Disclaimer: Halo and Genshin Impact DO NOT belong to me. They're owned by their respective owners and the only thing to my name is possible OC's and this story.
Quick Author's note: Just happened to reread the chapter after posting it, sending out an updated one with better grammar and spelling corrections. Damn, a review already.
Reviews:
The Disquieting One: I will admit, you are right. It's sad to see you go, but very understandable. I provide my reasoning at the end if you happen to read this or others are curious.
Anyway, enjoy.
"Internal Dialogue"
"Regular Speech"
"Foreign language translated"
Effects
... Scene Break
"Please. Have a seat." The teen nun gave him a very warm smile, patting the the empty spot next to her. He eyed the wooden bench warily however and glanced back at her. He internally signed and went to take a seat beside her. He hovered over its surface briefly before slowly easing himself onto it, the wood giving a slow groan. Barbara blinked at that while Swan raised an eye brow.
"Armor is heavier than it looks." The girl snapped out of her minor stupor, giving a stern frown.
"Another reason to get you healed right away. Now hold still for me please, this'll only take a second." Water popped into existence above her hands, gracefully swirling above her hands. The spartan made sure to observe closely, watching as the liquid came closer; hovering over his armor. He slightly tensed as the water splashed against the the body-suit, the water sliding across its surface. Water flowed along up and down his left side as if were some animal trying to get in with no obvious effect.
"...uhhh" She cleared her throat. "Sir..., I apologize, I've never asked for your name."
"Aether."
"Well sir Aether, I can't seem to heal you so could I trouble you take your armor off." She had the courtesy to act bashful at that.
"...May I ask why?"
"Well, how my magic works is by allowing the water to be in contact with the wounds themselves or to the body possessing them. Normally, I could do this while people are clothed as water can seep through their clothing and into their skin; your attire won't allow that to happen." That did make sense in a way. Technically he was perfectly sealed inside his suit and naturally his suit would keep the elements off his person.
"Here." He placed a finger at a discreet opening below the left side of his ribcage, pressing his finger into it.
"Ah, thank you." Water seeped into one of the various the bio-form injection ports of the suit. Aether barely shivered as the cool liquid spread out into his entire left side. The cold wetness soon disappeared along with the flaring pain. No way... he numbly pressed his fingers at various spots on his left side, attempting to find damaged areas, some measure of pain... nothing.
"It's gone... the pain is gone." The nun beamed an happy smile, clasping her hands together.
"Tada~ All healed now. Don't be afraid to come back, I'm always happy to help those in need." The girl chirped, the spartan only gave a small hidden frown. The back of his neck tingled, his eyes glanced around his surroundings. The group resided in a small courtyard with tall shrubbery lining the sides with archways lining either side. One side was devoid of anything, but a railing giving a view of the city. Though they still haven't reached the top of the slope left so there were still 'floors' above their position.
He glanced at those floors, eyes flickering to the rooftops, windows, windmills, and anything that could give cover. He felt like he was being watched. There. He kept his head movements extremely small as he turned to get a better look. Among the rooftops sat a small silver circle at the bottom corner of a large chimney. It looked out of place among the red rooftops and with the sun facing the group, it would be even harder to see it in the first place. He could thank his visor for that.
The chimney was large enough to hide a person and assuming he was being watched from that position, that circle must be a mirror. Keeping an eye on him and keeping themselves hidden at a vantage point. Clever. The thought of whipping out the sniper rifle and blasting that chimney crossed his mind before he suppressed it. That would leave a poor impression on the populace here and even then... He didn't know for sure if someone was there. He was going off gut instinct and circumstantial evidence. Perhaps he was being paranoid, but then again; it's what kept him alive. He turned back to Barbara.
"Barbara."
"Yes?"
"What are vision users exactly?" The teen gave a thoughtful hum, taking a moment.
"The best way to describe vision users are people blessed by the Archons, the chosen per se." Archons... is that their word for god? There are more than one? Barbara unclipped the book from her belt and showed him the gem on its cover. "These people receive these gems, visions, that grant them the ability to use magic by gathering elemental particles and using them." She opened her palms, twirling water in-between her fingers. "Allowing them to do things people wouldn't believe otherwise."
"Yet your only limited to healing others?"
"Err... not exactly." She gave nervous smile. "I can use hydro to defend myself, but I rather avoid it if possible." That implied that these visions could be manipulated in various ways. "They can be used to fight though it depends on the person themselves. I... wanted to help people." She gently stroked her vision, eyes giving a far away look. "So my magic heals people."
"Are there multiple types of visions?"That brought to mind those vision users he saw before in the wilderness. The girl he saved had a vision with a flame sigil so fire? Barbara had water. So what about the others?
"Well of course. All visions correspond to an element controlled by the seven Archons such a water, fire, anemo, and geo." Seven Archons, seven types of elements.
"How do vision users get their visions? How did you get yours?"
"Ah, hmm. Visions are given to those that have shown great ambition that the gods bestow upon them a vision of their own is the best explanation, again what we call the chosen. As to what qualifies, no one really knows for sure... Each vision user has their own story as to how they gained their vision and usually it's very... personal. I'm sorry, but I must apologize about not telling you about my vision."
