*Disclaimer - I do not own the copyright for the Genshin Impact or Kingdom Hearts Series.
*A/N - Thanks for all the reviews and comments. Sorry for the delay, hopefully, things calm down so I'm able to start cranking out chapters at a faster rate. In addition, that newest Genshin trailer featuring the harbingers all appearing still sends chills down my spine. Can't wait for 3.0 to come out and see what other crazy things will happen. Thanks again for checking this story out and hope you all have a great day.
Continuing their trek toward Kaeya and the other fallen knights, Sora began to ask Eula questions about Mondstadt and what significant features were well known around the city.
"What other things are Mondstadt well known for?" Sora asked while moving a bundle of branches out of the way for Eula to walk through.
"Well, one thing Mondstadt is highly recognizable for is its' wine. Dandelion wine is a specialty that regions across Teyvat are familiar with. The people over at Dawn Winery have a special skill that is a trade secret that attracts people from all over" Eula replied while stepping past the branches that Sora was holding for her. She gave Sora a soft nod to which he nodded back.
"Dawn Winery? Is that a company here in Mondstadt?" Sora asked becoming curious about this place that made famous wine.
"The Dawn Winery is a place located near the southeast of Mondstadt. Moreover, the Dawn Winery makes contractual agreements with other regions which is how recognition was given to their take on Dandelion Wine" Eula said while scanning the area in front of her in case of any Heartless.
"Whoa, this Dawn Winery sounds really cool. It reminds me of another restaurant I visited that was well renowned for its amazing food" Sora replied while thinking back to helping Scrooge McDuck and little chief.
"Oh, a renowned restaurant you say. What's the name of this restaurant?" Eula said wanting to see if she knew of this place Sora was talking about.
"Well... the restaurant's name is Le Grand Bistrot," Sora said while also coming up with an explanation for where the restaurant was located, and how he would need to watch what he says to make sure he doesn't spill any unnecessary details about Twilight Town.
"Le Grand Bistrot... that certainly sounds like a well-established restaurant. Tell me, Sora, where is this Le Grand Bistrot located? Eula asked becoming intrigued by this place Sora spoke highly of.
"The restaurant was in a small town called Twilight Town. But I don't think the restaurant or town is still around. The citizens lived on an island, and I haven't been there in quite some time. Plus, I heard from some sailors about a nasty storm hit the island, so I think the island was flooded away" Sora said while having mixed in a half-truth about where the restaurant was located but twisted the reason why he couldn't discuss more about the restaurant's location.
Processing everything Sora was saying, Eula thought that his explanation for why he couldn't tell her the location of the restaurant was strange. Also, his story sounded like too much of a coincidence. It raised several red flags in Eula's mind, but since Sora didn't seem like the type to backstab her, she decided to just go along with his explanation and not seem entirely suspicious of him.
"I see, that's a real shame. I would've liked to visit this place to try their cuisine and aliment" Eula said while sighing at the thought of not being able to try new food.
"Actually, there is another way you could try Le Grand Bistrot's food," Sora said while feeling a smile make its way to his face.
"Truly? There's another way for me to try this restaurant's food. What do you mean, Sora?" Eula said while not getting what he was trying to say.
"I worked at Le Grand Bistrot for a bit when I stopped in Twilight Town. I managed to learn most of the recipes that the restaurant used. The head chief was also a good friend of mine. Hence, he was able to teach me a bunch of tricks to use while cooking" Sora said while thinking back to all the times he worked in the kitchen with little chief.
Sora chuckled remembering all the times he messed up in the kitchen. The time he tried cracking an egg and ended up cracking over four dozen eggs to get enough practice in or stirring the pot full of sauce and spilling. Or the time he overcooked the steak he was making and let the stove catch on fire causing him to leave a big mess in the kitchen. Donald and Goofy were also his test subjects for how the food tasted. Sora could've sworn that Donald looked a bit fluffier than usual after eating all his practice food.
Taken back by what Sora had just said, Eula began to grow excited about the possibility of tasting this Le Grand Bistrot's food. Moreover, she would get the chance to eat Sora's cooking. Eula regained her composure but was all giddy inside.
"Well now, since you mentioned having learned this restaurant's recipes, I'm very curious about their culinary skills in the kitchen. Sora, if I may, would you allow me to have a proper taste of your cooking skills?" Eula said while trying to sound like she was somewhat interested in Le Grand Bistrot's recipes but really she was very curious about Sora's cooking.
However, the way she asked did sound a bit out of place, and anyone else who heard her would've given her a confused look. What Eula said did not match what her body expression was portraying.
"Of course! Once we get a moment to spare later, then I'll whip up something for you to try" Sora proclaimed while feeling excited about cooking thanks to little chief's help in teaching him.
"Thank you, Sora. I look forward to indulging in your culinary skills. However, if it does not live up to my expectations, I will have to enact vengeance against you" Eula said while looking at Sora and crossing her arms under her chest giving a somewhat goofy yet serious expression at the same time.
"Got it! I'll do my best to live up to your expectations" Sora said raising his right arm and pumping it in the air feeling motivated.
*A/N - … I had to do it. Been seeing too many Vergil memes making the rounds.
"My expectations are relatively high. Think you can meet them~?" Eula asked feeling a smile appear on her which further highlighted her beauty.
"You bet! Thanks to my friend who helped me learn to cook and my other friends who supported me in all my attempts, I have confidence in myself thanks to them" Sora said closing his eyes and once again having flashbacks to the times little chief, Donald, and Goofy helped him hone his cooking skills.
"I do have to say, are you familiar with any dishes involving the usage of meat?" Eula said looking quite interested in what Sora had to say.
"Yeah, there are several recipes that I know how to cook that involve meat" Sora replied bringing his right hand under his chin while thinking about the many recipes he's cooked to perfection.
"Excellent. Now that you've set my expectations to an all-time high, I will not accept any failures on your part. If my expectations are not met, then I assume you know what will happen to you" Eula said having narrowed her gaze on Sora's blue eyes.
"You'll be seeking vengeance," Sora said closing his eyes and now slightly better understanding Eula's behavior to a certain degree.
Sora wasn't sure what to think. Eula was unlike anyone he had met before in all his adventures and her mannerisms were honestly very intriguing and added to her personality. Something that Sora was greatly enjoying about being around her. There was always something new to learn about the blue-haired girl. Shaking his head, Sora just merely nodded and smiled at her and began to continue down the path to reach Kaeya and the other fallen knights.
Eula was stunned by Sora's behavior towards her. Most of the time when she swore vengeance on someone, they ended up being scared and nervous around her. Or people would call her off for being a Lawerence spawn and causing problems for Mondstadt. It usually ended up being nothing but trouble for her and caused her to be discriminated against based on her family name and her not-so-friendly demeanor.
However, Sora was unaffected by her mannerisms or her vengeance statement. Sora either brushed it off like it was nothing, or he understood what she was trying to comprehend with her statement and didn't need to say anything. Understanding her feelings without even saying anything. Something Eula greatly appreciated deep down.
"So, what other things do you take interest in, Eula? There's gotta be more than striving to reach elegance and respect" Sora asked figuring that there was more to Eula.
"How rude. Of course, there are many other aspects of my life that I take an interest in. For starters, dancing is something that I love. Even growing up and being told how to live my life, I found dancing to be something that not only deals with elegance but a way to confess my feelings whether they be sad or happy. Dancing is something I'll forever be grateful for" Eula said remembering all the dances that conveyed a deeper meaning.
"That's amazing. Being able to express your heart's feelings not only without words but using your entire heart and body is spectacular" Sora said feeling inspired by Eula's take.
"It truly is. Dancing is a gift I will forever cherish. Do you happen to dance, Sora?" Eula asked becoming curious.
"Well… yeah, I guess that I tend to dabble in dancing. Although I don't know many dances, I tend to be a quick learner" Sora replied while remembering his time in Atlantica and Corona.
"Is that so… well then, it seems I'll be needing to teach you a lesson or two…" Eula said bringing an arm to her hip and extending the other toward Sora.
