The sounds of crashing waves reached my ears, gradually pulling me out of my grogginess. Slowly, but surely I started to regain awareness, my hands met the gritty and coarse texture of sand. My eyes fluttered trying to regain it's focus, and eventually the sounds of the waves crashing softly against the shore were clearer to me. With a groan, I pushed myself up to the elbows, blinking as the harsh sunlight reflecting in the shimmering surface of the ocean.
I stared wide eyed, at the ocean in front of me. Looking around, I saw two massive cliffs rising majestically into the sky from both of my sides. It looked like a small and isolated beach.
"Why am I on a beach?" I muttered to myself, my voice barely audible above the gentle roar of the waves. The memory of being in the woods last night felt distant and dreamlike, like a fading echo in the recesses of my mind. Looking around, I started looking for my trusty backpack. I felt relieved when I saw it a few meters away, stuck in the sand, preventing the water from taking it away.
Rising to my feet, I felt all the bones in my body crack, as if I had been asleep a long time. I made my way towards my dark green backpack and started inspecting it. Fortunately it had no significant damage to it, just wet. It was a good thing that these types of camping backpacks were made to be resistant to the elements.
"Thank goodness, you're ok…" I muttered as I inspected my backpack. Opening the main bag, I checked its contents, making sure everything was in order. For starters, my camera seemed to be fine, that camera has to be one of my most prized possessions, after all, it was a gift from my father. Thermo, lamp, first-aid kit, some food, my multitool, a small cookware set, a roll up sleeping bag, and lastly my ol' reliable axe.
With all in order, I released a wary sight. Now was a good time for panic to check in. Where in god's name was I? The surroundings looked unfamiliar and alien to me, and I was pretty sure I was in a forest last time I checked. How did I end up here? Despite my growing panic, I couldn't help but to appreciate the scenic view of the blue ocean and the majestic cliffs at my side. This whole place filled the air with such peace and tranquility, it actually helped me relax a little bit.
After taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down, I evaluate my situation. For all the pretty view this beach provided, realistically there was nothing I could do with the materials at hand. Only some small trees at the end of the beach, so the best thing to do was leave. Fortunately, I saw a small path leading out of the beach and heading into a small creek with trees. The path was already there, as if people had walked the same path before, so I decided to follow it.
Nature surrounds me everywhere I go, the sound of birds chirping and the quieter sounds of the ocean as I walk away from the ocean. A lot of trees too, but not enough to make a forest, I continued walking until I met my first obstacle, a small cliff. Looking around there was no way I could just walk around it, or avoid it completely, the only option left for me was to climb it. The rock looked steady enough and appeared to have some rocks for me to grip to. Fastening tight my backpack and planted one boot firmly to the rock and started climbing.
It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, being honest, but with the rock behind me I continued with my Journey. My ears catched the sound of a nearby waterfall, and when I reached said waterfall a beautiful pond was born at the feet of the waterfall, some aquatic plants growing there. It was a nice view and if I wasn't in such a hurry I would most likely have relaxed a bit.
Continuing upward I finally saw the end of the path. It looks like I'll finally have a good look at where on earth I am. "Finally…" I said to myself "Where the hell am… I…?" My words died in my throat as I took the view before my eyes.
As I reached the end of the path and stepped onto a small clearing, my breath caught in my throat as I beheld the breathtaking sight before me. Stretching out as far as the eye could see was a vast expanse of rolling hills and lush greenery, punctuated by towering mountains that seemed to touch the very heavens. The landscape was a patchwork of vibrant colors, from the deep emerald of the forests to the azure blue of the sky above.
In the distance, I could see the shimmering waters of a vast lake, its surface sparkling in the sunlight like a thousand diamonds. Beyond it, the outline of a bustling city loomed on the horizon, its walls hugging the city itself and windmills calmly spinning at the march of the wind.
Standing there, I took in the marvelous view, and I couldn't hold it any longer. With trembling hands, I carefully extracted my camera from its protective case, my heart pounding with anticipation as I prepared to capture the breathtaking scene before me. The beauty of the landscape was almost overwhelming, and I knew that I had to capture this moment to preserve it for posterity.
As I raised the camera to my eye, I framed the scene before me, adjusting the focus and exposure settings to ensure that every detail was captured in all its glory. The sunlight danced on the surface of the lake, casting shimmering reflections that seemed to dance and sway with the gentle breeze. The lush greenery of the surrounding hills glowed in the warm light, a tapestry of vibrant colors that stretched out as far as the eye could see.