"...It's alright. I didn't mean to pry." He gave a curt dismissal at that, the girl giving a thankful smile. He finally had a bit of information in this place and it seemed like he had to be cautious around these vision users.
"Excuse me, Mr. Aether, I don't mean to rush you, but we must hurry back to headquarters." Swan gave his polite input, beside the two. Aether gave a nod and stood up, the bench giving a relieved groan. Much to Barbara's amusement as she giggled. "Follow me."
"Ah! Wait." He turned back to the nun who held up a glass bottle filled with a red liquid. "Give this to your friend once she wakes up, it's an energy drink I've made. It always fills me with energy and I'm sure it'll do the same for her." He nodded a thanks.
As the spartan walked after Swan, he glanced back at the rooftops to see that the silver circle was gone. He gave himself a small smile, he was right after all.
...
"Come in." Swan opened the door for him and closed the door behind him. An large, ornate office greeted him. Books and build in clock took up one wall while the other hanged paintings of the landscape, the far end having shield and crossed swords between twin windows. Below it was an ornate desk with books, papers, and writing utensils neatly organized across its surface and behind it stood a woman. The same woman he peered through his scope before. She wore a stylized, what he could assume to be, officers uniform with a small cape linked around her neck and sleeveless arm guards ending in metallic gauntlets. Blue eyes peered away from the document she had been writing on and settled on him, blonde hair framing her face and ending in a pony tail.
Beside her were to other individuals, two other vision users. The tanned male he spied on from before leaned against the wall casually to her left while another unknown woman stood to her right. The tanned man had honest to god blue hair draping behind is neck and over his chest, a eyepatch covering his right eye. A blue eye peered at him curiously, yet had an calculating undertone under it. His baby blue vision with the sigil of a snowflake laid on his hip, clipped to his belt. The man smiled at him.
The woman wore all purple, a purple dress covering her form and a purple witches hat sat atop brown hair. A purple vision with a sigil of lightning hanged from her necklace. Green eyes curiously gazed at him. The blonde set the document aside and stood up, reach an hand over the desk.
"Mondstadt welcomes you, windborne travelers. I'm Jean Gunnhildr, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius" The Spartan returned the handshake, careful to not crush the woman's hands.
"Aether. The napping one's name is Paimon. If I may, could I set her down?" He gestured to the pixie on his shoulder.
"Please, go ahead." He quickly set the fairy onto a couch and took his place in front of the three vision users. Jean sat back down, curiously peered at him still standing.
"You're free to have a seat."
"I prefer to stand if that's no problem."
"Then I'll continue, to my left is Kaeya Alberich, he's our Cavalry Captain. To my right is Lisa Minca, our resident librarian." Each member gave a nod at their introductions, leaving Jean to steer the conversation. "I'll be frank with you, Aether. You have not arrived at a good time, Mondstadt is in lockdown, keeping all Citizens behind its walls tor their safety. Stormterror has been terrorizing the surrounding lands." Must be that dragon then. "Understandably, tensions are high and people are scared. So when Stormterror was heading to Mondstadt, seemingly on a rampage, and off flys an heavily armored and heavily armed man that crashes into a building with relatively minor injuries; people ask questions."
Her eyes hardened as the trio scrutinized him... Yeah it didn't look good, he'll admit that. Jean continued.
"I'll ask questions and I expect that you'll be honest with me. So first off, are you affiliated with the Fatui?" Fatui? Is that a group they're at odds with?
"No."
"No? Then where did you get those firearms for as far as we know, only Fatui have firearms as part as their arsenal."
"They were on my person when I woke up here."
"...Excuse me, woke up here? What do you mean by that." He walked toward a wall with a map of the Mondstadt and its borders. He gave it a brief read before placing a finger at the cliff-bordered beach.
"I woke up here two months ago, by myself and with no recollection on how I have arrived." He turned back to the group. "I believe that I have amnesia and I was proven correct when I met Paimon shortly later."
"If that is true, then surely you have seen Mondstadt and would have went to first signs of civilization. So why didn't you?"
"Back to the point of Amnesia, when I met Paimon; I couldn't understand her and vice versa. I didn't speak the common language of Teyvat. Therefore, Paimon taught me how in those two months. Don't believe me, take a look at this." He pulled out his journal, and passed it to her. Jean opened the book, eyes quickly following each line. He could see that english was unfamiliar to her as her confusion grew after each line. She passed it to Lisa who then passed it to Kaeya after a brief read. He took back the journal, both two vision users had similar expressions to Jean.
"Another reason I stayed away is because Stormterror attacked the surroundings once already, throwing debris everywhere including that journal. Then when I tried, I nearly got bit in half and thrown into a building. I've been writing in it for the past two months with a language that I seem to only understand. Based on muscle memory and equipment, I know that I'm a soldier, but what good is a soldier with no command? So for as far I know, I have no affiliations." He shrugged.