Deciding to press on to reconvene with Kaeya and the knights, Eula and Sora continued to walk and chat about other topics concerning Mondstadt.
Making their way into familiar territory, Sora was able to spot a destroyed tree that he remembered throwing a large body Heartless at. Realizing that he knew where the rest of the knights were, Sora began to jog his way to where Kaeya was last seen. Eula followed behind him making sure to check their surroundings for any Heartless that could pop out of nowhere.
Appearing in his view, Sora spotted Kaeya helping a knight stand up with a makeshift cane to help support him stand. Other knights were either standing or sitting while helping patch each other up.
Sora called out to Kaeya with Eula right behind him waving him down.
"Hey! Kaeya!"
Hearing his name, Kaeya swerved his head around until he spotted a familiar mess of spiky brown hair and long blue hair.
"Sora. Eula. I take it that the situation is under control?" Kaeya asked while signaling for another knight to help the knight trying to use the cane.
"Yeah, we took care of the Heartless problem. At least for now that is" Sora said while crossing his arms.
"The situation made a turn for the worse, however, with Sora's help we were able to stop the Heartless and save Andrius from being consumed" Eula answered while taking count of all the knights who were injured.
"Hey, don't sell yourself short, Eula. If it wasn't for your help, I don't think I could've dealt with the Heartless wolf and protected Andrius at the same time" Sora replied while giving Eula an appreciative smile.
"I see…once again, thank you for your kind words," Eula said while bringing a hand up to her heart and feeling great about what she was able to accomplish.
Kaeya processed what the two were discussing and was trying to put together what exactly happened.
"So, let me make sure I've got this all right. Once you two made your way to the Heartless source, Andrius was being attacked by the Heartless and was ensnared in a trap to which you two had to help him. In doing so, you managed to stop the main source from spewing out the Heartless. Is that correct?" Kaeya said while displaying a thinking pose with one hand under his chin.
"Yep, that's pretty much what happened. But once the Heartless ensnared Andrius, the Heartless formed together and made a copy of Andrius that was like a Heartless clone. Once Eula and I managed to weaken the Heartless wolf, Andrius helped us strike it down along with Razor showing up to lend his support. If it wasn't for everyone's help, we would still be dealing with the Heartless wolf" Sora said while bolstering about the teamwork that was used to defeat the wolf.
"Razor? Last I heard, he was traveling around the east of Mondstadt watching over any Hilichurls that were causing problems. Andrius must've sent him off somewhere else. I see… seems you two had quite the fight. Wish I could have taken part in it. But alas, I managed to get myself into some trouble. Next time however expect me to be there in all the action" Kaeya said while winding his arm back and stretching it but also feeling soreness hit him.
"In any case, it seems that most of the knights who were hurt have managed to get back up" Eula stated while looking at the knights scattered around all helping each other up.
"Right, we should help those in need and make our way back to Mondstadt. Hopefully, Barbara is available to assist us. Her healing ability would definitely be useful" Kaeya said while taking count of all the knights that would need healing.
Sora wanted to speak up and offer to help heal the knights with his Curaga spell. However, he knew that it wouldn't be wise to bring more attention to himself especially since he was already on a thin line with showcasing his powers.
Plus, Sora was tired from dealing with the Heartless and wolf along with waking up in a completely new and different world. The chance that he could find himself in another crazy scenario before the day ends is highly likely. Therefore, Sora kept to himself and just nodded at what Kaeya was saying about the injured knights.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get these knights back home" Eula said while getting the ball rolling and helping the knights get back to Mondstadt.
With a plan of action, everyone started helping wherever they could and lending support where needed. The trio and the rest of the knights all gathered what supplies they could and began to make their way back to Mondstadt.
After some time had passed
Seeing Mondstadt coming into view, the group of knights, Sora, Eula, and Kaeya all were walking at a slow pace to make sure that no one was left behind. While walking at the front of the group, Sora was next to Eula who had been relatively quiet for most of the journey which seemed unusual. Deciding to find out what was bothering her, Sora started to make some small talk.
"Hey, Eula, what's wrong?"
"Huh, what do you mean, Sora?"
"I mean… you're pretty quiet. Or at least quieter than usual"
"Oh… it's nothing. I'm just… processing some things that I have on my mind. Things that concern me and some business I have going on in Mondstadt" Eula muttered while looking down at the path in front of her.
"Hmm… well, if there's anything I can help with don't be afraid to ask. I don't mind at all helping anyone in need. Especially if it's one of my friends" Sora said while placing his hand over his heart.
Hearing and seeing how much Sora wanted to help her and her troubles made Eula feel very appreciative of this new friend of hers. However, that also brought about a very prevalent concern of hers. And that was the people of Mondstadt.
What would Sora think once he began to explore Mondstadt and talk with the citizens about the Knights of Favonius? What information would they begin to tell him about her and her family name? How would he react to the history surrounding her name and the things that were spewed about her?
All these thoughts began to sink in once Mondstadt was in sight which caused Eula to be distraught and anxious about what was going to happen. Of course, Eula did not think Sora was someone who would outright turn their back on a friend, but then again, Eula did only just meet Sora today and even got to fight with him proving her wrong about her opinion of him upon the first reaction.
Shaking off these negative thoughts, Eula decided that whatever discussion Sora would find himself in she would do her best to defuse the situation if her name was thrown around. Nevertheless, Sora was a welcomed guest to Mondstadt and there was plenty for him to see. Along with friends of hers that would very much like to meet him.
While Eula was mentally and emotionally preparing herself for the derogatory statements that would be made toward her, Sora was psyching himself up for the chance to explore Mondstadt. An actual proper tour around the City of Freedom. Even though Diona walked him through part of the city, Sora still wanted to meet the people and explore what other significant places there were to see.
Moreover, Sora wanted to meet all of Kaeya and Eula's friends in Mondstadt and get the chance to have a conversation with Jean that wouldn't be cut short like before. Thinking about all the interesting topics surrounding Mondstadt made Sora feel joy and excitement. Something he really needed now.
After walking for several more minutes, Sora, Eula, Kaeya, and the rest of the injured knights all made it to the bridge that led them to the gates of Mondstadt. Sora was helping one knight walk while dealing with a sprained ankle. Eula was carrying a couple of swords that belonged to the badly hurt knights that were being carried. Kaeya was helping a knight by letting him use his shoulder as support to stand.
In a matter of seconds, many Knights of Favonius were running out of the gate and coming to aid their injured comrades. Standing near the gate was a familiar face that Sora recognized.
"Jean!" Sora exclaimed happy to see his new friend.
Hearing Sora call out to her, Jean gave him a small wave with a smile appearing on her face. Within an instant, Jean then switched into professionalism mode and began instructing the knights on what to do.
"Platoon six, help the knights that are hurt the most and move them to the medical hospital. We already have healers on standby. Platoon two, lend your support to the knights that are injured and get them back to headquarters" Jean said while giving instructions to all the knights wanting to make sure everyone was taken care of.
Seeing all the knights being taken care of, Sora looked around and figured that his work was done here and that he should make his way to Jean. Eula and Kaeya had the same idea and finished notifying the knights that had come to lend their support.
Making his way to Jean, Sora was about to start talking with her when another knight appeared out of nowhere and began talking with Jean about contingency plans for a counterattack on the Heartless.
"Acting Grand Master, battle plans are ready to be reviewed for our counterattack against the monsters located in Wolvendom," the random knight said while holding a bunch of papers all fumbled together.
"Thank you, I will give these plans a thorough overview and see what errors may occur that are not present in the documents" Jean replied while having a concerned look on her face.
Deciding now would be a good time to join in on the conversation, Sora walked up to Jean and called out to her before anyone else could start a conversation with her.
"Hey, Jean, good to see you again!"
"Likewise, Sora. I'm very grateful that you made it back unharmed. What is the situation at Wolvendom looking like?" Jean said while growing worried at the possibility of the Heartless becoming a much larger problem.
The knight decided to stay quiet and hear what Sora had to say about the situation at Wolvendom.
