When He Loses Everything

Terror. Amber felt terror as they flew up towards the dragon known as Stormterror. Dvalin. Whatever his name was. There was so much that she didn't know, and that everyone else was keeping from her, but right now that was the least of her concerns. Right now, she had to make sure everyone came back alive. The beast roared, soaring around them trying to get a good angle at them as they chased after him above the skies of Mondstadt. "We need to attack that clot on his back!" somehow she could hear Venti clearly over the wind rushing by her head. "That's where the corruption is spreading from! From there, we'll need to attack the clot on his head!"

"Fuck it, get them both!" Amber heard her boyfriend, Hoshi, yell back. "I'm controlling everyone's movements, so attack when you have the opportunity! Amber, Venti, you're our support!" Amber grit her teeth, drawing the string back on her bow as she nocked an arrow. She willed the power from her Vision through her weapon, flames flickering from her weapon. She waited for a good shot, feeling as her body was moved around in the air by a force beyond her. Hoshi. He was keeping her safe, even ad Stormterror turned around on them and unleashed a storm of wind bullets. She felt herself jerked to the side, narrowly avoiding one of those attacks that had been heading straight for her. "Venti!" She saw as a streak rushed towards a spot on Stormterror's back that was dyed black against his blue scales. The arrow struck true, and she heard as the dragon roared in anguish. Diluc let out a howl as he dove towards the dragon's head.

Stormterror opened his jaws to eat the man, but he was swung around the beast's head, slamming his flaming claymore on top of the clot that rested on the dragon's skull. The battle continued like this for a while, with Hoshi directing everyone out of the way of Stormterror's attacks and occasionally getting himself, Jean, and Diluc in to attack the clot on Stormterror's head. Amber and Venti focused on the clot on his back, waiting for opportune shots to fire together, letting their Pyro and Anemo Visions react in a Swirl.

While Amber couldn't make out exactly how it was going, she could see cracks forming on the clots, which was good, right? She took another shot, craning her neck to just avoid another air bullet shot at her. That's when she heard it. "Agh!" Jean screamed as Hoshi dove towards the dragon. Too distracted by his impending attack to see as Jean was hit, Amber felt herself wobble and glide, no longer flying as she'd been before. "Hoshi, focus!" After a moment, she was flying again, but it wasn't to last. Already distracted as Jean fell below the clouds, Hoshi couldn't see as Stormterror slammed his tail against Diluc. The man grunted, and Amber was sure that she could hear the man's ribs cracking from where she was.

"Diluc! Hang on!" Hoshi screamed.

"No, he can't fight like that!" Venti shouted. "Jean, you need to catch him!" Amber wasn't sure how he could expect the Acting Grand Master to hear him, but she had to have faith. She glanced back at the dragon. They were so close! "Amber, his head!" Amber took aim, letting her training as a Knight of Favonius take over. It might just be the three of them and Paimon fighting, but they could still do this! She focused in as the dragon spotted her, and flew directly towards her. She had to make this shot!

(XXX)

It all went wrong so quickly. First, we were doing fine against Dvalin. The training had paid off, and I could control the winds just as easily as moving an arm. That was where my downfall began. Overconfidence. We were making excellent headway. Dvalin's clot on his head only needed one more good hit, and that one would be through, leaving only his tail. I thought I had it. I did have it. How could I have let Jean fall out of my focus, though? Her cry of pain meant I missed my swing, and trying to refocus on keeping everyone aloft meant Diluc was next. I wanted to catch him, but Venti was right. There was no way I could split my attention so far. Now, it was just the three of us and Paimon. I glared at the dragon, hoping he'd go for me, next. Flying myself around was the easiest, so I'd focused on trying to make him attack me, but he had other plans. I saw as Amber charged up her next arrow, readying herself for a good shot. Unfortunately, he saw it as well.

"Amber!" I screamed, moving her out of his jaws as she fired. It whiffed, but just barely.

"I had the shot, Hoshi!" she shouted back, looking annoyed. "I have this! Just trust me!" I grit my teeth, trying not to snap back. I'd rather her miss the shot than get hurt! I couldn't let her get hurt! I launched myself towards Dvalin, taking him by surprise if his roar was of any indication. I twisted and turned in the sky, avoiding his desperate attacks as I gained on him through the air. I only kept enough focus on Venti and Amber to keep them aloft, and I could see them firing potshots at the dragon.

Maybe what happened next was my fault. Maybe he got sick of my chasing him. Maybe he saw easier targets. Maybe he just got tired of avoiding arrows. Dvalin moved, flying straight towards the pair of archers. I saw Venti fire his arrow at his back, breaking the first clot, but the beast was flying towards Amber, jaws outstretched. I should have moved her again. I should have just rinsed and repeated until we could get that last clot. It wasn't like I was becoming exhausted from the fight, the gnoisis working overtime with whatever it was doing to me.

