the idea," Venti nodded, once more descending back into his serious state. "Is everyone ready? I hope so, because we only have one shot at this, and Dvalin is sure to come running with both barriers disturbed." I drew my sword from its sheathe on my hip, as the others all summoned their weapons. I had to learn how to do that. "Good. Let's head on up."

The walk was quiet besides the howling winds outside the tower and the sound of Dvalin's wings overhead. He was here, and he was waiting for us. Venti walked beside me, and whispered to me. "Once we get to the top, I'll need your help," he told me. "I have enough power to pull off the thousand winds trick, but since you have the Anemo Gnosis, I'll need you to focus it, and for everyone present. Can you do that for me?"

"I can try," I told him.

"Good enough." He patted my back, and when we reached the top of the tower, I was as the massive form of Dvalin rushed past. I heard him roar, and Venti sent me a nod. I felt myself surge with the power of Anemo as Venti focused, and I shaped it, letting it engulf everyone present. Wing gliders outstretched, all of us flew into the evening sky to confront the dragon that awaited us.

(XXX)

I got distracted again. Listen, I've been doing the quests in Sumeru and been working on some personal projects, so I've been a bit busy as well. With all of that and working full time, this has been kinda hard to write; thus the short length. I'm not sure how long the next chapter will be, since combat has never been a strength of mine, but I'll try and to my best with it since it's the big boss fight for the prologue. From here, though, the story direction becomes mine, and I refuse to allow myself to be constrained by the normal plot of the game. I think that's one of the reasons why it was so hard for me to write this chapter; following the path of the game Traveler is kinda meh, especially in Mondstadt. Guess it's time to shake things up a bit.