"Well, the situation is all clear. Eula and I were able to stop the main source of the Heartless. Once we got rid of the source, the rest of the Heartless stopped spawning" Sora said while looking at both Jean and the knight that was talking to her.
"Wait… you mean to say that you and Eula dealt with the source that was spawning the Heartless and the rest just disappeared?" Jean said feeling confused about how the Heartless maneuvered.
"Yea, it's not always like that though. Most of the time the smaller Heartless stick around which is practically nothing compared to their leader. But in this case, once Eula and I were able to defeat the main Heartless the rest just faded away" Sora replied while also recalling all the times he fought boss like Heartless and the smaller grunt Heartless tended to stick around or sometimes fade away into the shadows.
The knight who had been listening to Sora's explanation was simply confused. What kind of monster can spawn grunts that fight alongside it? Moreover, these Heartless seemed to grow in number quickly but once their leader was defeated, they either stayed to cause chaos or retreat. What in Teyvat was going on?
Jean meanwhile was processing everything Sora said and quite clearly had many questions of her own. Questions that likely did not have a clear-cut answer, but for the sake of being the stand-in Grand Master over the Knights of Favonius, she would do her best to understand the situation.
"I see… this is unexpected, to say the least. However, after I review Eula and Kaeya's report on the entire situation, then I'll be able to wrap my head around everything that has happened" Jean stated while keeping an open mind around the situation.
"…" the knight standing to the side had no idea what was truly going on and decided to just focus on his own assignment.
"In any case, Sora, since the situation is cleared at Wolvendom, I will readjust our battle plans and transition them to scouting plans" Jean proclaimed while looking at the silent knight giving him a nod to which he responded with a nod of his own.
"Now then, it seems I will be here for a bit helping all the knights with their injuries. Sora, I'd like for you to accompany Kaeya for a bit and get a proper tour of Mondstadt" Jean said wanting to let Sora enjoy his first time touring the city.
"Kaeya? Are you sure about that Jean? I mean Kaeya did get knocked around a bit back in Wolvendom. Is he well enough to give me a tour of the city? What about Eula?" Sora asked not sure if Kaeya was the right person to give him a tour.
"How sad, Sora doesn't wish to get a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Mondstadt by yours truly"
Turning around, Sora spotted Kaeya making his way to him and Jean. Eula was also walking next to Kaeya while also face-palming at his antics.
"Kaeya? Aren't you still in pain from the Heartless? I don't think it would be wise for you to give me a tour" Sora said while feeling concerned about Kaeya's wellbeing.
"Ah, don't you worry your spiky head. I was able to snack on some Crystal Shrimp and that healed me up" Kaeya replied while giving Jean and Sora a confident smirk.
Shaking her head and letting out a sigh, Jean responded, "As you can see, Sora. Kaeya is good as new. Plus, I need Eula to help get me up to speed on everything that transpired along with her support on another project of ours".
Sora now understood what Jean was getting at and why she wanted Kaeya to give him a tour of the city. Deciding to go along with her plan, Sora gave Jean a smile and brought his hands behind his head.
"Ah gotcha, either way, thank you for giving me a tour of Mondstadt," Sora said while feeling excited to see the city.
"No, thank you, Sora. If it wasn't for your help with the Heartless, then we would've been in a great amount of trouble. This is the least I could do especially since I'm not sure if I will be much help in finding you a way home" Jean said while having a frown.
"Alright then, enough lamenting around. If I wanted to lament, I would be at Angel's Share. Sora do enjoy your tour around Mondstadt, and Kaeya, do make sure he does not get lost" Eula said getting the ball rolling instead of sitting around.
"Ouch, you wound me, Eula. Do you not take me as someone responsible enough to watch over our esteemed savior/guest? Besides, Mondstadt is not exactly that big compared to Liyue" Kaeya said while bringing a hand over his heart and pretending to be hurt.
Eula looked annoyed with Kaeya and glared at him while crossing her arms and giving her an intimidating look.
"Well then, enough dilly-dallying. Sora, if you would follow me. Let's give you a once-in-a-lifetime proper tour of Mondstadt" Kaeya said while flipping a coin around his fingers looking all flashy and beginning to walk away.
"Right, see you later, Eula, Jean" Sora said while waving to the two and following behind Kaeya.
Leaving the two alone, Jean was the first to speak up, "You're worried about Sora, aren't you?"
Bringing her right arm to hold her left which was dangling by her side, Eula let out a sigh she didn't know that she was holding in.
"Sigh… yes, I'm worried. Not for any danger mind you. But about what he might hear about me and my family name while he is exploring Mondstadt" Eula said feeling anxious.
Placing her hand on Eula's shoulder, Jean confided in her to calm her nerves.
"It'll be alright, Eula. I doubt Sora would be one to listen to random people's words. Besides, he doesn't seem to judge people on just word of mouth. I mean look at how he treats us who he only just met today. We're now his first friends in Mondstadt" Jean said recalling how easy it was for Sora to make friends.
Taking a moment to process Jean's words, Eula realized that she was just being worried about nothing given that she had talked with Sora for a bit and understood that he cared for his friends and those in need. He was someone that could lend a hand when there was trouble or someone you could talk to for quite a long time, and you wouldn't want the conversation to stop.
"You're right, Jean. I'm just being paranoid" Eula replied while shaking her head and staring at the ground. "It's just… Sora is not from Mondstadt and therefore does not know who I am or better yet who my family is".
"Trust me, even if Sora does hear something negative towards you, he probably won't pay them any mind. Plus, he's actually met you and fought with you in a life-or-death situation. He knows more about you than most of the people talking behind your back" Jean proclaimed while letting a small smile cross her lips.
Looking up towards the church, a faint smile could be seen on Eula's face as she realized that there was nothing to worry about. And if there was, then she would deal with it when the time comes.
Having passed many different vendor stalls that were selling all sorts of items, Sora was walking right beside Kaeya while also chatting with him about what other specialties were featured in Mondstadt.
"And you're telling me that certain kinds of foods give you special boosts?" Sora said while tilting his head.
"Yep, for instance, there's this dish that's called Fruity Skewers which no one can make but me. Many have tried to replicate my dish, but none have succeeded" Kaeya said while having a smirk on his face feeling confident in his cooking ability.
"Wow, that's impressive. Maybe I should give it a try at trying to replicate your dish?" Sora said while remembering his time cooking with little chief.
"Oh, think you have what it takes to replicate my dish? Very well, once we get done with your tour and report back to Jean, then we'll see if your cooking skills are noteworthy" Kaeya said, amused at Sora's claim.
"Hahaha, I'll do my best," Sora said while swiping his finger under his nose.
Looking forward to the food challenge later, Kaeya spotted a familiar building coming into view. Somewhere that he thought best to show Sora around, and who knows, a familiar face might be at the tavern.
"Heads up, Sora. I'd like to introduce you to one of Mondstadt's finest taverns, Angel Share. The tavern specializes in drink-based items. Along with the bartender, Charles, who is a good man that'll whip up some of the sweetest or heavy-hitting drinks you can imagine. Plus, he is good at hearing people rant about their problems" Kaeya said while having a sly smile plastered on his face.
Becoming interested in Angel Share and the bartender. Sora figured that he could make his first pit stop and check out the place.
"Is Angel Share usually busy around this time of day?" Sora asked curiously if he'll get to meet many new people.
"About this time of day? Hmm, not usually. Of course, the tavern offers small snacks and whatnot, but it tends to focus on drink-based stuff. You're bound to see several people stopping by for a quick get me up" Kaeya replied while reminiscing on all the times he stopped by to have a quick drink.
"Huh… since this place is more focused on drinks, do they have any sweet drinks?" Sora muttered needing something sweet.
"Yep, I'd highly recommend the Wolfhook Juice. It's a non-alcoholic and freshly squeezed fruit beverage" Kaeya said remembering all the drinks he's tried before.
"Is that so, well what are we waiting for let's go check this place out" Sora said feeling excited about trying a new drink out.