There were tens of ideas that would have worked better. That would have kept everyone here safe and the fight continuing. I chose none of them. As Dvalin flew at my girlfriend, all I could think of was one thing. Protect. I have to protect her. I let them fall. I let my focus rest solely on myself as I flew directly at Dvalin, slamming into the dragon's torso like a human crossbow bolt. "YOU WON'T TAKE HER FROM ME!" I screamed at the dragon, knocking him off his course as we flew beyond the two of them. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" I gripped my sword tightly and twisted my body, rounding up towards his head. I swung at the clot, putting every ounce of strength I could into the swing. I watched as my blade descended on the black corruption eating away at his mind and sanity. He wouldn't hurt anyone any longer!

PAIN.

CRACK.

I watched as the sky above disappeared behind clouds. My body, limp. My last view as my vision faded was of the dragon's twisting form, his tail where I should have been. Where I was. Gnosis or not, my body ached as I plummeted to the ground. I tried to focus, but the winds wouldn't heed me. I just wasn't strong enough. Inside me burned fury and anger and the will to protect, but it just wasn't enough. I'd had to use Venti's raw power, but I'd flown too close to the sun, away from him. His power couldn't help me, now. I heard a roar from beyond the clouds, and a flash of teal light fill my vision. This must be death, then. Only a week of adventures, and now it was over. What a lousy way to die.

(XXX)

"Who are you?" a girl asked. I found myself laying in a forest, pine trees surrounding me as I looked up at the sky. "Excuse me. You know, it's very rude to not answer someone who's speaking to you." I glanced at the origin of the voice, seeing a young girl with green eyes and pale hair looking back at me. She was sat on her knees, my head resting on her lap over her dress.

"Isn't my head heavy?" I asked, trying to move my body, but finding that I wasn't able to. I tried to remember how I got here...

"It's not that heavy," the girl replied. "In fact, it's quite light, here. You must not be aware of what's going on around you. That's alright, you'll come to the right conclusion in a few moments, I'm sure of it." What a strange girl. I looked back up at the sky above us.

"Where am I?" I asked. She gently pokes the tip of my nose, making me scrunch up my face.

"Rude, I already answered one of your questions, so it's time that you answered mine. That's only fair, isn't it?" Well, I guess I couldn't argue with that logic. Especially since it seemed like she didn't mean me any harm. "So, who are you?"

"My name is Hoshi," I told her. "Though Paimon and Amber get jealous when other people call me that. For now, you can call me a Traveler or Honorary Knight." She tilted her head, looking a bit perplexed, but nodded anyways. "Are we in Mondstadt?"

"Not at all," the girl shook her head. "You're, well, right now, you're not really anywhere. In fact, you took me by surprise when you arrived here. I couldn't really tell you where you are right now." Yet this place looked so familiar... I could hear the ocean's waves, and the smell of salt. Were we close to a beach? "You have the distinct mark of someone beyond this world, though. A presence that's foreign, yet familiar all the same. It's been some time since I've last spoken to someone, so would you give me the pleasure of conversation?"

"Only if I can know who exactly I'm talking to," I told her in response. She giggled, and I couldn't help but be reminded a little bit of Paimon. This girl was kind of cute. A shame she was so young.

"You can call me Nahida, distant Traveler," she introduced herself. "It's a pleasure to meet you." I hummed in an affirmative response. So, Nahida and I talked. I couldn't really move, but from what I remembered, Dvalin had basically shattered my body when his tail had impacted me. So, how was I not in pain? Either way, we talked, and talked, and talked some more. About Mondstadt, and about Sumeru, where she was from. I asked where her parents were, and all she said was that she didn't have parents. An orphan, I guessed, since she didn't expand on it at all.

I told her about my seven days of waking, and about how I couldn't remember anything about myself before that. I told her about Paimon, about the Knights of Favonius, and about Amber. I also told her about the Fatui and the Abyss Order, and told her she should be careful. Even if she's just a little girl, I wouldn't put it past them to hurt her if she was in their way.

In return, Nahida told me about the lush jungles of Sumeru, and the tree-top city of Sumeru City. she told me about the vast desert that laid beyond the forest, as well as stories about the god- er, Archon, she called her, before Kusanali; Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. Mainly just how incredible the Archon must have been; I guess little Nahida was a big fan of hers.

All in all, it was a relaxing conversation that lasted hours, even as the sun... was still up? Shouldn't it have set by now? "It seems like our time together is running out," Nahida said, sounding a bit sad. "Will you promise to remember me, Traveler? Excuse me, but may I call you by your actual name?"