"...Could you wait outside for a moment, I need to discuss this with my colleagues."
"Of course." He walked outside, closing the door behind. He took his place beside Swan in the large hallway. He was close enough to where his enhanced hearing could pick bits and pieces of the conversation concerning his half-truths and bullshittery.
"-uth to it?"
"The journa-"
"Seemed genuine-"
"-trusted?"
After a few minutes, Lisa opened the door and ushered him in again. A few moments passed in silence as he stood in front of them. He broke it.
"Have you met anyone like me? Similar armor, weapons, anything?"
"To be honest, no. You're one of the few stranger individuals Mondstadt has seen."
"I see..." He already suspected it, but he had to ask anyway.
"What are you planning to do from here on out, Aether?" This time Kaeya spoke, for the first time. The Spartan twitched at his name, still felt odd having to tell his name and being called that after so long. Still made more sense to tell people that than saying 'My designation is Spartan B-311, how do you do'. He regarded the spook briefly before answering.
"Learn what I can about where I am and where to go." He nodded to the Librarian. "If you allow me so. Then I'll leave and attempt to find out more about myself."
"I don't believe you should leave just yet. We still have a problem on our hands." Kaeya shrugged helplessly, smile on his lips. Jean glanced bemusedly at him while Lisa just had a knowing smile.
"With Stormterror out there, being a danger to anyone outside; it'd be very dangerous for someone to come and go. Especially one who happened to scar him." He didn't like where this is going. "Even when the situation with Stormterror is resolved, you still can't leave; at least until you pay for the damages." ...What? Something clicked in Jean's head as she looked disapprovingly at the ice man.
"...Explain."
"While the Knights of Favonius have emergency funds for a wide variety of serious situations and emergencies, rules to apply those funds are quite strict. Along with wind gliding laws, the matter is even more convoluted. Since you happen to fall and cause serious damages to the Cat's Tail and the building it resides in, it's quite unfair to charge good people who have nothing to do with it the bill." Twitch... "Nor could we charge the bill to Stormterror. Ultimately it falls to you to pay for the extensive damages." Twitch... Goddamn spook...
"Seeing as you have amnesia, you probably don't have the mora to pay for it. Meaning you would have to stay here and work it off. Unless if you were an honorary knight of Favonius to which said emergency funds can apply to pay off said damages. Of course our beloved knights are provided with room, food, and a little mora on the side." He gave another helpless shrug with an innocent smile. With ONI, they could just simply command or threaten the spartan because they had the reins and he didn't; they knew it and he did too.
Yet this son of bitch managed to both blackmail and bribe him at the same time. No doubt he was pissed at having another leash, but honestly... he was impressed.
"Where do I start?" Lisa only giggled at the display while Jean tiredly sighed.
...
He followed the purple witch through the empty streets, in her hands she carried a purple lamp that gave a soft glow. They came upon a large fountain being guard by four knights. He could see why, instead of clear water; an inky dark liquid resided. Something inside gave a red glow. From what was explained to him, the purple crystal he cut off of Stormterror landed into the fountain and practically melted. He was playing cleanup duty along with Lisa, the local expert of magic-related fields.
Essentially, cleaning up his mess. Lisa placed the lantern into the water, almost completely submerging it. A line of electricity arced from her hand to the contraption, giving it life. It hummed before slowly brightening, creating chugging sounds akin to a pump. Blackness seeped into its surface, the surround water diluting in color.
"Come along, Aether. It'll take awhile for this to cleanup so why don't we get out of the sun and visit Good Hunter? They do need the business after all~" Excuse me? We'd just started and she wanted to take a break? Then again it's not like he can object when he couldn't think of what else to do to help. She tapped onto a guard's shoulder.
"Once the water is clear, do come for me will you? I'll be at Good Hunter." The guard only gave a nod. He followed her to further down the street, towards the main gate. Off to the side stood a small restaurant that consisted of a few tables, a lone waitress behind a counter, and a furnace at the end of that counter. Cooking utensils hanged off the wall above it.
"The usual Lisa?" The waitress recognized the witch before her eyes settled on him.
"Thank you, Saria." Lisa turned to him, handing a menu. "What would you like, my treat?" The Spartan quickly read the listed food.
"The fried egg." Lisa only gave a tired sigh at that, she took the menu from him and gave it back to Saria.
"He'll have a plateful of Chicken-Mushroom Skewers..." She peered at the white body atop the Spartan's shoulder. "Another plate to go, please."
"There is no need for that."
"Nonsense. Now come on and sit." Lisa sat at a table, umbrella shrouding her form. She gestured at the seat across from her.
"...I'll-"
"Just stand? Please, sit." The Spartan repeated what he did with Barbara. The Chair gave a pitiful whine before a audibly crack rang out, he quickly stood up.
"I'll just stand." Two pairs of feminine giggling rang out at his expense. Saria came back with glasses of water, setting them on the table. Said waitress turned around, hand over her mouth attempting to muffle her amusement.