Entering the tavern, Sora was able to identify a wooden interior that gave the place a cool and soothing atmosphere. Along with the many lamps hanging around the wooden pillars supporting the upstairs area of the tavern, the tavern really did have a feeling of peace for someone wanting to take a break and relax. In addition, someone was standing behind a counter while cleaning what appeared to be glass bottles. This must've been the bartender, Charles.
"Charles, good to see you. Seems the tavern is not that busy today" Kaeya said while reaching into his pocket and pulling out a coin.
"Kaeya, you're here earlier than usual. Rough day eating at you?" Charles said while putting away the glass he was cleaning.
"You could say that. Got thrown around quite a bit but other than that the day's been a good one. Oh, by the way, I'd like to introduce you to a new friend of mine. He popped into town today and is new, so I'm showing him around and figure why not show him the place" Kaeya said while flipping the coin in his fingers.
"Hey there, I'm Sora nice to meet you, Charles"
"Pleased to meet you, Sora. Any friend of Kaeya's is a friend of mine" Charles said with a nod.
"Do you mind whipping us up a couple of drinks? Figured I'd let Sora get a taste of some of the drinks here" Kaeya asked while flipping the coin in the air and letting it land in the palm of his hand without even batting an eye.
"Sure, I've got nothing else going on. Plus, it saves me from boredom till nighttime" Charles replied while pulling some ingredients out of the cupboard. "What'll you be having?"
"I'll take a Berry and Mint Burst. Save all the alcohol for later and I'm on the job now. Sora will have the Wolfhook Juice" Kaeya said while pulling out a chair for himself and Sora to sit.
"Got it, coming right up," Charles said before turning around and rummaging under the counter.
Sora thanked Kaeya for the seat and began to look around the tavern now spotting the smaller more details. One detail was a picture of a guy with what appeared to be red hair wearing a dark jacket. The red-haired guy was also standing next to a familiar face that Sora recognized.
"Hey, Kaeya, who's the guy in that picture with you?" Sora asked interested in the picture.
"Ah, that old thing. The handsome guy in there is me of course, but the other guy is my brother, Diluc" Kaeya replied with a smirk on his face.
"Your brother? Didn't know you had a brother"
"Yeah, well, he's technically my brother but I'm adopted into his family. His dad adopted me when I was younger and ever since we've just treated each other as a family" Kaeya said while looking down at his hands thinking about something.
"I see… well, that's still good that you two still treat each other as brothers," Sora said recalling the times when he wished that he had a brother or sister. And he figured that he did. That brother being his best friend Riku. Although, since Roxas was his Nobody would that make him more like a brother now?
Sora would have to sort out the rest of the details later.
"Yea, even though Diluc does not have a kind spot for the Knights of Favonius. He still comes around when you need it the most friend or family it doesn't matter, he'll always have your back. But he does tend to have a cold persona at first until you get to know him" Kaeya said while closing his eyes almost as if he was waiting for something to happen.
Before Sora could say anything else, the door to the tavern began to get pushed and open. Turning around in his seat, Sora was able to spot two individuals entering and each one of them had distinct characteristics.
One person who entered the tavern was a young woman who was tall with ghostly pale grey skin and choppy wine-colored hair with some dark red strands, and she had pale magenta eyes with very noticeable bags under her eyes. The woman was wearing a nun's habit with black and white coif with red lining, a white sleeveless turtleneck top, long white gloves, and a somewhat long black and red slit skirt. She also had black belts around her left thigh and black fishnet tights and silver high heels.
The other person who entered was a young man with a slim build and aqua green eyes. The man had dark black hair with short twin braids that faded into aqua at the tips. He was also wearing a frilly white top with a corset along with teal shorts with gold embroidery. On his back was a teal cape and on his legs were white stockings with three gold diamond shapes on each leg. And in his left hand was a wooden lyre.
With no idea who these two individuals were, Sora was about to ask if Kaeya knew them, but it seems Kaeya did know them.
"Ah, Rosaria and Tone-deaf bard it's good to see you again. Although, you're both here quite early. Rough day?" Kaeya asked with a teasing tone of voice.
The woman who was now known to be Rosaria plopped right down next to Kaeya and waved Charles down.
"Rough wouldn't even begin to explain how irritating the day has been. Charles, mind whipping up something hard. I'll take a cocktail with extra alcohol. I need something to wake me up" Rosaria said while closing her eyes and then opening them while looking right at Sora.
"You're a new face I haven't seen around here. Are you just passing by?" Rosaria said peering at Sora with a close eye.
"Uh, yeah, I'm new here. I just got to Mondstadt earlier today. Kaeya's been giving me a tour of the city. I'm Sora by the way. Nice to meet you" Sora replied with a friendly smile.
Rosaria continued to observe Sora before closing her eyes and speaking up, "I'm Rosaria. Nice to meet you, Sora" Rosaria said before opening her eyes and looking straight at Sora, "Hmm… that's awfully a coincidence that as soon as you show up mysterious monsters start appearing out of nowhere".
Feeling a bit worried about what Rosaria was implying, Sora began to get nervous and come up with a reasonable answer to avoid saying anything suspicious. However, before Sora could open his mouth to respond another voice answered for him.
"Oh, come now, Rosaria, I'm sure our friend here had nothing to do with the Heartless" Kaeya said while leaning on the counter and looking at her.
"… If I wasn't already past my limit of frustration, Kaeya, your ego would be getting ridiculed to the point of no return," Rosaria said while staring blankly at Kaeya.
"Well now, that's quite funny of you to think that some words would hurt my ego. It'll take a lot more than that to bring me down" Kaeya replied looking triumphant.
"Really…? Last I heard, Lisa criticized your state of attire when you were trying on a different look. She said red really does not suit you. And once you heard her take you asked to take the rest of the day off for reasons unknown and didn't show up till the next day" Rosaria said while having a small barely noticeable grin on her face.
While those two were at it, the man who looked like a bard sat right next to Sora and greeted him cheerily.
"Greetings friend, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Venti a bard on the road traveling far and wide" the man now known as Venti said.
"Nice to meet you, Venti. I'm Sora. As I said to Rosaria, I'm new to Mondstadt and just getting a tour around the city" Sora said while ruffling the back of his head.
"Well now, since you're new to the city has anyone mentioned to you about the Anemo Archon, Barbatos?" Venti said with a cheery tone of voice.
"Not really, I've only been told that the Anemo Archon allowed for Mondstadt to be free of his reign which created the City of Freedom. Or that's at least what remember being told the short explanation" Sora answered while remembering what little he was told about Mondstadt's Archon.
"I see, well, in any case, I hope you find the city rather enjoyable. I for one love it here. The people, the atmosphere, the food, the wine. All of it is quite enjoyable" Venti said while waving at Charles.
"Hey, Charles! I'd like a glass of your finest wine if you would please" Venti happily said to which Charles just looked at him with a blank stare.
"…"
"Very fun Tone-deaf bard. Last time you ordered you didn't even pay. Plus, you've still got a tab here" Charles said while pointing a rag at Venti.
"Tone-deaf bard? Is that your nickname, Venti?" Sora asked not sure why he was given that name.
"Why yes, it is. The traveler and his companion, Paimon, gave it to me after hanging around me for quite some time. And ever since then I've just stuck with the nickname. Plus, it adds character and lets my name travel" Venti said while smiling at Sora before bargaining with Charles.
However, Kaeya seemed to overhear Venti's troubles and spoke up.
"This one's on me, Charles. Let the bard drink I say" Kaeya proclaimed while sitting upright.
Charles could only shake his head before turning around to finish making the drinks. Venti looked to Kaeya and bowed his head.
"My dearest thanks, sir Kaeya. As a token of my thanks, I'll play for you a song that will be passed on for generations about the kindness that you have bestowed upon me in my time of need" Venti said while picking up his lyre and beginning to strum along the strings, but not before Kaeya waved his hands quickly in the air.
"That won't be necessary, Tone-deaf bard. Keep the songs all about our fairy friend making fun of you every time you three happen to run into each other" Kaeya said while chuckling at the thought of Venti getting bullied by a little fairy girl.