"Well, it is what my friends call me," I told her. "I guess after all this, it'd be hard not to call you a friend." The girl smiled, and ruffled the hair on my head. It was... strangely relaxing. Was this how Paimon felt? "But what do you mean? Do you have someplace to go?"

"Not particularly, but the forces that have kept you here are beginning to wear off," the girl told me. "You once asked me, it must have been yesterday, where you were. I believe you're about to get your answer." I saw my vision blur, and thought I wanted to speak, no words came out. Instead, darkness.

(XXX)

The city was in view now. All we had to do was make it back. It's been four days, and the carriage service was all too happy to take us back from Old Mondstadt. I looked around the cart at the other three who were with me. Jean was nursing her wound, a nasty elemental burn on her stomach. As it turns out, being attacked with Anemo energy from an Anemo dragon will do that. Dvalin had apologized for it.

Master Diluc we had to leave back at the estate. With broken ribs and a crushed lung, we weren't sure if he would survive. Doctors are hard to come by around Mondstadt, and the Deaconess can only do so much. that, and we had to ask her for help, first. By now, she should have received the carrier pigeon, but it would be my job to make sure she received the message when we arrived.

Venti was silent. I didn't want to look at him. This was all his fault. If he hadn't hid who he was. If he hadn't gotten involved with Hoshi. If he had just told Dvalin to know it off and stop being a jerk! Then maybe Hoshi would...

My eyes turned to the last person riding in the carriage. She sat on my lap, eyes closed and tear stains on her cheeks. She'd cried herself to sleep again... We could make guesses on where his body would have landed, but we weren't sure. Jean and Diluc weren't able to help any, since neither of them were even there, and while I knew Mondstadt like the back of my hand, we hadn't been over Mondstadt at the time. No, I wasn't sure where we were. I was too focused on the fight to really keep track of everything.

I hugged the little fairy closer to me, hearing her sniffle, even in her sleep. I couldn't help the tears that flowed from my eyes, but I held back the sobs this time. My first boyfriend... really gone like that. I knew that we Knights of Favonius were supposed to be able to accept death of our loved ones, but this was too fast. We hadn't even known each other for more than a week. As soon as Jean was better, I had to ask to go search for him. I needed to find out where he went, and if he was still alive. I mean, something like this couldn't keep him down, right?

I wasn't sure if I was even able to convince myself... Those words felt hollow and empty. I held Paimon just a little bit tighter. "Hoshi," she mumbled in her sleep, gathering the attention of Jean and Venti. Jean smiled bitterly, and Venti looked away. Barbatos... was he really this selfish? The Anemo God that everyone worships...

I couldn't worship a god like this. No, I had to put my faith in my own abilities, and the hope that Hoshi would be alright. I prayed silently to myself, hoping that any other god out there might hear them and bless him, wherever he might be.

(XXX)

PAIN.

Agonizing, indescribable pain. The shock was so sudden, a cry ripped itself from my lips as I came to. I was on a bed, staring up at a green roof and dark wood. It was a lovely sight, accented by the sound of birds outside, and people talking and walking. Now if only I could appreciate it instead of being in this intense pain. My back felt like it was broken, and I let out another cry through clenched teeth. I heard someone rush in, and felt hands on my shoulders. Who...? My vision was blurry, and I could barely make out grey hair and... tan skin, not unlike my own. "Easy there, young man," the person had a voice like an elderly man. "You've been in a horrible accident, falling from the sky. Rest easy, your body is not yet healed. Swallow, would you fetch me more medication?"

"Yes, Asfand," a girl's voice replied a distance away. The man reached down and gently gripped my shoulder.

"How fortunate that young Nilou found you, stranger," the man chuckled under his breath. I groaned in pain, and I felt his hand move to my forehead. "Ah, dear, it appears your condition isn't getting better any time soon. Tell me, can you remember anything? Can you speak at all, stranger?"

"Hurts," I ground out, groaning once more.

"Yes, yes, I understand," the man, Asfand, was it? Yeah, he seemed to get it. "Just rest, then, young man. You're in the care of the Corps of Thirty, good, reliable hands." I felt my consciousness begin to fade again, same with my vision. What the hell was happening to me...? Where was I...? Where was Paimon, and Amber?

(XXX)

A short chapter, and I really did try to figure out how to make combat work, but Dvalin's fight is so hard to make interesting. I did the best I could with what I had, but with Dvalin basically silent the entire time, mad with fury, there's not a lot of depth I could add on my own. Well, here's hoping I can do Sumeru some actual justice. At this point, we're arriving in the nation a good year or so early, so the events of the game actually haven't caught up, leaving plenty of time for... side missions! Or at least some character building and interactions.