"ughh..." The white mass stirred, groaning as runes popped into existence above her. He gently pried her of his shoulder, pulled a neighboring chair, and set her into it. She blinked the stars away as she came to, putting a hand on her head.
"Wha... what happened?"
"A dragon called Stormterror attacked us, we climbed its back, fell off, and crashed in a city. I've talked with the leadership, got blackmailed into their ranks, and now we're having lunch."
"uhh...?" Too much information at once he supposed.
"Blackmail is such a strong word, I'd say assertive enlistment." The witch finally subsided her giggling. Aether opened his hard case and pulled the glass bottle out.
"Here, an energy drink. It should help." He hand the pixie the drink, red liquid sloshing inside. Lisa watched the exchange, with an amused expression before her eyes locked on the drink.
"Paimon's throat is very dry now that you mention it." Lisa's eyes widened.
"Wait. Don't-" The small girl took a large gulp.
"What's the matter? What shouldn't she do?" The girl asked. "Also, who are you?"
"...Lisa, I'm the local librarian." Lisa settled down, seemingly glad for something.
"Ah, hello. Paimon's Paimon, she is Aether's traveling compa-" She broke into a coughing fit, little hands clasping on her mouth. Her face slowly blossomed into a deep red. An starry eye twitched. She screamed.
...
"Ahhh... ahh..." Paimon panted on top of a gray shoulder, sporting a healthy blush. Turned out the nun had a unqiue taste for energy drinks from what Lisa explained. Said witch pulled the lantern out of the now clear water while he took other matters. His hand wrapped around the glowing red object and pulled it out. Revealing a red tear drop gem, it glowed a dark red.
"What is that in your hand?" Lisa came from behind him, peering around his side. He turned around and presented the gem to her. She brought her face closer, scrutinizing it. "Hmm, I can see some impurities and... hmm. I'll need some time to research it, I'll have to through the library's restr- ouch." She recoiled as if physically struck, electricity arcing of her vision before quickly disappearing.
"Are you alright, ma'am?"
"I'm fine, cutie. More surprised than anything." Twitch... He shouldn't have had lunch with her. Should have kept that damn helmet on, last thing he would expect anyone would say to him 'Such a cute face, shame about your hair; you would be quite a cutie if you grew it out.'. "It seems to react negatively to vision users. The impurities and the elemental energy we embody are repelling each other. It'd be best that you hold onto it."
"Affirmative." He placed it into the hardcase. "What's next on our agenda?"
"Well, despite your arrival causing some trouble for Mondstadt; it had its blessings. When Stormterror was close, I managed to use some detection magic to find the sources of Stormterror's power. We'll make our way out of the city and enter one of the four wind's temples. The other's will take care of the other temple's while we'll have one all to ourselves. Personally, I want to see how well you perform~"
"Likewise, ma'am."
"Stop calling me ma'am. You're making me feel old."
"Only if you stop calling me cutie, ma'am."
...
"Woah..." The fairy cruised down the stone hallway a short distance ahead, Aether and Lisa following in her foot ste-, ...err rune steps. He didn't like how she went ahead, could alert anything that was in here though... Lisa's heels clanked horrifying load against the stone tiles as she walked, nonchalant. The hallway ended and opened up to... an impossibly large room? cavern? Best way he could describe it is that they went underground and reached the surface. Except it was all sky, aurora's streaming across the fake sky and down below is a hazy cloud filled abyss. Flying buildings took up the landscape... talk about déjà vu.
"I was afraid of this..." The purple-clad woman sighed. She turned to him, crossing her arms. "Turns out the entrance is up there..." She nodded at a high elevated opening in the first building that thankfully had a bridge attached. "There happens to be wind current. If cutie had a glider, you could simply fly up there; however I only have mine. An oversight on my part. I'll have Amber give you some lessons after I return."
"Who says you're going alone?"
"Cutie, we only have one glider and it isn't safe to share."
"Simple, I'll climb."
"I like the confidence, but the walls are smooth and any edges you could use to climb are out of reach."
He took a few steps and sprinted past the witch at the air lift. The muscles in his legs coiled and launched him high into the air, fingers clamping onto an edge. Securing himself first, he climbed up to the hole in short order, entering another empty room. He peered back down at the witch and fairy who watched him with amusement.
"Why didn't you go ahead and enter the hole while I was climbing?"
"And give you a free show? I'm not that easy cutie." Wings sprouted from her back as she entered the air lift and practically zoomed up, Paimon following after. He followed after the witch as she opened a stone door, revealing another hallway.
"Free show? Free show of what?" If she flew in while he climbed, that could have saved them time on his part. What did she mean that he thought she was easy? Easy for what? She peered back at him, her face turned from flirtatious to bemused. She regarded him for a moment before she smiled.
"A cutie and innocent? What a deadly combination. Speaking of combinations..." Turning to the end of the hallway stood a moving, glowing mass. It glowed a bright orange, flames leaking from its 'skin'. It hopped once before turning revealing 'eyes' being simple dots of a lighter shade of orange. "A pyro slime, I'll handle this." She strode forward toward the flaming ball who had noticed them. It hopped towards them, launching its body towards the witch.