"You've been hanging around the Traveler and Paimon too much. Then again, Paimon does manage to talk quite a lot. She even manages to eat an unbelievable amount. Where does it all go?" Rosaria said while bringing a hand under her chin to think about the fairy's stomach.
"You guys seem to talk a lot about this Traveler and Paimon was it?" Sora said trying to memorize their names.
"Indeed, they were also new to Mondstadt and helped us with a… little problem back then. But now they come and go between Mondstadt, Liyue, and Inazuma. They'll soon start making their way over to Sumeru" Venti said while tuning his lyre.
"They sound like quite the duo. Hope I get to meet them soon" Sora said while imagining what the two are alike.
"Word travels fast, so it's not hard to imagine that they will be hearing about the Heartless problem soon and make their way over here," Kaeya said while noticing that Charles was about done with their drinks.
"Where are they at now? Last I heard they were visiting Liyue for something" Rosaria said moving her hair behind her ear. "Speaking of which, just what are these Heartless you've been mentioning, Kaeya. Is that what the mysterious monsters are called?".
"Yes, the Heartless are the ones that everyone has been talking about. Sora, Eula, and I just got done dealing with a situation over in Wolvendom that involved the Heartless"
"From what I've overheard from the knights, these monsters come in different types of sizes and can multiply at an alarming rate," Rosaria said while pulling out a small knife in her pouch on her skirt and twirling it in her fingers.
"These monsters sound like they could become quite the problem" Venti muttered while sounding serious.
"Right, my squadron of knights was badly hurt going against the Heartless. I underestimated how dangerous the Heartless could be. That was a mistake that I need to learn from and make sure never happens again" Kaeya said feeling both guilt, and determination fill his heart.
"And you said Eula and Sora managed to help you deal with these Heartless… So, I take it that Sora knows how to handle a blade?" Rosaria said looking at Sora in the corner of her eye.
"Yep, Sora is quite the formidable fighter. His fighting technique is very unique and flashy. Not to mention, he's quick on his feet able to get the upper hand on his enemy" Kaeya said leaning back and looking up at the tavern's ceiling.
"I don't deserve all the credit, Kaeya. Eula was also there fighting along with me to quell the Heartless and stop the source that was spawning the Heartless" Sora said not wanting to take all the credit.
Rosaria continued to observe Sora almost as if she was studying him and taking notes on his behavior. It was starting to make Sora anxious and get him to open and close his right hand feeling sweat start to appear. However, before anything could happen, Charles appeared and placed Sora and Kaeya's drinks in front of them.
"Enjoy you two. The fruit is fresh and was just delivered this morning. Rosaria, Tone-deaf bard your drinks are just about done" Charles said while turning around and continuing to make their drinks.
Seeing the purple drink in front of him, Sora also noticed the purple fruit that was cut and hanging on the rim of the glass. Wanting to have a taste, he picked up the glass and examined it once more before taking a sip. Sweet flavors met his lips and seemed to get hit with a burst of energy. The cool drink was just what he needed after having dealt with quite a lot in such a short amount of time.
"The drink is good huh?" Kaeya asked while holding his drink.
"Yeah! The sweetness is really good along with the flavor hitting my tastebuds. Thanks for recommending it to me, Kaeya" Sora said before taking another sip of his drink.
"Not a problem. It's the least I could do. Besides, I think that now since we've had our drinks we should continue with our tour" Kaeya said placing his empty drink on the counter.
"Sure, I'm good with that. It was great to meet you, Rosaria and Venti. Hope we can chat again" Sora stated happily to have met some new friendly faces.
"I concur! It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sora. With our meeting now set in fate, I feel not only a change in the wind but song coming to mind" Venti said while closing his eyes and preparing to play his lyre.
"Perhaps you should save that song for another time, Tone-deaf bard. In any case, yes, it was nice to meet you, Sora" Rosaria said while nodding at him before turning around in her seat and waiting for her drink.
"Charles here's for our drinks along with these two's drinks. Thanks again and expect to see me here later" Kaeya said along with handing him a bunch of gold coins to him for payment.
"Will do, thanks for stopping by. And nice meeting you, Sora" Charles said waving at the two.
"Alright, shall we continue?"
"Yeah! Let's get going"
Opening the door to the tavern, Sora and Kaeya stepped outside and began to discuss where to go next.
However, Venti continued to observe the two leaving the tavern but could not help feeling something was off about Sora. It was almost like when Venti sensed a different kind of energy around him. Better yet, it was like an aura of power that Venti had never encountered in his life was surrounding Sora. Specifically, the area around his chest… his heart. Deciding that Sora was an individual to keep an eye on, Venti would watch from a distance and see just what kind of power he holds onto.
At the same time, Rosaria was considering many things about the spiky-haired boy. Sora showing up out of nowhere and being a key player to resolve the problem with the Heartless was something that raised suspicion. Moreover, Sora seemed very friendly and looked to be quite easy to talk with. However, even if it was nothing, there was still something different about him. Rosaria figured that she would keep her distance away but also keep her ear to the ground in case she learned of anything malevolent regarding the boy.
Either way, having met the boy for only a short period, Rosaria and Venti knew that there was something special about Sora.
Continuing to make their way around Mondstadt, Sora passed many more tall buildings with clothes hanging outside to dry on a line of rope. Numerous stalls all selling various foods and items were very eye-catching. However, before Sora could start checking out any more stalls, Kaeya called for him to follow him.
"Where are we heading?"
"I figured that since you're new around here that you'll need some sort of identification," Kaeya said.
"Great! Lead the way" Sora said bringing his hands behind his head and into his signature pose.
Making their way toward the gate that they both came from earlier, Sora was about to comment until he spotted a young woman standing behind an open building/stall of sorts.
"Greetings Katheryne hope you're having a pleasant day," Kaeya asked.
"Hello, Kaeya and yes I'm having a good day thank you for asking" the woman now identified to be Katheryne said.
Turning to look at Sora, Katheryne spoke up giving her usual friendly greeting.
"Ad astra abyssosque! Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild. My name is Katheryne how may I help you?"
"Er, hello, my name is Sora. And I believe that I need an adventure card or something" Sora replied not entirely sure what he needed.
"Understood if you would please give me a minute, Sora, and I'll have your card ready," Katheryne said while using her hands to stamp something and cast magic on said something.
After exactly a minute passed with Sora and Kaeya watching Katheryne get the card ready she turned to look at Sora and smiled warmly while handing him his new card. Taking a quick look at the card, Sora was able to make some similarities to his Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee card get got from Leon and the gang.
"With that card, you'll be able to receive commissions and rewards for defeating any dangerous monsters in all the regions of Teyvat. You will also be able to find one of my sisters somewhere within each region for any questions and she'll be happy to help you" Katheryne said while grabbing a file of sorts under her counter.
"Thanks, Katheryne! If I have any questions, I'll be sure to stop by and ask" Sora stated while putting the card into his pocket.
"Oh! One moment, before you go there was another thing, I'd been meaning to ask you, Kaeya" Katheryne said drawing the duo's attention.
"Sure, is there anything wrong?" Kaeya said.
"There's been many reports of strange dark creatures that have been appearing around Mondstadt. Many adventures have been asking questions and I'm afraid I don't have the answers they seek. Do you by chance have any idea what these mysterious creatures are?" Katheryne said hoping to learn anything about this mysterious foe.
"At the moment, all we know thanks to some… research gathering is that these creatures are known as the Heartless. They tend to move in groups but can be found on their own. The best advice I can give now is to stay away from them. They may look weak, but they should not be underestimated" Kaeya stated having learned his lesson.
"Also, the Heartless come in different shapes and sizes. They may also take the form of animals or humanoid beings. A distinct way to identify if something is a Heartless is by the eyes. Heartless have large yellow eyes or antennas on their head or even an emblem of sort on their chest. The Heartless will also consist of various colors but mainly a dark color is how to notice one" Sora said wanting to provide some additional information for Katheryne to use to warn other adventurers.