With a steady hand, I pressed the shutter button, capturing the scene in a single click. The sound of the camera's shutter echoed through the clearing, breaking the silence of the wilderness for a brief moment before fading away into the distance.
As I reviewed the image on the camera's screen, a sense of satisfaction washed over me. I had managed to capture the beauty of this moment, preserving it forever in a single photograph. With a smile on my face, I carefully stowed the camera back in its case and hoisted my backpack onto my shoulders once more. I smiled at my work.
"A photograph like this could surely get me a job in a good agency… Amazing, simply amazing." Even if I could spend all day just watching the view, I needed to keep moving, stranded in an unknown land, doing nothing could be very dangerous. Looking down the clearing a saw a statue rising over a small pond, the statue depicted an angel figure, with a hood and robe obscuring its features, and its hand, a stone-like orb rested. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to check it out.
I made my way down the clearing towards the statue rising over the small pond, I approached the statue slowly, and with a jump over the rocks, I made my way to the statue. It was a pretty interesting statue, no idea from who, or who the angel was supposed to be, but it left me with a sense of wonder. I tried to look around for any clues, something that could tell me something about the statue, but alas, nothing.
I pressed my hand against the statue, wanting to feel its texture. "Smooth… and cold." It was an old stone, weathered by the elements, but overall in good conditions. Out of nowhere I felt like a sting coming out of my hand. Immediately I took my hand off the statue, and inspected my hand, but there was nothing. It didn't actually hurt, but it caught me off guard.
As I inspected my hand, I couldn't shake the strange sensation that had just coursed through me. It was as if a brief jolt of electricity had passed through my fingertips, leaving behind a lingering tingling sensation that sent shivers down my spine.
"Weird," I muttered to myself, rubbing my hand absently. "I wonder what that was all about."
Shaking my head to clear away the unease, I turned my attention back to the statue before me. It stood silent and unmoving, its enigmatic presence casting a shadow over the clearing. With a sense of unease gnawing at the edges of my mind, I decided it was best to leave the statue behind and continue on my journey.
"Well, no point in dwelling on it now," I said aloud, addressing the silent figure before me. "I've got a city to find." I turned away from the statue and continued on my journey, following the path as it led me deeper into the forest. The trees grew denser around me, their branches intertwining overhead to form a canopy that blocked out much of the sunlight. As I walked, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the forest, the lush greenery and the vibrant colors of the flowers and plants that surrounded me.
I reached out to touch the leaves of a nearby tree, marveling at their soft texture. Many of the trees bore fruits and berries, some of which I recognized, while others were strange and unfamiliar. I plucked a few of the familiar fruits and tucked them into my bag, grateful for the sustenance they would provide on my journey.
As I continued on, the sounds of the forest grew louder around me, the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves filling the air. But then, suddenly, the sounds stopped, leaving behind an eerie silence that sent a chill down my spine. Something was wrong. I could feel it. I grabbed my axe at a slow pace, and hid behind some bushes and greenery. The forest was in silence for a minute, but then I heard it. Various steps coming my way, and the stomping form from a much bigger creature.
I peeked from the bushes, wanting to know what I was dealing with. And to my surprise it was not quite what I expected. About four humanoid figures came marching from the forest, relatively small in stature and dark gray skin, most distinctable of all the white and red masks and the white fluffy hide they had. Behind them, a freakishly tall and heavily muscular figure followed them, both of them looked relatively the same, but clearly one of them looks a lot more dangerous than the other. If I had to compare, the big one looked like a minotaur on steroids.
"What the hell are those things…?" I whispered the unanswered question to myself. They looked like they hadn't spotted me, so I can get away if I'm quiet enough. Should be easy enough, I really feel at home in nature, so it should be easy. I gripped my axe and held tight to my chest, just for comfort. After the gray skins minions and their minotaur passed, I decided to make my move. I turned around and met the white and red mask of those gray goblins, we stared at each other for a minute, and I started to walk away slowly.
The gray goblin suddenly wailed and alerted the rest of his companions about me. I could hear the steps rushing back to my position. Without even thinking it twice, I made a mad dash out of this accursed forest.
"GAHH! LEAVE ME ALONE YOU DAMN GOBLINS!" My cry echoed through the forest as I continued to flee. They continued chasing me through the forest, and for a moment, I tought I may have lost them, sadly the stomping continue getting louder, looking back I saw this mass of muscle sprinting at me in all fours and I felt my blood run cold, if that isn't enough to make a grown man run away even faster, I don't know what is it.