Said witch lifted a hand, a book materializing beside her. Purple lighting shot out and connected to the slime. Then said slime completely combusted, a small explosion covered its form only to reveal nothing was left. The book disappeared from view. Wait what? Was the damn thing explosive? Like a suicide grunt?
"Are pyro slimes explosive?"
"No it's not that. That was an element combination called overload. Mix electro with pyro and you get a small pyro explosion. Does quite a bit of damage so it is quite useful in battle." Lisa stretched, giving a tired sigh. "Makes fights go much quicker, and the sooner we get this done; the sooner we get to kick our feet up and relax." She exited out the hall into the next room , residing within sat a chest with red runes creating a circle around it and a stone pillar sat in the middle with the electro sigil on it.
"Oooh! A chest!" Paimon zoomed past the duo to the wooden box. Little fingers grasped the edge of the lid and pulled with all its might yet it refused to budge.
"I wouldn't do that. It's locked by magic and attempting to use brute force might destroy its contents." Paimon only gave a huff before floating back. Lisa walked up to the pillar and gave it a shock. It came to life, glowing purple highlights blossomed on its form and an holographic electro sigil floated above it. The red runes around the chest glowed brightly before disappearing. "Usually, you have to face certain challenges, trials, and even puzzles such as this electrical monument to open these kinds of things. Though it's usually not worth it, at least in this case." Lisa turned to the Spartan as she explained this, the fairy already at the chest opening it wide.
"Wha-? There's only a chicken leg in here!" Lisa only giggled in response.
"These kinds of things can make an adventurer a quick mora, but they're unreliable for the risks they impose. That's why they're left alone most of the time. You'll have to find serious challenges or highly stylized chests to find a good reward, not at all like that." She nodded at the bare, simple chest. "Essentially, comes great risk comes great reward."
"Hey Paimon's found something!" The girl excitedly pushed deeper and came out, carrying something in her hands. She came to the duo and opened them, revealing pale blue star-shaped gems.
"I'm sorry to say this, but that... is worthless."
"Hah?!"
"Those are what we call primogems and society at large has no use for them." She started listing things off, flicking a finger out. "They're an inert material, not providing any uses for alchemy or magic. They can't even be reshaped, their wickedly tough that its proven cost-ineffective to turn them into jewelry. I recall someone named Steve tried to make weapons or armor out of them... it didn't work out. You could hold onto them, but they'll just be a pretty gem you found."
"wehhh..." The fairy visibly deflated, dejected on what could have been treasure. "Paimon'll just keep them then! They do have certain charm to them!" She flew over to him, holding out a primogem to him. "Here take one!"
"I have no need for it, they're worthless."
"This is treasure Paimon found so she'll share with her partner in crime! Take it!" She pushed the gem closer. Fine. He grabbed the gem and placed it away. The group continued on, entering another room with one key difference. New occupants...
What are those...? Standing in an inch-deep pond of water that took the majority of a room stood four black humanoids wearing lion-clothe skirts, sporting manes of fuzzy hair with two large feathers sticking out, and horned white masks with painted unknown sigils taking their entire faces. A pair wielded wooden clubs while the other held shoddy crossbows that were in disrepair. They were hunchback and smaller than the average adult human. One turned, facing them for the first time and appeared startled. It broke out its stupor and gave a rallying cry in an unknown language, readying its own club.
The archer-men brought their crossbows up and fired, the Spartan bringing himself up in front. A shot went wide while the other connected, it bounced off harmlessly. The two club-men charged at him as he readied for CQC.
"How tiring~" Lisa came from around the Spartan shield and placed a heel into the water. Purple lights arced across the waters surface and turned said humanoids into lighting rods. Their bodies violently shook as if they were undergoing seizures before promptly collapsing. The librarian took said heel out of the water and flicking droplets off.
"I'm starting to suspect I was never needed."
"Oh don't be like that. You'll have your chance, I just prefer to get these things done quickly. Work quickly, relax long, right~?"
"I believe the saying is 'work hard, play hard'."
"Now where's the fun in that?" He changed the subject, seeing how that line of conversation was going nowhere.
"What were those things?" At this Lisa turned at him, hand on a hip. Confusion clear as day.
"You truly don't know...? They're hilichurls, a species of monsters that humanity has coexisted with for thousands of years. They're very aggressive and any attempt to communicate with them have met with failure. The ones that attacked us are the runt of the litter, common hilichurls; however it's their cousins that are dangerous. I can tell you more, but it'd be best that I grab a book and teach you when we get back. We're already making slow progress as is."
"Fair enough, let's move." They exited out the room and came to an immediate problem. A huge gust of wind blew through what was supposed to be a bridge to next building, another elevated hole above. Large difference is the walls weren't as uniform and instead acted more as a archway. Leaving nothing for him to grab.
"What's your next idea, cutie?" Well at least someone is enjoying themselves.
"Paimon, go on ahead and make sure nothing is wait for us up top."
"You got it!" Said fairy went into the wind current and was promptly launched, giving a squeal of delight.