Bowing her head, Katheryne looked happy that so much information was being provided. "Thank you both very much! With this information on hand, we can be sure to warn all adventures and bring them back safely".
Seeing that their work here was done Kaeya waved to Katheryne before bidding her a good rest of her day and began to walk away. Sora did the same while also thanking her for her help. Katheryne bowed once again and said goodbye while going back to writing more information about the Heartless.
Deciding to visit one last location in the tour, Kaeya asked Sora if he wanted to check out the church that was at the highest level of Mondstadt to which Sora said he wanted to. Kaeya asked him to keep on following him up many stairs that led to all sorts of roads along with passing by buildings and people who they greeted. Sora was also able to breathe in the smell of new flowers he'd never seen or smelled before. Given he was in a new world there were so many new things for him to discover.
Continuing to follow Kaeya up the stairs, the duo found themselves in a plaza of sorts with many people all enjoying themselves and the beautiful weather. Kids were running around with wooden swords and shields pretending to be knights. Others were holding onto kites that were blowing high in the sky with just enough wind to keep them afloat.
A very large statue of sorts was in the plaza that caught Sora off guard. The statue of Barbatos. How he did not notice it on his way up was a shock, but it was probably because he was having tunnel vision and just focused on the things around him without looking up to see the statue. Getting a closer look at the statue, Sora noticed the Anemo Archon's features. For a second, he thought he was seeing Venti in the statue but shook it off as just putting a familiar face on the statue.
"So, what do you think? Not at all what you expected the Anemo Archon to look like?" Kaeya asked.
"You could say that. The Archon looks young" Sora said bringing a hand under his chin.
"Most of the Archons tend to have a young look," Kaeya said looking up at the statue.
Before Sora could respond to Kaeya, a couple of knights began to walk up to Kaeya and called out to him.
"Kaeya! Good to see your back" one of the knights said.
"Oh, you guys. What are you doing here? Thought you guys had your patrols to do today?" Kaeya asked confused about what the knights were doing here.
"Our patrol schedule got switched around. We've got the night shift and figured to go on a walk around the city" another knight said while taking a sip of his drink.
"I see… well, I hope you are staying out of trouble," Kaeya said with a serious tone of voice which was different from how he had been talking for most of the time Sora was with him.
"Don't worry it's fine. Anyway, who's the kid?" the knight who appeared to be the ringleader said looking Sora up and down.
Feeling annoyed that he was classified as a kid to this guy, Sora wanted to say something but realized that he shouldn't cause any trouble since Jean and the others were doing so much for him. Letting out a sigh, Sora answered the knight.
"My name is Sora… nice to meet you," Sora said with a bit of strain.
"Sora huh, what do you have Kaeya doing for you? Finding your mommy?" the ringleader said while chuckling.
"Sora here helped us with that monster problem that was going on in Wolvendom. Hell, he was able to help me along with Eula coming to the rescue" Kaeya said now glaring at the ringleader knight.
"Pfft, that Lawrence spawn managed to help you. Man, Kaeya, you sure are falling off the wagon if even she managed to help you. She's nothing more than a nuisance to the knights" the ringleader knight said while shaking his head.
The annoyance Sora was feeling was quickly replaced with anger and frustration. Who would even think to call someone a spawn? Eula was very supportive and great to be around. Just who was this guy to say that kind of thing about her. Getting ready to say something, Sora opened his mouth to speak but was beaten by one of the other knights talking.
"No kidding. What? Did she complain about how she would get revenge on you for being weak and not helping her with her family crap? If anything, she should shut her trap and leave the knights. She does nothing but brings disgrace to the knights. Jean should just kick her out and leave her on her arse. It'd be better that way" one of the other knights said while snickering about the thought of Eula being kicked out.
"Lawrence has only one thing going for her and that's her looks. Other than that, she's practically useless. The knights would be better off without her" another knight commented.
Having lost his patience, Sora lashed out.
"What is wrong with you?! How can you say that about one of your colleagues?! What has Eula done that's managed to irritate all of you?!" Sora exclaimed at the knights and was looking right at the ringleader right in his eyes.
"What has she done to us? Kid do you have any idea who her family is? Who the Lawrence clan is or what they've done to Mondstadt in the past?" the ringleader said while looking unbothered about Sora's outburst.
"What does Eula's family have anything to do with why you were talking ill about her?" Sora asked feeling confused and angered at the same time.
"The Lawrence clan has a history in Mondstadt. Back in the Aristocratic Period, the Lawrence clan desecrated Lord Barbatos and his city by thinking of themselves as kings to conquer the people. They turned religious ceremonies into blood sport and tore down the statue of Barbatos" the ringleader said while looking up at the current statue sitting in the plaza.
Continuing with his speech, "The Lawrence clan also delved into the involvement of slaves. Slaves of all things. Thanks to Lord Barbatos' involvement, he was able to trick the dastards and get them to leave the city thanks to the rebellion. Now, however, the damn Lawrence dastards are still looking for a way to seize control of Mondstadt and make their idiotic dream a reality of being the leaders of Mondstadt" the ringleader said with a frown on his face.
Processing everything the ringleader said, Sora was taken back by the vast and troublesome history that Eula's family had. It was something that Sora was not entirely sure what to think, but what he did know was that Eula was not like her family. She was her own person.
"… and you think that since Eula is part of the Lawrence clan she is just like her family?" Sora asked having lowered his gaze so that his hair covered his eyes slightly.
"Of course, I think that. I'm not the only one either. There are a bunch of people in Mondstadt that think the same. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a majority of Mondstadt despises the fact that she is a part of the Knights of Favonius" the ringleader said with the other knights nodding their heads.
"…"
Sora didn't say anything and was processing everything he had heard. Kaeya however was fed up with this knight's behavior and was going to put his foot down. Even if it cost him his position, he didn't give a damn. This had been going on for too long.
"That's enough! Really? Do you truly think that most of the people in Mondstadt despise Eula? You really are an idiot. No, you are below an idiot" Kaeya said looking angry even with only one eye to show.
"That's rough to hear from the Calvary Captain. If I didn't know any better that would be harassment and classified under a complaint" the ringleader said crossing his arms.
"So be it. I've been meaning to take some time off. Just know that if you try to take me down you can be sure to expect the same. And besides, my history has long been known to both the Grand Master and Acting Grand Master. You on the other hand have multiple cases of misconduct under your belt. Something that will definitely push you to the curb" Kaeya said having had enough of the ringleader's antics.
Before the ringleader could say anything, Sora finally spoke up.
"I have no idea who you are or what kind of trouble you've been into, but I know one thing. You have no idea who Eula Lawrence is. You've never really met her and have only speculated about everything you've heard about her. You've never talked with her and learned what little things she enjoys or how she expresses her emotions" Sora said clenching his hands and staring right at the ringleader's eyes with conviction.
"Doesn't matter. She's still a part of the Lawrence clan. That clan's history with Mondstadt will never be welcomed here" the ringleader said now glaring at Sora.
"Are you seriously still tying Eula to what her clan did in the past? Hasn't Eula worked to prove herself different from her family? Do you think she's seriously plotting to take over Mondstadt even after joining the Knights of Favonius? Why do still view Eula as the rest of her family when the obvious answer is that she is her own person!" Sora exclaimed while standing tall to defend his friend.
The ringleader said nothing but scoffed at Sora and what he was saying. Deciding that he's had enough of these two, he started walking away with the other knights following him. Before he walked too far, the ringleader muttered something about Sora and Kaeya being idiots for sticking with Eula.
With those ill-tempered knights now gone, Sora let out an annoyed sigh while rubbing his eyes. Not sure what to say, he was about to apologize to Kaeya for his outburst but was cut off.
"…Don't worry about what you did back there, Sora"
"But why did they talk about Eula like that as if it was a common thing to say?" Sora asked.
"As much as I love Mondstadt having grown up here. The people can be a bit shut off from the rest of the world. Only focusing on themselves and the future. I'm not going to lie, Sora. This is something that Eula deals with daily" Kaeya said looking down at the ground in regret.
