It was morning now,
Or was it already afternoon...?
*She didn't know and she didn't care to know...
...
It was another day after she miraculously survived...
*Her life getting undeservingly saved by other people,
Even the friend she hurt and the nation's Archon...
...
...
The rays of sunshine shining through the window,
They were so bright and warm...
*She could still feel this warmth,
Once again, after the kidnapping and the...
...
Those vines were so cold...
*So cold and uncontrollable...
...
With these vines, she...
...
The screams…
...
The blood…
...
...
As she hurt and hurt others,
Unable to stop her assault...
...
...
The vines are gone now, right...?
*They should be gone now, but...
...
She still somehow imagined them being there,
Coming out from her body...
...
Frantically flailing around...
...
Hurting everyone around her...
"...D-did I...D-did I do this...? I-I...! I-I...!", Her worry soon turned to horror, as she noticed the vines growing out of her body and piercing her friend. "...A-after I was...A-and the experiment...I-I...T-to the place that accepted me...A-and to my good friend...! I-I...PLEASE, GET AWAY FROM ME!"
...
...
Amber,
Even her good friend...
*She even hurt her...
...
And even then...
"N-no, please! Don't kill Collei!
There should still be another way! T-there has to be a way...!"
...
"COLLEI, STOP!
WE ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO SAVE YOU, SO PLEASE, STOP THIS! I-IF YOU CONTINUE...!"
...
Why...?
Why did Amber go so far...?
*Why, for her, she...?
"COLLEI, YOU ARE FINALLY AWAKE!
How are you feeling…? Nothing hurts, right…?! Venti made sure to revert your state to before the kidnapping, but seeing what happened to you I can't help but feel worried and…!"
...
...
Amber, why did she still,
Seemed to care for her so much...?
...
"I…I understand Eula. Lisa reads a lot, so she must know of a way to help Collei, even a little.
Lisa, please, take care of my friend."
...
...
Amber's friend...?
*Why...?
...
At this point,
She was no longer...
-Sorry for barging in like this, but you weren't answering the door, so I got worried. -Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice of Amber, who soon entered the room, closing the door behind her. -...Collei, are you okay...? The talk with Lisa...It went well, right...?
The Outrider asked in worry, as she went towards her friend,
Soon proceeding to stand by her bedside and look her over...
*Collei really wasn't sure what Amber was doing here,
But weirdly enough, she felt relieved to see her friend...
...
"Her friend"...?
*But to Amber, she shouldn't be...
...
...
-Miss Lisa is a nice person. We talked a lot yesterday. I am alright, just a little...Distracted...-Collei decided to answer with this, starting to feel bad because Amber looked so worried. And about herself of all people...Amber was always like this, so kind and friendly. If only she was more like her friend...-...Amber, is there something you need...?
-Oh, that...Well if you are okay then it's great! -Amber answered with this, clearly not fully believing the other, though she tried not to show it. -About the reason why I am here, other than to check on you and make sure you are okay...-The Outrider continued, her voice getting more serious, as she outstretched her right hand to the other. -I want you to come somewhere with me, Collei! You don't mind, right?
She soon asked, both in seriousness and barely hidden warmth,
Firmly holding her hand towards the other, waiting for a reply...
*This sudden question and the way it was said caught Collei off guard...
...
Amber wanted her,
To come somewhere with her...?
*Why did she...?
...
...
It's Amber...
So it should be fine...
"I'm Amber, the best outrider and scout there is!
I'm also a real expert at finding stuff! Join me and we'll find what you're looking for!"
...
Because it's Amber...
*Still such a good friend to her...
...
Even now,
After everything...
...
...
-...Alright, since it's you, Amber...-Collei finally said, still looking slightly unsure, as she soon reluctantly took Amber's outstretched hand. -...But, where are we going...?
-You will see. -The Outrider mysteriously answered her, as she started leading her towards the door and out the room. -...I am sure you will like it, Collei…~
She happily and warmly mumbled,
Eager to show her friend what they have prepared...