"I'll need your glider. Could you hand it to me?" The witch reached into a pouch and pulled out a stone that had, what he come to find out, the anemo sigil on it.
"To use it, placed it on your person and think about sprouting wings and taking to the air as if you were a bird." He followed her commands and wings sprouted out, hovering an inch of his back. "While gliders can take heavy loads, it's not advisable to carry anyone or anything lest someone loses control and crashes. So I don't see where you're going with this, cutie."
"Hold still if you would." He gently picked her.
"Cutie, this isn't funny. This is really dangerous, especially for a novice." The wings disappeared from his back.
"Tuck in your arms and legs lest you injure yourself."
"Wha- aaahhh!" The witch barely worded out before she was thrown high into the air, disappearing into the hole. He brought the glider back into existence before stepping into the gust of wind. He slowly rose as the glider defied the laws of aerodynamics until he stepped through the hole. Into the waiting arms of the fairy and witch. Correction, a currently arcing witch; electricity dancing across her skin and out into the air. A stray arc nearly clipped the fairy leading her to squeal and retreat further back.
The woman had a sweet smile on her face as she slowly walked to him. She held a hand out, letting him drop the glider in it. She placed a finger on his chest plate, electricity licking at his armor plates. A bright arc flashed, shocking the immediate area albeit one he could control. He gave a small gasp as his muscles tensed uncontrollably.
"Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again." She sweetly commanded, her lips set in false smile. She marched off in a huff, creating distance. Well it worked, didn't it? Though he felt that if he said that, it wouldn't be appreciated. He followed shortly after with Paimon, with the discretion she was known for, shielding herself behind Aether from the witches wrath. They arrived to an opening above a large room with enemies at the bottom.
A trio of crossbow hilichurls and an abnormally large blue slime sat unaware below. He looked at the witch, she matched his gaze and leaned against the wall.
"Well? We do need to keep moving Aether." He could feel the holes shes burning through his visor.
"Do physical attacks work on slimes?"
"Slimes are simple creatures that nearly anyone can defeat them, their danger is their numbers and growth. Even thick-headed brutes can break them apart with dull sword in hand."
"...I'll go ahead then." He took a few steps back and launched himself into the air, boots straight out. The hilichurl didn't know what hit him when metallic boots met its body, instantly crushing the poor creature with loud cracks. It's two brethren jolted at the noise before they turned around, the slime a split second after. The second victims turned face to face with a gray helm before its head flew away, now separated from its body. An arrow went wide and missed the spartan, bouncing off the wall. He quickly closed distance and slammed the pommel of his sword into its skull, giving a resounding crack.
He whipped around to face the large slime only to blink, where did it go? He noticed that his immediate area darkened, and he rolled. An audible wet smack rang out as the slime slammed into the pavement where he occupied, he retaliated with a swing; the blade taking off a chunk of slime. It seeming rehealed its wound before lurching forward, attempting to bash its 'face' in him. He swung again and again taking more slime of it. He noticed after it strike, it became smaller and smaller. It clicked, in order to defeat the larger ones; you need to literally break it apart.
He slid around its side to its back and planted a fist into. Exerting some effort, he threw it over his should to a neighboring wall. It landed with another smack, pigmented eyes swirling before a sword bisected it into two. The two clumps slid down before trembling. Both masses reformed and gained their own pairs of eyes. Are you serious?
The twin slimes blinked at the fuming super soldier before bouncing once more into battle. He glanced at the closed door of the room, he avoided a strike from the first slime and easily stepped around the second. He approached the door and opened it, revealing the fake sky and abyss. The slimes charged at his back, attempting to catch him unaware. He only stepped to the side, grabbed the first slime in reach and threw it off the edge and repeated the same for its brethren. Both annoying durable combatants fell into the void.
"Impressive. Here I thought I would have to kill it for you." Lisa muttered behind him, he turned to her.
"Impressive? It's a ball of goo."
"It takes a large group of adventurers to take something like that on because they're so durable. They would have to spend quite a bit hacking it down or using specialized tools. They're beings of pure elemental energy so vision users only need to apply a little energy in the right way, and pop they go." This was plain annoying, at least Covenant would go down with enough bullet holes in them. Sentient goo balls? Might as well lock him up and throw away the key.
He honestly thought about shooting the thing however he didn't know how effective that would be. Armor piercing ammunition would no doubt go through them, which may cause little damage to the bastards anyway. If only he had some explosive ammunition, then that would do wonders. He glanced back on their path. Fuck... The path forward only consisted of empty space and moving platforms. Lisa had taken the lead, jumping from platform to platform.
Paimon only lazily floated across halfway, waiting for the rest to catch up. He jumped on the first platform and quickly caught up to the witch. The platform they stood on had a cubicle switch on a corner. Lisa placed a palm in empty space residing on its surface, the same empty space lit up and materialized into existence; becoming part of the cube. The moving platforms shifted around and made a bridge that lead another large gust of wind. Lisa immediately frowned as the group reached the end, she reached around and handed the glider to him.
