"Venti? You're awake! How are you feeling? And why did Master Diluc called you Lord Barbatos?" Amber who came out of the crowd suddenly barrages Venti with questions.
"Wait wait. Can we please slow down?" Venti held his hand infront of him to stop Amber from asking questions.
"I feel fine, great even and as to why Master Diluc called me Lord Barbatos well..." He took a deep breath.
"There is nothing to hide anymore. Nice to meet you all I am Barbatos the God of Freedom And the Anemo Archon." Venti's whole body flashed as his clothes change.
Many of the people in the room stared at him in disbelief and amazement, some just stared...Ehem Noelle.
"Tadaa...?" Venti awkwardly did a surprise pose as Diluc snorted and tried to hide his laughter. Lisa also hid her laughter with her palm while Jean just facepalmed.
"..." Silence echoed throughout the room.
As the people just continued staring at Venti.
Loud thumping footsteps was then hesrd as the door suddenly open with an angry looking Barbara.
"Sis- I mean Acting Grandmaster have you seen Venti he still needs to be checked up- Why are looking at me like that?"
"Oh Barbara! Don't worry I feel fine!" Venti cheerly answered.
Barbara then looked at Venti and started pulling him out of the room.
"Get back to the Infirmary i still need to check on your health and what is that you're wearing its too exposed for your body you might get a cold!" Barbara scolded Venti as she pulled him out of the room.
"Should we tell her?" Kaeya asked in amusement?
"No, let's not I want to see how long this will go on." Lisa chuckled.
Jean just sighed at the antics of her Calvary Captain and resident Librarian.
Amber's voice pierce through the commotion which made everyone turn towards her as she tries to talk to Noelle who is stood there like a statue.
"Noelle? Hello? Noelle!? NOELLE!!!" Amber shook the now statue Noelle before screaming to the heavens dramatically. Most just sighed and shook their head.
"Does that answer your question?" Diluc asked as Eula nodded.
"Back to the matter at hand we need Sir Ragnvindr's cooperation for this as he shall act as our information gatherer and espionage while Kaeya will help the Qixing and the Millileth on the Rite of Descension."
Jean took a breath as she gazed at Diluc.
"Can we ask for your assistance Sir Ragnvindr."
"If it's about the Fatui's movements then you can count on me to do my best in that matter but do remember that this is a cooperation between the Knights and the House of Ragnvindr."
"As long as we have your cooperation." Jean sighed as she ended the meeting.
Everyone left as Jean took a quilt pen, some paper and an envelope then she started writing about what they found out and the Fatui's objective.
...
Diluc walked into the infirmary of the Knight's Headquarters.
"How are they?" He asked Barbara who is tucking Venti on a bed forcefully.
"They're doing fine but they're still unconscious which is concerning since they need more nutrition vegetable soup isn't cutting it."
"If this goes on they might get malnutrition."
"How long have they've been unconscious?"
"Almost 5 days now." She sighed as Venti finally stopped fighting.
"I hope they wake up soon." She added.
"I hope so too, thank you for taking care of them Sister Barbara."
"No problem!"
Waving goodbye he walked out of the headquarters.
"Can't believe I'll have to work with the Knights again." He muttered as he walked away.
"Tomorrow is the dance." Yang said as she ate her breakfast.
"And?"
"Well it was me and Weiss who are making preparations but we're just following Coco's plans."
"Coco?" Jaune asked.
"Coco Adel Leader of Team CVFY(Coffee), they were supposed to be back like a week ago but it was said that mission was extended due to an unforeseen situation." Weiss said.
"Do you think we're going to missions too?"
"Who knows they said only upperclassmen can go to one but it's actually up to Headmaster Ozpin." Weiss explained.
"Oh! oh! What kind of mission does first years get?"
"I don't think they will give missions to first years just yet but sometimes there were exception and from what I've heard it was mostly Perimeter Defense but Escort mission were also given though it's rarely given to first years." Blake answered.
"I see I see." Ruby continued eating her breakfast with a bit of an excitement.
"By the way Jaune, Ren how are your preparations for the dance?" Yang asked as she pointed her spoon on the two males.
"We actually bought our suits like weeks ago." Jaune said as Ren gave a nod.