"Barbatos, 'Operation: Welcome Collei to Mondstadt' has just started!", the Winds informed, sounding determined, before there was a short pause, "...What you "asked" us to do as a form of punishment...Isn't it a little too much...? We never worked this ha...!"
Which is precisely why it's an appropriate punishment~
*If it was something they liked, it wouldn't be a punishment, now would it...?~
...
"...That's...Having us do so much work..."An appropriate punishment", that...? But it's literally overworking...! We are going to diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie...!", the Winds soon mumbled, sounding quite conflicted and somewhat whiny, before there were a few seconds of silence, followed by a resigned sigh, "...We accept your decision, Barbatos and will do what you asked. Somehow...We really shouldn't have played that prank...!"
They admitted in distraught, before becoming completely silent,
As Venti could almost imagine them trying very hard not to cry now...
*But a punishment was a punishment, one they brought on themselves...
...
"...It's evil, this punishment...! It's utterly evil...!", the Winds suddenly mumbled, sounding very hurt, "...And to think you will do this to us, Barbatos...! Why would you agree to this one from all the suggestions...?! Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...?!"
And then they quitted down for sure...
*At least Venti thought they did, this time,
But just to be sure...
...
...
...
Yeah, it seems like they finally accepted their fate...
*And their quite well-deserved punishment, might he add...
...
Hopefully they do their tasks well~
Collei deserved to enjoy the world's beauty, after all~
...
...
Oh, right,
He almost forgot...
-Sorry about suddenly getting distracted, everyone. I was just informed by the Winds that the "operation" has finally started! -Venti soon informed those gathered in the room, which consisted of the children and Barbara. Though the children looked a little tired. But they still had to do some preparations before the two arrive...-...How about we take a little break...? There's still some time until Collei and Amber even arrive at Dornman Port! And even more time until they arrive to the Lawrence Estate! -He soon suggested, upon looking between each one of the children, who looked like they were considering this now. But not accepting his offer outright. They were clearly determined to continue with their lesson. Such adorable and hardworking children~ -...Afterwards we can continue our rehearsal! -At these words he glanced towards the Deaconess, who soon understandably nodded, before turning to look back between the children. -...Both myself and Barbara will teach you as much as we can until you are able to offer your "welcoming gift" to Collei! It's a promise!
Amber invited her to a late breakfast at Good Hunter...
*Which in itself was more than just fine,
She was glad to spend time with her friend...
...
But...
-Amber, did you arrange this beforehand...? -Collei couldn't help but soon ask, as she just finished her Tea Break Pancake dish and started on the Fried Radish Balls. The way everything was already prepared when they arrived...-When we arrived, the table was already decorated with Rukkhashava Mushrooms and Small Lamp Grasses...-...The national flora they both loved...-...With the Anemo Crystalflies fluttering around...-...Somehow having all gathered at this exact location...-...And as soon as we sat down, Sara arrived with our food! -...And with dishes she liked to eat, too! -...So, Amber, did you really...?
-I am glad you noticed it, Collei! -The Outrider interrupted her, looking and sounding glad, as she was in the middle of eating her share of Fried Radish Balls. -...It's just the start of today's "program", but I am glad you seem to like it...~ -She happily mumbled afterwards, making her friend visibly confused, which she noticed. -Don't worry Collei, what we are going to do after this, I am sure you will love it too~ -She reassured, already imagining how fun it would be. But eating like this with her friend again was also quite nice...-...Spending time with you like this already feels great. When was the last time we met up and ate out like this...?
She couldn't help but wonder soon enough,
And Collei had to admit that she wondered that too...
*When was the last time they spend time together,
Enjoying each other's company like this...?
...
It was during last year's Windblume, almost eleven months ago,
Before all that chaos in Sumeru started and then...
...
Her kidnapping and what followed...
...
...
It was truly so long ago,
That she almost forgot how good this experience was...
*Just peacefully sitting in a restaurant and eating food with her friend...
...
The atmosphere and the food were so nice,
And the Fried Radish Balls both of them were now eating...
...
It reminded her of the first ever Ludi Harpastum she experienced,
One she shared together with Amber, as her friend planned to show her the "Greatness of Mondstadt"...