The damn minotaur managed to catch up to me and in a quick reaction I dived out of its way, the creature hitting a tree dead center in its head and shot down the tree with brute strength. "Jesus…" The creature stopped up once again and made its way towards me, but before he could do anything a flaming arrow came from somewhere, and striked true, the minotaur creature catching fire. As the flames licked its body he attempted to put them down, and in a fit of pain he fled the scene, leaving me alone in the forest.
My heart pounded so hard in my chest that I was certain you could hear it drumming through the forest. The sound of rustling bushes and foliage reached my ears, and once again, I was on full alert.
My heart pounded so hard in my chest that I was certain you could hear it drumming through the forest. The sound of rustling bushes and foliage reached my ears, and once again, I was on full alert.
"Are you alright–"
Without hesitation, I swung my axe in the direction of the sound. Its blade hit the tree trunk just above the bow of a brown-haired girl with red and white clothes. Wait a second; a girl?
Realizing my mistake and almost murderous attempt, I took a good look at the girl. She looked pale, her eyes wide with shock, and still had a smile stuck on her face. She glanced nervously at me and then at my axe, her expression shifting between fear and confusion.
"WAHH! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!" The girl cried out as she hit me not so softly in the chest.
"I'm sorry! I am very sorry, I truly am! But I thought I was going to die!" I excused myself, trying to explain my actions in a rush. The girl's sudden appearance had caught me off guard, and in my panicked state, I had reacted without thinking. "I panicked."
The girl looked at me and took my words. "Fine," She said with a gaslight frown. "You are forgiven." She then sighed. "I guess this is one of the things that can happen to outriders…"
"Outriders?" I parroted back, and immediately she looked very cheerful again.
"Yes! They have a very important role in the Knights of Favonius!" With every word, I started to feel even more confused. "Oh! I almost forgot;" She extended her hand towards me. "Outrider Amber, at your service!" The brunette said with a proud grin.
I clasped her hand. "...Charlie. Photographer." A small smile tugged the bottom of my lips.
Amber's eyes widened with curiosity. "Photographer? What's that?"
"Um, it's someone who takes pictures?" I explained. Amber seemed to ponder the idea. Grabbing the camera from its case I took it out, fortunately nothing damaged the camera and was good as new, a tough case for sure. "This is a camera," I explained and took a photo of Amber quickly.
"Hey!"
I ignored her, but felt the amused smirk growing on my features. "Here, a picture of you." Amber looked at her picture on the camera screen and slowly the dots in her head started connecting.
"Oh! It's like an instant painting! That's amazing Charlie! I have never seen such advanced technology." She said in amazement.
"Really? I thought the model was pretty old by now…?" I whispered to myself. But something more important came first. "Wait, have you never seen a camera before?"
"Personally, no. Though I heard of a similar invention from Fontaine…"
"Fontaine–"
"Anyways!" She cheerfully interrupted me. "Where are you from? Because you are clearly not from these parts of town."
"What do you mean?" I inquired.
"Well, look at you! I have never seen this type of clothing in my life!" The brunette exclaimed as she circled me. "But I must say, it's quite a nice outfit…"
Now that she mentions it, she is right. Amber wears a sleeveless red top with intricate white detailing along the edges, giving it a distinct and stylish appearance. Overly so. Over this, she sports a short, cropped white jacket with gold accents, adding a touch of elegance to her ensemble. Her lower half is adorned with a pair of form-fitting red trousers, tucked neatly into a pair of knee-high white boots. Completing her look is a red sash tied around her waist.
I, on the other hand, sported a worn brown denim jacket with a white fluffy collar, standing out against the backdrop of Amber's vibrant attire. Beneath the jacket, I wore a simple white t-shirt. For my lower half, I opted for a pair of dark black jeans, complementing the earthy tones of the jacket. And lastly worn brown leather boots. In short, very different from hers.
"Are you a traveler?" Amber suddenly asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"I suppose I am," I replied. "Look, I'm just trying to reach the city with windmills and find a place to eat and rest." I explained, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the things I couldn't comprehend that were happening around me.
"You mean Mondstadt? Oh, I can take you there!" Amber exclaimed. "So weird, two travelers in a short amount of time…" A curious expression danced in her eyes as she looked at me. "Don't worry Charlie, I'll guide you safely to the city!"