"Yep! All of us went to Vale to buy our own outfits!" Nora said as she inhaled another stack of pancakes.
"I wish my team were like yours Arc, we had to force Ruby to get an outfit yesterday cause she said she was just gonna wait it out." Weiss said as she glared at her leader.
"But I don't wanna attend the dance!!!" Ruby exclaimed.
"Well you have to attend cause the Headmaster said it was required to attend." Weiss lied as naturally as she breathe. As the others raised their brow towards her.
"Really!?"
"Yes."
"Aawww!!!" Ruby sulkily went back to eating her meal as the others chuckled at them.
The bell rang at the sister teams gone and went to their class.
...
"There were packs of Beuwolves all over the places and two ursa Major but in the end I managed to vanquish all of them with the help of my trusty weapon! With a brandish of my axe the Grimm fell in one sweep! But the more came but as they fought and fought I heard a cry! A cry of a kitten! And so with my renewed vigor I swiftly took the kitten and killed the Grimm! And then-." Jaune drowned out Ports voice as he continued focusing on any insight that he might get from the said professor.
"Sometimes I feel like there are hidden meanings in Professor Port's tales." Jaune muttered to himself as he continued to list another fact about grimm the might help his team in the near future.
Next to him is Pyrrha, Ren and Nora who was snoring loudly but the professor didn't mind her as he saw her teammates listing and exchanging notes about the Grimm.
Port smiled as he saw this and continued telling his tale.
Jaune fought the sleepiness that he was feeling.
"What is this sleepiness is this some sort of semblance??!"He accidentally exclaimed which made everyone look at him.
"Uhh sorry professor..." He gave an awkward apologies as Port hummed and continued tell his tale.
"I'm good right? No detention?" He asked his teammates.
"Mr Arc please come with me to my office after class." Jaune stiffened as he heard his professor's voice.
"Yes sir..." Jaune said dejectedly.
Many of the people of Mondstadt went to the gates to bid farewell to Kaeya and his knights.
Some of the Millileth of Liyue also came to pick them up.
"Thank you for you time I'm Kaeya Alberich, the Calvary Captain of the Knights of Favonious." Kaeya held his hand out towards the leader of the Millileth escort group.
"I'm Hong Yu, Squad Leader of the White Dove squad. Pleasure to meet you Captain Alberich." Hong Yu took Kaeya's hand and shook it.
"It's also nice to meet you Squad Leader Yu." Kaeya gave a lighthearted smile as they finish their hand shake.
"Have you finished your preparations, cause if we move now we'll be able to get to Liyue Harbor early."
"We're done we can get going now." Hong Yu nodded as he and his men went to their horses.
"Well escort you and your knights so please stay in the middle of the formation." Kaeya nodded as he instructed his knights.
And they left Mondstadt in a sunny afternoon.
...
"Reports said that the Fatui attacked Mondstadt but it didn't seem like there is any damaged done to it." Hong Yu said as he rode next to Kaeya.
"The reason a fight broke out was because the Fatui held some Mondstadt Citizens as captive, though their reason is unknown the Knights didn't want to turn a blind eye to this."
Hong Yu looked at Kaeya to read his expression and saw seriousness and sincereness in his eyes.
"I see, I hope I'll have the pleasure on working with you Sir Alberich."
"I hope so too." With their small talk done they continued onwards to Liyue Harbor.
...
"Master Diluc reports said that the Knights and The Millileth have left Mondstadt what shall we do now?"
"Thank you Elzer, please have someone send a messenger bird towards Liyue, We'll start our information gathering before they arrive."
"Yes sir." Elzer left the room with a bow.
Adelinde then walked in sporting a different outfit from her usual maid dress.
Now she's wearing a black robe with red accents, her face is obscured by a veil showing nothing but the red lines on the edge of her robe.
Underneath her robe is a black clothing that and a black breastplate that looks to be easy to maneuver with.
On her hip is a blade that looks the same as the Favonious sword but Black in color.
"To think that you still have that outfit." Diluc sighed as he saw Adelinde's outfit.
"Hehe well it's not like I can throw it away I have so many memories with this robe and sword." Adelinde happily cooed as she spun around.
"Though most of it are about missions." She sighed.
Diluc looked at Adelinde who is twirling her robe around happily as if she saw her childhood teddy bear.
