Amber immediately bombarded us with questions as soon as we hit the ground. "A-are you hurt? Dean? Let me check you for injuries." I warmed up at her concert. Amber was a really sweet girl once you got to know her. Me and the Traveler exchange amused glances.
The sound of slow clapping turns us all around. There he is, the knight's Calvary captain, Kaeya. "You've actually got the power to go up against a dragon… Are you a new ally..or a new storm?" Wow. Okay, he's going there.
I rolled my eyes. "I had enough of storms for today, thank you very much," Aether smirked. "I know, you were practically squeezing the life out of me on the way down here. And before that, was that you screa-" I cover his mouth with my hand, red-faced.
"Shhh, they don't need to know that." Aether raised his eyebrow at me. I blushed in embarrassment. "Haha, sorry." I laughed nervously and raised my hands in surrender. Amber shakes her head.
"Never mind that! Stormterror…is attacking Mondstadt Itself!" Amber gives each one of us a look. "Kaeya, Aether, Dean, you've come at the right time. We must…" Kaeya interrupts her. "Hold on Amber. Are you perhaps forgetting to introduce us? "Amber blushed.
"Oh right. This is Kaeya, our cavalry captain." I coughed. Amber blinked. "Oh, and this is Dean, a member of the Adventurers' Guild. Like you Aether, Dean is new to Mondstadt. Kaeya, Dean, these two are travelers from afar, Aether and Paimon." I blinked. Paimon? And sure enough, the fairy-like girl was flowing beside Aether.
"Um, I think Stormterror did a real number on me. I'm starting to see little flying people." Amber's mouth twitched upwards. Paimon huffed. "Paimon isn't little flying people, Paimon is Paimon!" Paimon stomped her feet in the air and folded her little arms.
I blinked again. "Uh, but you are flying, aren't you? Great, now I'm answering my hallucinations." Paimon gives me a stunted expression like it just occurred to her that she was a flying little person and was more offended that I didn't believe she was real.
Paimon pulls on Aether's arm. "Aether! Aether! Quick, tell him Paimon is real!" the rest of us stared at Aether in anticipation. Aether adopts a thoughtful look on his face. "Paimon is real." Paimon sends me a smug look. "Paimon is also emergency food." Paimon whips her head back in a look of betrayal.
Kaeya chuckled. But had a strange glim in his eye. Yeah, even with that song and dance I could tell he was suspicious of us. Well right back at you buddy. Amber winced. "Uh, long story short..." She goes on to explain each of our circumstances. However, I don't think Kaeya will be on our side anytime soon.
"I see. Welcome to Mondstadt- though I'm afraid you haven't arrived at the best time." No kidding. Dude a freaking dragon just attacked us. I coughed. "Oh though, I've been in Mondstadt for a week, and this is my first time meeting you." Amber winced and Kaeya sent me a fake smile.
"Apologizes, I'm afraid I've been busy with the knights. I'm glad we're able to meet now, I've heard so much about you." I sent him a fake smile as well. "Oh? You only heard things about me? Hopefully all good things?" Kaeya twitched and replied in the same tone. "Yes, though I wonder what you meant with that last part." This time I twitched.
"Oh, I think you know." We both let out fake laughs as we try to one-up each other. Paimon, Aether, and Amber watched us laugh and be fake polite like it was a tennis match. Paimon leans close to Aether and not so subtly whispers. "Paimon don't know what's going on, but don't the atmosphere seem a little…" Jeez Paimon, learn some subtly.
"We can hear you Paimon." Paimon jumped. "Ah, Paimon wasn't saying you're both were being weird or anything." Aether face palmed himself. Kaeya shakes his head and then fully addresses Aether.
"I understand the anguish of being separated from family. I'm not really sure why you're looking for the Anemo god. But everyone has their secrets, right?" Kaeya shoots me a look as he says this. Honestly what a dick.
Aether didn't take that well either because he frowned. Kaeya put his hands up in surrender. "Relax, ha-ha, I won't press you for more. First and foremost, on behalf of the knights of Favonius, I like to extend our thanks to you and your help just now. "Kaeya said and placed his hand over his heart.
"Your fight to defend the city against the dragon was witnessed by no small amount of Mondstadt's people." I shot Aether a thankful smile too. "And me. If it wasn't for you I'll be a pancake right now. So thank you for rescuing me." I groaned. "Though Grace is going chew me out later." Aether blushed from all the attention while Paimon looked smug.
Kaeya hummed. "The acting Grandmaster is also interested in meaning you- both of you." Damn. Meeting Jean? I'm so nervous. Me and Aether exchange intrigued looks. I thought only the traveler was supposed to meet Jean. Did my little involvement change things? No. Jean has been wanting to meet me for a while. She just killing two birds with one stone.
Touche Acting Grand Master.
Kaeya leads me, Amber, Aether, and Paimon to the Grand Master's office. It seemed Jean was walking in pace and Lisa was watching her in bemusement. Kaeya announces our presence. "Jean, I brought them." Jean turns to us and sights in relief. Kaeya gives a formal report, and we proceed to start the meeting.
Jean turns to us with a thought expression. She smiles. "Mondstadt welcomes you, windborne travelers. I am Jean, Acting Grand Master of The Knights of Favonius. And this is Lisa, our resident librarian. I've been meaning to meet and welcome you to Mondstadt Dean Dragneel. Branch Master Cyrus sings nothing but your praises." I blushed.
I didn't know if Cyrus liked me or not. He was a very hard man to read. And I never know where he is going when he tells his adventure stories. But it warms my heart to hear this all the same. I respect Cyrus greatly.