"Eula deals with this daily? Are you telling me that it's not just those knights that look at Eula negatively?" Sora asked looking shocked.
"Yes, most of the people of Mondstadt hold the Lawrence clan in the lowest regards and wish their entire bloodline diminished. Honestly, when Eula first tried joining the knights there were protests. To the point that the Grand Master of the knights had to put his foot down and force the people of Mondstadt to stand down," Kaeya said while remembering how harsh it was for Eula.
"It was bad news to get on the Grand Master's side so the people stopped the protests and let Eula join. But even now with Jean in charge, there's only so much she can do to help Eula. Sure, she can get rid of troublesome knights that are causing problems, but when it's the entire city that dislikes Eula then it's pretty hard to stop the malice" Kaeya stated while letting out a sigh.
"That's… that's not right. Can't anyone see that Eula is her own person with her own ambitions and goals? Likes and dislikes. Eula may share the same blood as her clan who did awful things but she's not like that" Sora said looking Kaeya in the eye.
"Recently there have been quite a lot of people to see Eula for how she truly is. More and more people are differing Eula from her family and getting the chance to know her. Especially after the incident with her family where the traveler stepped in to help her. That helped people see that Eula was a Knight of Favonius at heart" Kaeya replied while recalling the situation with the traveler and Eula.
"But if I'm going, to be honest, Eula tends to keep to herself and doesn't want to include anyone else in her problems. She tends to drink away her problems but ends up just bottling her feelings for later. Even though she has friends like Jean and Amber and others. She still doesn't want to bother anybody" Kaeya said looking up at the clear sky.
Taking a moment to process everything. Sora could recall a certain someone who tried to keep everything bottled up inside them and carry the burden of others on their back. He also remembered all the times his best friend would pull him out of the rutter while also carrying his own problems and working to help those around him before himself. Bringing a hand to his heart, Sora remembered Riku and all the regret he had about his past actions and striving to become a better person. Plus, Riku worked hard to surpass even Sora and become a Keyblade Master. Even pulling him out of the darkness when all was lost, and his friends had died.
Deciding what to do next, Sora let out a sigh and raised his head. His friend was hurting and there was no way he was going to do nothing about it.
"Even so… even if Eula won't open up about her problems. I'll do my best to help her. Healing hearts and helping others is something I'm quite experienced at. Haha," Sora said feeling newfound energy and determination coursing through his body.
Smiling at Sora's determination to help Eula, Kaeya supported him, "I truly hope you can help her. Where we have failed, I hope you can succeed".
Raising his hand right in front of him, Sora gave Kaeya a thumbs up while also smiling confidently.
Realizing that their tour was coming to a close, Kaeya turned around and looked up at the church. Figuring that now would be the best time to visit, he motioned for Sora to follow him.
"It seems our tour is coming to a close, I figure we stop by one more place before we head back to headquarters," Kaeya said.
Eager to see another landmark of Mondstadt, Sora nodded his head and followed Kaeya's lead.
Making their way up the stairs toward the church, Sora was flabbergasted at the sheer size. Comparing it to the cathedral he visited back in Quasimodo's world. Wanting to be respectful and not cause any problems, he quickly calmed himself down and followed right behind Kaeya.
Pushing the cathedral doors open, Sora was met with a cool and soothing feeling coming from the inside along with the interior being not so bright but not too dark. Sora spotted many people scattered inside the church either praying or talking with nuns. The art design inside was very interesting and featured a breath-taking sight to behold.
"So, what do you think? Pretty crazy to think this was at the top of the city" Kaeya said with a smirk.
"Yeah, I would've never thought something like this was at the top" Sora answered.
Before either of them could speak up, two individuals were making their way over. Sora could see that it was a young girl and a young man heading their way.
Getting a closer look at the two, Sora noticed that the girl had a rather small build with ash blonde hair tied in two pigtails with blue eyes. She was also wearing a white frock with a large blue and white bow in the front along with white tights. She wore white ankle boots with a blue and white cap.
The boy on the other hand had a slim build with ash grey hair and light tan skin. The boy also had bright green eyes with goggles on his head and a scar on his left shoulder. He was wearing cuffed shorts and a sleeveless cream-colored jacket with a leather belt and a bag. If Sora had to classify his appearance it would be like an adventurer's outfit.
Seeing the two get closer, Sora saw Kaeya wave his hand and call out to the two.
"Barbara. Bennet. Good to see you guys".
The girl who appeared to be Barbara smiled at the two before happily replying.
"Kaeya it's so nice to see you. I'm so happy that you and the other knights were able to make it back safe from Wolvendom" Barbara said while clapping her hands together.
"I'm sorry I wasn't around to join you in the mission to Wolvendom. I had to run an errand near the coast and pick up some seashells" the boy who was now known to be Bennet replied.
"Don't worry, Bennet. Honestly, I'm glad it was only me that got hurt. I underestimated the monsters there and ended up paying for it. But learning from my mistakes is half the battle. Now it's time to learn all I can about this mysterious new enemy" Kaeya said refreshingly.
Noticing that Sora was watching the three friends talk with each other, Barbara smiled at him.
"Oh! I'm terribly sorry I didn't catch your name" Barbara said worriedly.
"Not a problem, you guys were talking, and I didn't want to interrupt. My name is Sora. Nice to meet you guys" Sora said while bringing his hands behind his head.
"I'm Bennet it's nice to meet you!" Bennet said while smiling with his eyes closed.
"And I'm Barbara it's a pleasure to meet you, Sora. I hope you are enjoying your time in Mondstadt" Barbara said still having a warm smile on her face.
"Yeah! I'm really enjoying the city. Kaeya's been a great tour guide showing me all the things Mondstadt has to offer" Sora said having had a great time so far. Except for those knights talking ill of Eula.
"That's good to hear. You should see the city when the Windblume festival is going on. So many kinds of food and games are displayed. It brings many people to the city which leads to parties all over the place" Bennet said remembering all the food he had at the last Windblume festival.
"Have you been to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, Sora?" Barbara asked.
"I stopped by for a little bit but didn't exactly get to explore the whole place," Sora said remembering that Diona only took him to see Jean.
"Is that so? You should have my big si- I mean Acting Grand Master Jean to show you there. Maybe even get miss Lisa to show you the library" Barbara said while cutting herself off for some reason.
"Barbara, why do you always seem to cut yourself off from calling Jena your sister?" Kaeya asked.
"Wait, Jean is your sister?" Sora asked surprised that he was talking with Jean's sister.
"Yes, Jean is my sister, but I don't want to impose on her. Especially since she's now the Acting Grand Master" Barbara said staring at the scenery and then back at Sora.
"I doubt Jean would think you're imposing on her. Having met her I can see that she cares about everyone and is willing to work hard to make sure everything is ok. Plus, you're her sister. She probably cares about you the most and is doing everything she can to make sure you are safe and happy" Sora said while smiling at the thought of sisterhood or better yet sibling love.
Barbara processed everything Sora said and realized that he had a point about Jean always working hard. Even growing up, Jean was always there to help solve any problems that arose. However, after their parents divorced, she and Jean wanted to talk or even see each other more but just couldn't. Whether it was because of nervousness or fear of saying anything wrong. She wished that she spent more time with her big sister.
"Hmm… you're right, Sora. Maybe I've been going about it the wrong way" Barbara said while smiling to herself remembering her childhood with Jean.
"Don't forget, Acting Grand Master Jean tends to talk about you quite a lot" Bennet muttered.
"Huh?! What do you mean, Bennet?" Barbara said louder than she expected and quickly covered her mouth.
"There was this one time where I went to Jean about finding a treasure chest under the bridge connecting to Mondstadt and she was talking to Lisa about songs you used to hum all the time and how cute you looked," Bennet said crossing his arms and having a mischievous grin on his face.
"Wha-what?! She said that?!" Barbara exclaimed having covered her face with her hands in embarrassment.
Wanting to add fuel to the fire, Kaeya smirked at another memory he remembered.