'Adelinde Hassan former leader of the Hidden Blades.
The secret elite group of the Knights of Favonious.
They were usually the ones who take on dangerous and dirty mission such as espionage, tracking, information gathering, ambushes and even assassination if necessary, but due to the reformation of the Knights of Favonious they were disbanded and only those who are in the higher ranks knows of their existence and the fear they can induce to their targets and comrades alike.
And Adelinde is the best out of them all, formerly known as The Druj or The Lie.
Her kills feels like a lie due to the names of her victims, simply put high valued targets that sounds invincible when thought by common people, even I have change my views on my flower loving caretaker after hearing her exploits.
I'm really thankful that they accepted my proposal on employing all of the members of the Hidden Blades, even Charles is a former member.' Diluc sighed.
"Our work is information gathering, tracking and a possible assassination." He said after finishing his thought.
Adelinde hearing Diluc's voice immediately turned serious.
"What we need to do is to find and gather info about the motives of the Fatui in Liyue, but if my guess is correct it's their objective is the same."
"The Gnosis that you were talking about?"
"Yes they are probably after the Gnosis of the Geo Archon."
"With the appearance of the Knights, the Fatui might hesitate on moving during the day that's why we are here."
"So that the night is not safe for them." Diluc nodded.
"Now gather The Hidden Blades, you got a mission to complete."
"Yes Master Diluc." Adelinde stood up as a glowing teal was seen on her chest that was hidden by her robe.
An Anemo Vision.
Jaune knocked on the door of Peter Port's office.
"Professor Port it's Jaune Arc." After saying this the door opened.
"Ah! Arc my boy come in!" Port invited Jaune inside.
There Jaune saw different things from Ports different weapons and even high calorie foods.
"Well go on find yourself a seat." Jaune did as he was told and found a seat on one of the couches in the office.
Port walked towards the couches with a tea tray on hand and placed it on the small table Infront of the couches then sat on the couch that is Infront of Jaune.
"Did I do something wrong professor?"
"Hm? Oh dear me! No! no. I want to have a talk with you." Jaune perked up after hearing Port's sentence.
"Talk? I mean sure what is it about?"
"Beacon gives missions to it's students every second semester."
"Yes I've heard about it many of my classmates talk about it actually more than the dance."
"I see, well only chosen first years will get missions like search and destroy or even harder missions but some changes might take place this semester, anyways what I wanted to talk about is the problem of your team member, Lie Ren."
"Ren what does Ren have to do with it?"
"The Nuckelavee."
"That strong grimm?"
"Yes after the Vytal dance if deemed ready some first year teams can under go search and destroy missions to hunt down some types of Grimm."
"I see and you're afraid that Ren might urge me to hunt down the Nuckelavee?"
"No I urge you to pick the mission and Hunt down the Nuckelavee with my help of course." Port chuckled.
"And Also with the help of some upperclassmen." he added.
Jaune was surprised after hearing what his professor said.
"Why? Isn't it dangerous?"
"That it is if you aren't on your guard but from what I can see your team will be alright and like I said earlier you are accompanied by upperclassmen."
"I see, I'll have to talk with my teammates first before accepting." Port smiled and gave him a nod.
"A great trait to have as a leader! Now then go on tell them the news." Jaune gave a nodded as he sat up and left the office.
"I hope I'm doing the right thing." Port said as he clenched his shaky hand. The tea cup on his hand shattered.
...
Back in their dorms are team JNPR.
"Alright Team JNPR team meeting right now." Jaune said as he walked through the door.
"Did he scold you?" Nora asked Jaune.
Jaune looked at Nora's concerned face and smiled.
"Nope he asked me about the thing concerning you two." He looked at Nora and Ren.
The latter pointed a finger on himself in confusion.
"Nuckelavee." The one word made both Nora and Ren tensed.
"Professor Port said that some changes will happen during the second semester even first years will now be given missions."
"He's urging me to go and hunt the Nuckelavee." He paused as he looked at Ren.
"And I wish to know your choice, it's either we go or we don't go." Ren stood there with a clenched left fist but suddenly he turned gray and took a deep breath.
"Let's do it." Ren looked at Nora who's gaze is filled with concern.
Her hands are tightly gripped in Ren's right hand.
