*Disclaimer - I do not own the copyright for Genshin Impact or Kingdom Hearts
*A/N - Thanks for all the reviews on the story and hope that you're having a good day. We are getting closer and closer to Sumeru. Hope we get some really good story development there. I don't think I'll have Sora journey over to Sumeru yet. Or probably for quite some time. I'd like him to explore a bit around Mondstadt before journeying to Liyue and meeting the characters there. His journey is so close to pushing him to Liyue next and I'm excited. Then, finally making his way to Inazuma where I have big plans. Other than that, I hope you look forward to more to come.
Having said their goodbyes to Barbara and Bennet, Sora and Kaeya made their way back to the Knights of Favonius headquarters. The two continued to chat about random topics learning more about each other's likes and dislikes. Until the topic turned to Eula.
"So, Sora, what do you think about Eula?" Kaeya asked.
"Huh? What do I think about Eula? Like about her overall?" Sora replied, not sure what Kaeya was getting at.
"Yeah. She hasn't rubbed you in the wrong way, has she?" Kaeya questioned.
"No, not at all. Wait, are you talking about her… talk of vengeance?"
"Yep. That's what I'm implying. Most of the time when people start hanging around Eula. She'll start going off on her "Vengeance will be mine! * quips which throw people off about her. After that people tend to stay away from her due to not really understanding her… way of phrasing things" Kaeya explained.
"*Nodding his head* Hmm, I'll admit, when I first heard her saying that I was thrown off. I thought she really meant that I did something against her. Gave me a scare. But getting to talk and even fight with her, it's just Eula's way of expressing herself" Sora said.
"True. But there's a bit more to her, always seeking vengeance quotes. Since the people see her as a nuisance in Mondstadt and are always looking down on her due to her family. Eula tends to… well, joke around with the people. If they're going to see her as a bad guy, then she'll play the bad guy but also mess with people. Hahaha!" Kaeya said, letting out a hearty laugh.
"Ahaha! That's one way of making something bad into something good. So, when Eula's spouting about vengeance this or vengeance that she's actually just being sarcastic about things?" Sora asked, still lightly laughing while imagining Eula swearing vengeance on someone but laughing about messing with them on the inside.
"There's some truth to what you're saying. But Eula at times does mean what she says. If she were in a situation that affected her on some level, then her swearing vengeance would probably be real" Kaeya explained. "But… she could also use it as her way of affection given that she's not quite familiar with interacting with people in a normal fashion".
Realizing what Kaeya meant, Sora understood that Eula grew up in a very strict and formal prestige home. The Lawrence family having been kicked out of Mondstadt probably left Eula to grow up only knowing how to talk of a higher caliber that wasn't really used by the people of Mondstadt. Leaving her with nobody to talk to.
"Everyone has their own way of confessing their feelings. Whether it be through words or actions. I'm sure Eula is still finding her own way of doing that with you guys, her friends" Sora stated.
"You're not wrong. It took quite a while before Eula would open up with any of us. Even her best friend, Amber. I remember all the times Amber would try and talk with Eula but ended up getting no responses from her. Until one day when Eula decided to murmur something back to Amber which ended up leading Amber to talk even more. Or when Jean tried to befriend Eula. Hahaha!" Kaeya said, once again chuckling at Eula's actions.
"Heh heh, I bet there are more funny stories about Eula to hear about" Sora muttered.
"There's quite a few. But it would be better to hear about them from the people that were with her at the time. Speaking of Eula, it seems she has either calmed down or kept the vengeance talk to herself lately. Usually, she's more apparent in calling out vengeance and critiquing everyone that's not using proper etiquette or mannerisms" Kaeya explained while noticing that they were coming up to the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
"Really? Maybe…she's just trying something new?" Sora questioned.
"Most likely. You never really know what's going on inside her head" Kaeya agreed.
Reaching the entrance of the headquarters, Kaeya began humming to himself which drew Sora's attention.
"Well, Sora, I hope you had a wonderful tour given by yours truly. Most people would love the chance to get a tour from me. You should feel honored"
"I am. Thanks, Kaeya! I would've gotten myself lost exploring Mondstadt" Sora said while looking at the door that led to Jean's office.
However, before the two could make their way to Jean's office, a blur ran past both Sora and Kaeya leaving the two wide-eyed. Unsure of what just happened, Sora began swerving his head back and forth looking for something or anything that created the blur but found nothing.
That was until he looked down in front of him and Kaeya and saw something small. Small and wearing red. There in front of him was a small girl with long elf-like ears and pale skin with red eyes. She had blonde hair tied in pigtails and was wearing a red coat with darker red embellishment. Her attire consisted of a white dress and shorts, as well as a fluffy scarf with a pom-pom, knee socks, gloves, boots, and a messenger bag. On her head was a red cap with a pin featuring a clover insignia and two feathers.
Sora had no idea who this little girl was as she wasn't here earlier. Maybe she was someone's daughter or younger sister that was visiting. Whatever the case was, Sora was about to ask her who she was, but Kaeya seemed to know her.