"Since we're talking about Jean mentioning you. There was this one time that Jean mentioned wanting to purchase a poster of you that was advertising you as Mondstadt's idol. She said that even though it was a poster of you she still wanted to see your brilliant and happy smile to help push her forward" Kaeya said smirking at Jean's soft and caring side that she tries to hide.
He probably shouldn't bring up Jean's fascination with romance novels that she keeps hidden especially since he came across one of her novels by accident and did his best to ignore it.
"Aaaah! Why are you guys telling me all this?! I'm so embarrassed!" Barbara said while still hiding her face but not doing so well since her entire face was as red as a tomato.
Barbara now realized how much her sister truly did care for her but just couldn't make it obvious. She knew that she and Jean didn't exactly talk a lot, but she figured she should make a difference and become closer to her big sister who she loves very much.
"Hahaha, it's ok Barbara. I think it's completely normal for an older sibling to dote on their younger sibling. Even if she doesn't say it, she still loves you very much" Sora said feeling a tinge of jealousy at the thought of having an older sibling or any family member for that matter.
Taking a moment to compose herself, Barbara lowered her hands from her face and let out a sigh before shaking her head and letting out a smile.
"Thank you, Sora. And you're right about Jean. We're not as close as we should be but maybe that should change" Barbara said feeling better and determined to get closer to her sister.
Pulling out a watch from his pocket, Kaeya realized that they had spent a good amount of time in church and figured it was time to head back.
"Sora, we should head back to headquarters. Jean and the others are probably waiting for us" Kaeya said.
"Right. Best not to keep them waiting for us. It was nice to meet you guys. Hope we can talk later" Sora said waving at the two.
"Of course, I can't wait to speak with you again. And maybe next time we could invite Jean to join us" Barbara said.
"It was nice meeting ya, Sora," Bennet said waving back at him.
Nodding at the two, Sora set off with Kaeya to return to the Knights of Favonius headquarters. Jean and Eula must be waiting for them to return.
At the same time inside the Knights of Favonius headquarters
Placing her drink to the side, Jean sat down in her seat and looked at the maps sprawled all over her desk.
"First Aether and now Sora. Two friends that I'm unable to help" Jean said looking distraught.
"Don't say that, Jean. I'm sure the answer to Aether's problem will show up sooner rather than later. Looking for a lost sibling that has been seen in Teyvat is sure to be answered. However, in Sora's case, that one will take time" Eula said putting away folders filled with documents and accounts of all the Heartless incidents.
"I'm aware of Aether's problem having a solution that is bound to be answered. But still, I wish there was something I could do to help him. Even with him and Paimon traveling across the different regions in Teyvat. And now with Sora helping us with the Heartless showing up, I feel indebted to him. He helped us when he didn't have to and was able to save not only Kaeya and the knights but Andrius as well" Jean said grabbing several books that were placed on her desk.
"Perhaps once Lisa and Klee return from their little trip. We can confide in Lisa about Sora's problem and see what she knows" Eula started remembering that those two stepped out right before Sora arrived.
"Hopefully Lisa has some idea as to what the Heartless are from her tomes. That way we might be able to help Sora in some way fight off the Heartless" Jean said grabbing a couple more books.
"Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you regarding Sora," Eula said now looking at Jean.
"Huh, what did you have in mind regarding Sora?" Jean asked.
"I was thinking… maybe I should use some of that vacation time I have saved up," Eula said having a smile make its way to her lips.
In Liyue within the Jade Chamber floating in the sky
The Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, Ningguang, was sitting at her desk reviewing documents about the financial expenditures that will cost hiring more miners to explore the Chasm's surrounding area. Moreover, there were testimonies from her friend and colleague, Yelan, about what exactly transpired down in the Chasm and how the traveler, Paimon, Yanfei, two Inazuma visitors, and how the Adeptus Alatus, better known as Xiao, managed to find their way within the depths of the Chasm and what challenges they each faced.
In addition, the difficulties they had in finding a way out were very intriguing yet also worrisome. Many things have happened in the past year alone which has caused quite the conundrum about Liyue's safety. There was only so much she as the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing could accomplish and prepare for. But with so many supernatural problems making the rounds it was very vexing to get a moment's rest.
Thankfully Aether and Paimon managed to restore a sense of peace over in Inazuma. Tensions between Liyue and Inazuma have managed to calm down and move towards a peaceful relationship although there have been moments, that was to be expected.
Picking up a pen from her desk, Ningguang began to write something regarding certain tariffs being drafted over the transportation and trade of goods between Inazuma and Liyue. Seeing that the world was changing right before her very eyes, Ningguang had a feeling or better yet a sense that change was happening. Whether it was the good kind of change or something malevolent she did not know. But with her power as the Tianquan, she would do everything she can in her power to protect Liyue.
Finishing up her draft, Ningguang was about to start working on another piece regarding the Chasm's financial benefits the door to her office was knocked on.
"Lady Ningguang, forgive my rudeness but I have an urgent report that has just arrived," the voice of Baiwen said.
"You may enter, Baiwen," Ningguang said putting down her pen and taking a sip of her drink.
Entering the room, Baiwen swiftly walked right up to Ningguang's desk and handed her the report. Taking the report into her hands, Ningguang began to examine the report and skim through all the information at an impeccable speed. What she read caused her to take a deep breath and compose herself before speaking.
"How soon was this report made?" Ningguang calmly asked.
"The report just arrived, Lady Ningguang. It was taken by a traveling merchant returning from Mondstadt who was passing Wolvendom. From what I could summarize, strange dark monsters started appearing all over the place and looked to be harmless. However, the monsters started to multiply at an astounding rate covering a large area in a short amount of time" Baiwen stated while wearing a frown.
"In addition, the monsters were described to have antenna-like features on their head and large yellow eyes. The merchant also described that several of the monsters managed to surround an individual and…" Baiwen stopped as she tried to process what exactly the report stated.
Looking through the report, Ningguang caught up with what Baiwen was describing and finished the rest of her statement in a low tone.
"And the individual was suspected to be swarmed by the creatures jumping onto him while screaming at being attacked. In which case, a bright light appeared, and the individual began fading away while a glowing red heart appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared in purple light. The individual then transformed into one of the strange monsters before moving around and charging at the merchant" Ningguang said having gone silent after reading that part of the report.
"Yes, Lady Ningguang. As the report states, the merchant then ran for his life without looking back until he managed to reach the outskirts of Liyue to which he broke down and was holding onto the Millelith guards being stationed there and told gave his testimony" Baiwen said having finished that part of the report.
Staying silent and not saying anything, Ningguang was processing everything that was said and realized that this was the malevolent change she thought of. Needing to stay on top of the situation, she stood up from her desk and began pulling out a document of sorts from the table that was behind her. She then handed it to Baiwen and relayed to her what was to come next.
"Baiwen, I need for you to relay this information to Ganyu and only Ganyu no one else needs to know about this report right now. I'm sure fate has a cruel way of playing with us and that word will travel around soon, but right now we need to keep this situation to ourselves. If the people heard about this situation and how it appears that people can turn into the monsters, then the chaos will ensue" Ningguang stated while wanting to maintain control of the situation for now at least.
"Ask Ganyu, after reading the report to confide in Lady Keqing along with keeping this information to herself. I'll be sending an informant to Mondstadt here soon to get a better idea of what the situation is over there. Acting Grand Master Jean is most likely already working on containing the problem. I'll have my informant send my regards and hopefully share any information available about this new monster" Ningguang said wasting no time at all to get prepared for this new troublesome monster.
"Of course, Lady Ningguang, I'll have it done," Baiwen said giving a curtsy bow before stepping away and fulfilling her request.
Now alone to herself, Ninggunag brought a hand to her chest and looked out the window of the Jade Chamber that offered a beautiful view of Liyue down below. Closing her eyes and then opening them, she muttered out her desire.
"If I was right about sensing the malevolent change… does that mean something good is bound to make its' way to Liyue?" Ningguang asked unsure of what the future might hold but sticking to her conviction and steel nerves to fight back whatever threatened to come after her home.