Jaune also looked at the gray colored Ren.
He looked at Ren's eyes and saw something.
The anger that he had hidden for so long has resurface that even his semblance can't hide it.
Jaune was torn between accepting and declining if ever Ren acts recklessly.
But Jaune just gave up and sighed.
"I'm willing to accept the mission." Nora's eyes widens as she heard what Jaune said.
"Why!?" She yelled loudly, Pyrrha went close to her ready to comfort her at any given moment.
"It's- It's too dangerous! E-even with Professor Port! I-I saw it... it killed them. All of them!" Nora started to shake and breathe heavily.
"Ren! Calm her down!" Ren immediately hugged Nora and shushed her down.
But even after using his semblance she is still breathing heavily.
"We'll calm her down Pyrrha call a teacher!" With a nod Pyrrha immediately went out of the dorm after hearing Jaune's order.
"It killed them...It killed all of them." Nora
kept repeating.
"Nora! I'm here! I'm here." Ren also kept repeating.
Suddenly the door opened as Team RWBY appeared.
"Arc!? What is happening?? We were hearing loud noise across the room-" Weiss immediately cut off as she saw Ren and Jaune trying to calm Nora down.
"She's having a panic attack! Help us calm her down!" Team RWBY was quick into action after hearing Jaune.
But Ren stopped them as he silently whispered to Nora to calm her down, he instructed her to meditate and think of happy thoughts.
This lasted until Pyrrha arrived with Glynda Goodwitch behind her to help them.
After that Nora calmed down and was carried over to the infirmary by the other staffs.
"You did a great job Team JNPR and you too Team RWBY Ms. Valkyrie might stay in the infirmary until the day after tomorrow since she might need a day of rest."
"Does that mean that Nora will not be attending the dance?" Ruby asked.
"Unfortunately yes." Team RWBY made sad noises as they heard this.
"Can I watch over her?" Ren spoke, Goodwitch looked at him and smiled.
"That's actually a great idea." Ren gave her a thank you and she gave him a nod.
"Alright now that the emergency is over you can now go back to your rooms, tomorrow is a busy day for you students."
"Yes Ms. Goodwitch." before All of them went back to their rooms Jaune expressed his gratitude on Team RWBY's willingness to help.
As their door closed Ren immediately went to his bed and took two pillows and a blanket.
"You're going to the Infirmary?"
"Yes, Nora might be confused when she wakes up."
"Try to cook some pancakes for her too, I think they will let you do that after what happened." Ren smiled as he heard this and gave them a wave.
"Now I don't know what do to anymore." Jaune said as he put his palms on his face.
"We might need to decline Professor Port's offer."
"About the mission?" Pyrrha tilted her head as she asked.
"Yes."
"I actually think it's a good idea to decline, since as you can see were not ready." Jaune sighed as he leaned back on his bed.
"That I can agree with you and I think Nora doesn't agree with it also. I just hope Ren don't hate us for declining."
"I think he will understand our reason, our real problem now is how to keep Nora from having panic attacks." Jaune sighed as he closed his eyes. Arms behind his head as he made himself comfortable.
"I think we should try to see first how she will react when facing Grimm." Pyrrha suggested.
"We can ask professor Port for help with this one." She added.
"We need all of us to be here for a team meeting again before moving. Man now I don't feel like attending the dance anymore." He sighed as he tried to comfortably lay on his bed.
With big gasp Nora woke up on a ground.
Infront of her is a white branch that has patches dark purple substance.
Picking the branch up with her hands the purple substance didn't attempt to even go towards her skin as it stayed on the branch.
"What is this?" The branch suddenly lit up in pale green light.
As the branch turned into a small child with white hair, Her green eyes opened as she looked at Nora her skin has some dark purple marks especially on her hands and feet.
Her face showed a surprise expression as she saw Nora.
"How...Are you here?" Her voice echoed as she went closer to Nora.
Behind her is a gigantic glowing tree with left Nora in awe.
"Oh Um hello? haha..." Nora gave her a little wave.
Seeing Nora the child made a small smile as she went closer and tried to touch Nora.
She managed to hold Nora's wrist but saw that nothing happened but she saw Nora's Aura lighting up as if it's protecting her from the damage.