"Carry me. Safety be damned, you are not throwing me again." The fairy went ahead and rode the wind current as he picked the Librarian up in a bridal carry. With a flash of yellow, the glider extended and he stepped into the wind current. Both the Spartan's inexperience and the undistributed weight made the flight wobbly at best as the duo reached the floating platform. They jumped on the last moving platform to reach a the last floating building, a tower.
Climbing up a staircase brought them to a large room with a large aqua, or was is it turquoise, stone sitting by itself tense winds coiling around it. It audibly hummed with power as they approached it.
"This is the source?"
"Yep, hurry and break it will you? I rather we hurry on home and relax." The spartan didn't have any objects and gave it a punch. It immediately shattered any power it had disappeared into the air. A chest materialized out of no where as the last elemental energy disappeared, the storage device a solid gold with graceful curves and ornate carvings.
"Treasure!" The materialistic pixie zoomed past the super soldier for the golden prize.
"Lisa, you've said that is place was a source of Stormterror's power. You've also said that this is one of the four wind's temples.
"That's correct."
"That implies that you had beforehand knowledge of the dragon and of the temples yet the emergency Mondstadt is under is fairly recent. What is Stormterror really?"
"My my, cutie is smarter than he looks. Stormterror is an important cultural figure Mondstadt's history. His real name is Dvalin and he's one of the four winds, the Dragon of the East. Unfortunately, most of Mondstadt's citizens seem to have forgotten that and labeled him as Stormterror."
"Yet he's attacking Mondstadt now? From what I gathered, weren't the four winds suppose to be protectors?"
"...For you to understand, you'll need to read a fairytale." She pulled out a book from her pouch and handed it to him.
...
Approximately one hundred years ago, the land was in chaos. Darkness spread, contaminating everything it touched. Barbarians and foul creatures roamed the lands, forcing people to dwell within the city walls.
It was an especially difficult time for Mondstadt. The Lionfang Knight was without a suitable heir, and the Knights of Favonius had lost many of its brave men and women during the bitter wars. During the most difficult of times, Durin, the corrupted dragon of immeasurable power, began attacking Mondstadt.
The prayers of Mondstadt's people awoke the Anemo Archon, and his will summoned forth the Wind Dragon Dvalin. As the last defender of Mondstadt, Dvalin battled Durin with all his might.
The result was clear — Durin's remains still lie atop the snowy peaks to the south of Mondstadt — but the story of how the battle ended was lost in time. It is said that Dvalin ripped out Durin's throat, and together they fell from the sky. Durin's body sunk into the snow while Dvalin was summoned by the Anemo Archon and fell into a slumber.
People used to believe that Dvalin would awaken whenever Mondstadt faces a new threat.
But in these times of peace, the belief of the Four Winds has gradually eroded and their temples lie all but completely deserted.
The Spartan closed the book and read the cover 'Breeze in Woods', an artists depiction of the dragon laid underneath the title. Daylight as been getting less and less, by the Spartan's estimation they'll arrive at the city by nightfall. He had read the book as they walked, the fairy taking her spot on his shoulder reading alongside him.
"You believe that Dvalin felt betrayed and he's attacking the city because of it?"
"It wouldn't be wrong to leave it out, however I believe there is more to it than that. Like that purple crystal you carved out of him, the water in the fountain was... tainted. Unnatural. Wrong. The impurities in the red gem implies the same."
"Hmm..." He brought the book to Lisa, finger lining the drawn dragon's back. "I've personally had a close up look at Dvalin and he has a purple crystal placed here and it had a metal brace on it." He pointed at the base of its neck and dragged his finger along its back. "The one I cut off was lower on the back with a sigil spreading from its base. I may not know much about animals, but Dvalin is predominately made of shades of blue and white. Purple seems like such an odd color for it to be natural, drawn symbology, manufactured metals, and complete change in behavior..."
"Archons... a third party? This is becoming more serious than we thought. Who would do this and why?"
"The evidence is circumstantial at best, but it's real possibility. We won't know who unless we gather more evidence and the motive we can only guess. Perhaps its to provide a distraction for a long term goal, the destruction of Mondstadt itself, or to force something to change. Whoever did it had all the time in the world when Dvalin was sleeping." The spartan shook his head. "Again, this is all guesswork."
"Hmm..."
"Does Mondstadt have any bad relations with any nations, groups, terrorist cells?"
"No... Mondstadt has good relations with other nations albeit a tense one with Snezhnaya despite their best efforts. Though there are the nobles, but unlikely. They shouldn't be able to accomplish something like this. Not to this scale." Name sounded Russian and seemed similar to Fatui.
"You mentioned the Fatui, are they representatives of Snezhnaya?"
"They are. Snezhnaya is an advanced country and according to rumors, probably the most advanced. Developing weaponry, automation, and fake visions."
"They can create fake visions?"
"Yes, they're called delusions; however I don't know the specifications. They're very secretive and in my opinion, manipulative. I suggest not trusting them."
"...That's why you wanted me. You knew I wasn't Fatui, that I was different. A wild card."