As we walked along the forest path, Amber chatted animatedly about her experiences as an outrider knight and the various adventures she had embarked on. I listened intently, fascinated by her stories and grateful for her company as we made our way towards Mondstadt. After talking with Amber for a bit, it dawned on me pretty quick that I wasn't in my world anymore. The strange creatures, unfamiliar landscape, and Amber's mention of Mondstadt all pointed to the fact that I had somehow been transported to a different realm.
Now with Amber at my side, I took a moment to appreciate the lushness of the forest. Without those creatures at my back, the scenery suddenly looked really pretty. "This place it's called 'The Whispering Woods'" Amber said from beside me.
"Why is it called that?" I asked the red clad brunette.
"The story goes that the fluttering sound of leaves blown by the wind in this place were often mistaken for whispers by travelers. This is why they started naming it 'Whispering Woods.'"
Now that she mentions it, the rustling sound of the leaves did sound quite whisper-like, its a very odd thing. "It's interesting how stories can change the way we perceive certain things."
"Look Charlie!" Amber suddenly exclaimed, tugging my arm. "The gates of Mondstadt!" And it was impressive. Mondstadt was what looked like a massive castle or fortress, giant stone walls appeared to be hugging the very city itself and around the massive structure, an equally massive lake. Apparently the lake was called 'Cider Lake'. It was amazing, the water was so pristine and transparent that you could actually see the bottom of the lake. I could even see many fish swimming through the crystalline water.
"Why is it called 'Cider Lake'? It's a pretty weird name, don't you think?" I inquired as we continued walking over the stone bridge.
"Oh! Umm.. It's because the lake is the headwaters that brought Mondstdat's ciders and wines to fame! This freshwater lake is a symbol of Mondstadt and it means today!"
My ear perked up at that. "Cider and Wine?"
"Yes, we're pretty famous worldwide for our alcoholic beverages. For example, Dandelion Wine!"
"Huh… Neat." I'll go try some when I have the chance.
When we reached the gates, there were two people by the entrance, clad in an iron chest plate, alongside greaves, gauntlets and shoulder pads. A guard of some sort.
"Welcome to Mondstatdt Traveler!" A ginger head guard saluted. "The crown of the north; Can you please identify yourself?" Before I could say anything Amber spoke first.
"Lawrence! This is Charlie, a traveler I met recently!"
"Ms. Amber, nice seeing you're doing fine. So a traveler huh? A weird looking one too…" He eyed me curiously. I flat started at the man.
"Anyways, welcome to Monstadt traveler, there are a lot of things you can do to see the true essence of Mondstatd. Recently a bard arrived in the city, maybe you can hear some songs! Though the songs he plays are a bit… archaic, for the lack of a better word. Please enjoy your stay!"
"Thank you, Lawrence. I'll keep that in mind." I answered the gingerhead and he allowed us entry. As we passed the wooden and iron gates, we were immediately greeted by the vibrant sights and sounds of the bustling market square. The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of street food, and the market stalls were overflowing with an array of goods, from fresh produce to hand crafted trinkets. The smells invaded my nose and the bustle of the people invaded my ears. It was a colorful sight, and a sense of excitement started to grow in me.
"Let me officially introduce the city of wind, dandelions and freedom– Travelers under the protection of the knights of Favonius welcome to Mondstadt!" The red clad archer grinned my way, I mirrored her smile in an amused way.
"Not gonna lie Amber, this is way better than I imagined. It's pretty cool! There's a lot of stuff to see…!" I started to whisper to myself excitedly. Amber giggled clearly amused by my reactions.
"I'm glad you like it Charlie!" Amber replied with a warm smile. "Though unfortunately, I still have a job to attend to."
Ah yes, she's a member of the outriders thingy–. So she's basically a knight? "Oh. It's fine. Thanks for guiding me all the way to the city. And for saving me from those monsters."
"Aww, shucks. You are very welcome, Charlie." The brunette replied. "Say, after I'm done with my job. How 'bout we go grab some dinner? My treat!"
At her words, I felt my stomach growl. As if answering for me. Hmph. I'll have to treat my stomach with some manners. "I would like that very much." My mouth moved before I had the chance to even think of answering. Dammit.
"Awesome! Gotta go now, Charlie. I'll catch you later! Let the Anemo Archon protect you!" And with that she disappeared in a dash, some task to attend to. And now I was on my own once again. Honestly, it didn't bother me at all. Now we had a city to explore. Picking my camera from my backpack, I placed it over my neck, ready to tackle and see what the city had to offer. Tourist mode: Activated.
Author's Note: What do you think? I'm not sure if I'll continue it, maybe. Tbh most likely. I like the concept, for some odd reason, and I'll work on it when I can.