The child immediately retracted her hand from Nora's wrist.
"So even the withering can affect you otherworlder."
"How did you know?!" Nora exaggeratedly said.
The child smiled.
"I am Rukkhadevata, the God of Knowledge or formerly the God of Knowledge."
"I'll call you Ruu your names is hard to pronounce." Ruu seemed please at what she heard as she immediately pumped her left hand, Nora just stared at her as she faked cough to hide her embarrassment.
"I don't know how you got here but I won't reject this opportunity to have a talk with someone." She sat on the ground facing the glowing tree.
"Come sit beside me." Nora nodded as she sat next to Ruu then she watched the glowing tree mesmerized by it's beauty.
"That is Irminsul. It is the repository of all information and memories in Teyvat. You could say its a storage unit for memories and Information in this world."
"Oh!! Like the storage of a computer?"
"May I ask what this computer is?"
"It's a device that can be used to view information of different kinds. It can also store thing called memories I don't really know how it works really."
"You also have Irminsul in your world?"
"You mean this big tree? Nope. Computers are like this small box that has thing inside it that I don't remember. Scrolls can also do that?"
Ruu's expression blanked as she suddenly thought of a leather scroll doing the things that Irminsul can.
"T-that's... What kind of world is that?!"
"Hm? Well Remnant! that's the name of my world atleast that what they tell us in history class." Nora then gazed at Ruu.
"Why are you here?" Nora asked to try to avoid another question only to see a saddened expression.
"I passed away, a long time ago but due to something that happened five hundred years ago I'm stuck here."
"I see.. Is it about the forbidden knowledge?" Ruu's eyes widens as she heard what Nora blurted out.
"How did you know about that?"
"From those dreams I saw actually you were there in my dreams."
"What if you know what the forbidden Knowledge is? How come your not affected? And this barrier that protects you what is this?"
"That's aura it my soul, that what was taught to me atleast."
"Your soul can cancel out the corruption of the forbidden knowledge..." She perked up.
"What if I... Nora will you help me with something?"
"Hm? I can why? what is it that you need?"
"I want you to free Kusanali from the sages I might have a plan that can help Teyvat from the withering."
"Is it because of the forbidden knowledge?"
"Yes."
"Alright where can I find Kusanali."
"The Sanctuary of Surasthana. The palace above the Sumeru city."
"Free her and let me talk with her." After saying this, the branch appeared on her hand.
"I'm still part of Irminsul but even after five hundred years there is still pure part that hasn't been corrupted, I tried to cut myself off the Irminsul but even after that as a long as I exist in people's memories the withering and everything that the forbidden knowledge caused will remain." Ruu showed the whitest parts of the branch to Nora.
"I want to to cut this off." she held the corrupted part and pointed the white part towards Nora. Nora looked at the branch and towards Rukkhadevata and nodded.
With the protection of her aura she broke the branch in half.
"Keep that part with you, may it help you in your journey." Rukkhadevata said as she took the corrupted part of the branch.
"I will be waiting for you and Kusanali here." Rukkhadevata waved at Nora as Nora started to disappear.
And Nora woke up from the infirmary.
Hello! I'm still alive but very busy.
I don't really have time to write especially during mid January.
Work schedule sux but I'm getting the hang of it now.
And Inspiration is really hard to get these days.
I will explain the thing about Nora.
Nora has a small access to the Irminsul due to what happened when she touched the element of Dendro.
But due to the remnant of Rukkhadevata being in Irminsul Nora only saw Rukkhadevata's memories.
As for the branch it's mostly made up by me Rukkhadevata still exist after her death due to her branch is still existing in Irminsul, she tried to cut it off but that didn't work due to the branch still existing and not rewritten or erased/destroyed.
And now because her power was so diminished she cannot rewrite or erase herself and in lore she created Nahida for that purpose then boom quest complete.
Might change some stuff after I finish the chasm and start Sumeru Archon Quest but Genshin quests are such a chore to do but I'll do my best to deliver.
As always thank you reading and I hope you enjoyed it.
And also thank you for the suggestions on the ways they can use their elemental powers I might incorporate some attacks that is inspired from games and animes in the near future.(I already did Strike Air since I'm a fate fan boy).
Again thank you for reading my work!
Much love
-Lucalc