Lisa giggles. "And our own little Outrider won't stop gushing about you." Amber blushed and I cracked a smile. "Dean so happens to make an amazing moon pie." Aww, there is no need to get defensive Amber. I know Lisa is just teasing you. Jean smiled at their antics while Kaeya sighed. Lisa turns to us. "Oh, but are you sweeties here to help us out? Hehe, You're both so adorable." Sweetie? Adorable? She talking to us like we're in grade good. Lisa noticed my look and sent me an even sweeter smile. I shiver. This woman is dangerous.
She continues as if nothing happened. "Sadly, the timing is regrettable. Stormterror has caused quite the ruckus in the region since it resurfaced. Simply put, Mondstadt 's elemental sphere and ley lines are now akin to a yarn ball in the paws of a kitten." Yeah. What the hell did that mean!? How the heck am I supposed to know what's going on? I'll just nod as I understand like what Paimon is doing.
"For a mage, it couldn't get much worse. My skin is one elemental particle away from a full breakout. "Huh? Then why wasn't I feeling anything? Does being a Pyro dragon make me different somehow? Or were there bigger things at work? Ugh, those MCs that act like they know what's going on are full of shit!
"If it weren't for this interference, the Knights of Favonius would have a better way to help you than putting up simple missing person posters." Jean cut in. There was a slight twitch in Aether's expression. I know this isn't something he wanted to hear. He doesn't need any bad news right now. I feel for him.
"We simply ask that you repose in Mondstadt while we help you seek out your sister." I could see Aether debating something in his head then nodded. "I should help out too. It's my sister, I don't want to make you do all the work." Paimon nodded with a pleased expression on her face. "Paimon will help too." I nodded. "Me three."
Kaeya was also pleased. "Good. In that case, we need a plan." Jean adopts a serious look. "With Stormterror now directly attacking Mondstadt, we may have an opportunity to cut this problem at the source. Lisa has revealed the source of Stormterror's with her detention Magic."
Kaeya turns to Lisa. "Is that so?" Lisa nodded. I bite back a smart comment. Like didn't Jean just say that? Honestly. "They're located in the abandoned Four Winds' Temples. Stormterror ability to whip up these kinds of storms can be attributed to it drawing power from the temples." My eyes widen in understanding. "So it's there where we'll cut off his power."
Jean nodded. "That's right. Our objective is to deal with three of the four temples. I trust everyone understands why we're only dealing with three." Me, Paimon, and Aether stared blankly at her. "Paimon doesn't." Right on cue Paimon.
Both me and Aether shrug. Aether turns to me. "Most be a local thing." I grinned "I'm too new to be one so we're in the same boat." Jean shakes her head and addresses the room. "Knights of Favonius, time is against." Wait am I being counted as a knight?
"The storm is rampant. There is no point in maintaining a defensive position. We need to take the initiative and act before the situation escalates." Everyone nodded and presumed to get everything in order. I followed Aether out as Jean, Lisa, and Kaeya started talking.
"I don't know if I formally introduce myself to you but I'm Dean. Thanks for your help there." Aether shot me an amused grin. "You don't have to keep thanking me. I'm the one that should be thanking you. I was way over my head facing a dragon alone."
Please. You literally faced worse before you got here. I shake my head. "You shouldn't sell yourself short. I was- I'm not exactly a fan of heights." Aether adopts a surprised sarcastic look. "Whaaat? I couldn't notice." I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up smarta-" I glanced at a curious Paimon. "Smart butt." Aether grinned at me.
"I have a smart butt?" Paimon just looks confused. "You think the traveler has a smart butt?" I blushed. You little- I shot Aether a look. "You know what I mean." Aether nodded. "Yeah, that you think I have a smart butt." Okay yeah, I walked into that one.
Paimon shoots me a weird look and whispers loudly to Aether. "Paimon think the dragon knocks his screws a little loose? Don't you, Traveler?" I shot her a glare. "Paimon should also know that I can hear her." Paimon eeped and hid behind Aether. I sighed dramatically and gave Aether a look. "I hope you know this is your fault."
Paimon stuck her nose up at me. "Nuh huh. You clearly said the Traveler has a smart butt. Paimon heard you. If anything, you're the weird one for telling someone their butt is smart. How can a butt be smart anyway? It's a butt." Aether just had that stupid grin on his face. I groaned in defeat. There is no going around this.
Paimon sent me a smug look. "Paimon rests Paimon's case." Now I get why Paimon has a demon name. She clearly the "brat" from hell. Jeez.
"Can we move on? Anyway, I figure we can work together on this." Aether looks thoughtful and nods. "Sure. But please, no more references to my butt. I might whine up self-conscious." I rolled my eyes. I'm starting to like when the traveler wasn't talking. Is that why he got so few voice lines? If so, thank god.
Aether felt a chill go up his spine. "Why do I feel like you're saying something very unpleasant." I started my way out the door and pause. "It's just your imagination..like your butt." Aether gasped loudly. "You take that back mister! I'll have you know I have the finest butt in Mondstadt!" I shot him a look. "Oh, was the competition a plank of wood? If so, you might as well met your match." I raced out the door.
Aether looked at the adventurer's running back. The nerve on that one. Aether was just having a little fun. "Come back here! I liked you more when you were complimenting my butt!" A voice shouted back. "Oh, you know what I meant! Cause you're being one again." Aether's lips twitch upwards. It's been a while since someone amuse him.
He shakes his head and runs after the boy.