"...Yes. Though it wasn't to solely keep you on our side, but from theirs. We may not know the specifics, but we can tell that the armor you wear and the weapons on your back are advanced. Machined rather than crafted. The fact that you're by yourself with no vision and no delusion makes you an appealing target."
"You employed me so they can't touch me, at least not directly; lest they wish relations to break down." Lisa turned her head, green eyes meeting the bronze visor.
"Though from what I saw, they would be in for a surprise if they decided to take a go at you, despite your poor swordsmanship."
"Flattered." It was nice having the magic-wielding witch lady say that she had confidence in the super soldiers ability to fight. "Still would the Fatui do this? Are they capable of accomplishing this? It does say something that you'll trust an amnesic stranger over a group your having relations with."
"...I'm not sure. They have shown prowess in technology and delusions show they have advanced knowledge about magic. Their behavior says otherwise though."
"Meaning?"
"The fatui have been pressuring Mondstadt to allow their military forces to deal with Dvalin and for the Knights of Favonius to back off." Their diplomats have been pressuring them for this? That's just insulting.
"Under the pretense to protect the Fatui diplomats, I presume?"
"Not even." What?! He was no diplomat, but even he could tell that was a bad move. It's one thing to question the ability of a nation's military force, but to undermine it and demand that you take over? All within said nation? Either they thought they had all the cards, were arrogant enough to believe it, or had a malicious plan in the works. Each option did not bode well for them. Though that did brought the question to Dvalin.
"How are we going to deal with Dvalin? He is a large threat to the city."
"...We're not sure. We don't want to kill him, but people are scared. We're going about to find ways to avoid this." The witch gave a tired sigh. "The clock's ticking meaning Jean will have to make a choice soon, a choice that she'll hate. Archons, I hope it doesn't come to that."
"What about the Anemo Archon? In the story, the Anemo Archon summoned Dvalin. Can we speak with them and get them to deal with Dvalin?"
"That would work if we knew where to find them. Mondstadt's entire culture is based off of freedom and so the Anemo Archon left, leaving us free to choose our own fate. We've worshipped them, but they haven't been seen since." Damn that left them with very little options than to outright kill Dvalin. Lisa yawned, gloved hand over her mouth. "It'd be best that we rest for the night. All this speculation is bad for the skin and it'd be best to inform Jean about this."
As she said that, the gated walls of Mondstadt came to view. A full moon hanged far above the sky, bathing the area in a soft glow. Amber lights shone up into the sky from within its walls, illuminating the towering windmills in a bronze light. The trees and foliage gently swayed with the wind.
"Beautiful sight, isn't it?" He turned his head to look at her, the witch giving a knowing smile.
"Yeah, it is." The white bundle yawned out before succumbing to sleep on top of him. ...Yeah, it is Paimon. It really is.
Author's note: You know what's one thing I hate about Genshin Impact? It's goddamn file size. I've already played the game past the Sumeru Arc when the Fontaine update arrived. Once it arrived, I couldn't even update the game. It was simply too damn big for my laptop, they placed too many damn baguettes that it made my RAM cry. I understand why it's so big, but at the same time fuck you; right? Anyway, I'm rambling.
I hope I did the setting and characters justice. It was interesting writing them after reading their lore and voice-lines to see what I'm working with. No doubt a slow chapter which its purpose is to introduce the Spartan to the world of Teyvat and no doubt the bullshittery that is magic associated with it. I've noticed that I haven't had Paimon talk a lot in this chapter, though I feel like its more natural for her to listen to a conversation than butting in every sentence. Not like I'm complaining, god it saves me braincells not having to speak Paimon or god forbid Ararana.
Concerning my Wolfenstein series, I'm going to rewrite it. I've read back on my work and am not impressed. It definitely doesn't have the same quality as this story here. First story jitters, I suppose. Essentially learned from my first story and placed it here.
Reviews:
The Disquieting One: You are right, it is very demeaning to the character and especially to a Spartan. People will no doubt be intimidated by him, but then again that's regular people. I would argue on the other side of the spectrum to say that Lisa just simply being intimidated or even afraid of a stranger would be uncharacteristic of her, through both experience and personality wise. In terms of her behavior, I can see how I have her whipped, but I see it as Lisa being... well Lisa. Honestly, I just think she's just a flirtatious person that likes to reside in her own little bubble. Hell, she could be playing it cool for all we know, slowly fishing for information about the enigma Spartan. She is smart like that, bringing him to lunch to place a face to that grey helm, letting him fight a few enemies, see what he could do and what he knows. These guys know there's more to Aether than what he says, but to what extent... they just don't know. In their eyes, Aether is just a buff dude in a set of heavy armor and advanced equipment. They don't have a clue that said buff dude can snap Kaeya in half quicker than they can say Barbatos and run as quickly as a horse. Essentially, underestimation. Who knows, it may be that or the Genshin Impact characters may know something about him after all. I can't give all the answers. Still sad to see a reader go, but who knows; I may grab your attention in a later chapter in like 5 years~ I know that happened to me before.