*Those Fried Radish Balls that Amber brought her (and fed to her) turned out to be surprisingly tasty...
"There! Have a taste of those yummy Fried Radish Balls!
I love them!",
Amber told her, before getting distracted by a "Pile 'Em Up" game stall...
*Collei still couldn't believe that her friend fell for such an obvious scam.
...
...
Even after all this time, she remembered this time fondly...
*The time when Amber slowly but surely helped her open up...
...
And her friend was doing it even now, after all the horrible things she did...
*She was...Controlled through most of it, yet she still hurt others...
...
...
"...It's just the start of today's "program", but I am glad you seem to like it...~
Don't worry Collei, what we are going to do after this, I am sure you will love it too~"
...
But what exactly did Amber mean by this...?
What were they going to do next...?
*As long as it was together with Amber,
She didn't mind whatever it was...
...
But still, she couldn't help but feel confused...
*Why was Amber trying so hard to help her...?
Why was she...?
-Oh, you looked distracted, but you still finished your dish! I am glad that you liked it, Collei! -Her thoughts were soon interrupted by her friend's happy voice, as Collei finally realized that she indeed ate all the Fried Radish Balls on her plate. -As soon as you are ready, we can go to the next location! You are going to love it so much, the Winds really...! -Amber enthusiastically continued, before her words suddenly cut off, as she looked towards the other in some remorse. -Sorry, I got overly enthusiastic about it and didn't realize that you might need some time. We can go wherever you are ready, so...
-I don't mind going now. -Collei interrupted her, as she was already preparing to leave. -...Thank you for the invite, Amber. I missed spending time with you. -She gratefully added, before turning to look towards the waitress. -Thank you for the food, Miss Sara, it was very tasty.
-I am glad you liked it, Miss Collei. -Sara courtly answered her, before proceeding to take the cutlery away. -Thank you for coming to Good Hunter. Hope you have a wonderful day!
And with these words, she soon went inside the shop,
Leaving Collei and Amber by themselves...
-Since you said you are ready, let's go, Collei. -The Outrider soon said, as she stood up from her seat, with her friend following suit. -There's still so much to see and to do!
And with these words, the two friends soon left Good Hunter,
As they proceed to go down the stairs and towards the city gates...
*Collei soon realized that the next "event" was going to be outside the city,
And as the two got near the bridge, the most surprising thing suddenly happened!
-The water is...Going up...? -She couldn't help but say in surprise and confusion, as she couldn't believe what she was currently seeing. -...This next "event"...Just what is...?
She managed to blurt out as the Cider Lake water rose more and more,
Before slowly but surely all of it combined together in a semicircle shape,
Soon enough creating an archway of sorts along the full length of the bridge,
The fish seen swimming through the clear water around and above the passageway...
...
Collei was literally speechless, as she was watching, transfixed, at the scene before her,
Now wondering what else Amber(and she was certain other people too) had prepared...
*Though seeing this, she couldn't really think about any other matter,
So if her friend(and others) wanted her to get distracted with this...
...
They succeeded,
She couldn't look away...
*It was so pretty and mesmerizing,
Were they going to walk through it now...?!
...
How was the water staying up like that...?
*Amber said something about "the Winds", did they do this...?!
...
"I want you to come somewhere with me, Collei! You don't mind, right?"
She did agree to Amber's suggestion at the time,
But she didn't expect it to turn out like this...
*Just what else was prepared for today...?!
...
-I am glad to see that you are clearly enjoying it, Collei~ Though you do look quite shocked...-Amber soon commented, her voice changing from glad and amused and to thoughtful, as moments later she took her friend's left hand in hers. -But as pretty as it looks from here, the view should be even more beautiful inside. So let's go in and enjoy it!
And with these enthusiastic words, she pulled her friend along,
With Collei letting herself get pulled by her friend, secretly excited for what she was about to see next...
...
It was the truth that she never saw something like this before,
But since Amber said it's going to be even more beautiful, then it would...
*Her Outrider friend wasn't one to lie, so she believed her unconditionally...
...
...
This day had just started for her,
Yet Collei was certain she would never be able to forget it...