"Klee? I'm surprised to see you here. I thought you were going on vacation with your mom?" Kaeya asked.
"Oh! Kaeya, it's so nice to see you again!" the little girl now known as Klee said gleefully.
"It's nice to see you too, Klee. But I could've sworn that you were leaving with Alice on a little vacation today?" Kaeya questioned.
"I am! Mom said that she had to take care of an errand really quick and then she would come and get me so we can go on our vacation!" Klee shouted happily.
Noticing that Kaeya wasn't the only person there, Klee looked over at Sora who gave a friendly wave while smiling.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't see you there mister" Klee said.
"Not a problem! Plus, you saw Kaeya and wanted to talk with him. My name is Sora. It's nice to meet you" Sora replied.
"Aha! It's nice to meet you Sora! Are you new around here? I don't think I've ever seen you around Mondstadt before?" Klee asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah! I'm new here. Kaeya, Jean, Eula, and Diona have been helping me find my way around. Without them, I probably would've been lost and wandering around the place for who knows how long. Heh heh," Sora answered, scratching the back of his head while chuckling.
"That's great to hear! Jean is really nice and helps everyone! She even helps me out all the time! But… if you get on Master Jean's bad side, she'll lock you away in a nasty dungeon where you're not allowed to go outside for a long, long time" Klee said while looking at Sora almost warning him.
"Pfft…Klee. You do realize that Jean put you in timeout for blowing up fish out of Starfell Lake not one but three times in the same week. Along with setting up an explosion of Pyro and Anemo to stop a group of Cryo slimes just last week" Kaeya explained, recalling the *many* incidents that involved Klee blowing things up.
Sora could only laugh at the sight in front of him. Klee started to pout and tried explaining to Kaeya about why she did those things and that she was being careful of where she used her explosions after being told to be responsible for another incident beforehand. And Kaeya just looked down at her with his one eye and had a mixture of amusement and seriousness on his face while listening to Klee plea her case.
Suddenly, the door of the Acting Grand Master opened wide to reveal Eula who had a bright smile on her face. Her smile did turn to confusion upon seeing Sora, Kaeya, and Klee turn to look at her. Klee was the first to move and ran right up to Eula shaking her hands out.
"Eula! Please help me! Kaeya is not listening to my warning about Jean when she can get scary. I'm trying to warn Sora about the wicked punishment Jean made me go through!" Klee said, clearly exaggerating.
Eula looked down at Klee and could only sigh and bring a hand to her head. She was aware of the Spark Knight and her tendency to blow things up, resulting in her being grounded and locked in her room.
"Klee. The times Jean has gotten scary and locked you in your room was because you did something you shouldn't have. Please don't tell Sora things that aren't necessarily true" Eula said.
Klee seemed to deflate at that. Her goal of trying to warn Sora seemed to come collapsing down with no one wanting to take her seriously. Then again, she was still young and had a bit of growing up to do.
"Ok, then. *Looking at Sora* I'm sorry, Sora. No one is taking my warning seriously about Jean being really nice but also scary" Klee defeatedly said.
"Heh heh, don't worry Klee. I'll… keep your warning in the back of my mind" Sora said, laughing to himself.
Klee was about to start saying something to Sora but was cut off when she heard a chime sound. It almost sounded like a jingle.
"Oh! That's my mom! She's calling for me. *Turning to look at everyone* It was nice seeing everyone! And it was nice meeting you, Sora!" Klee happily said.
"It was really nice meeting you too, Klee! Take care!" Sora gleefully said.
"Likewise, Klee. Do take care of yourself" Eula said giving Klee a nod.
"And try to stay out of trouble. Oh…who am I kidding? You'll be with your mother. That's practically impossible…" Kaeya said but remembered who Klee's mother was.
"Mm, bye now!" Klee said before sprinting out of the headquarters front doors leaving the trio to watch her.
"That girl. She's certainly a ball of energy. Even though she manages to find herself causing quite the headache for us at times" Eula said, shaking her head.
"Oh, come now. At least she somewhat learns from her mistakes. Besides, she's still young and has a lot of growing up to do" Kaeya replied.
With Klee having gone with her mother, Sora now turned his attention over to Jean's door and considered entering but remembered that Eula was here now.
"Hey, Eula, is everything alright? Were you able to get your report in and whatnot?"
"Why, yes, I did. Everything in our encounters has been documented and finalized. Jean gave it a look over and is now caught up to speed on the Heartless situation. Along with… other things" Eula said while muttering that last part to herself.
Nodding his head, Sora realized that the sooner Jean learned of everything that happened in Wolvendom, then that's when he would continue to tell her about the Heartless and how to counteract them. But… that did raise another question.
How were the Heartless here? And were they here before he got here? Or did someone plant the Heartless once he landed in Teyvat?
Many questions began flooding Sora's head he was grimacing quite a lot which drew the attention of Eula.
"Sora? Are you unwell? You look like something is bothering you"
"Huh? Oh, no. I'm good. I've just got a lot on my mind that I'll need to explain to Jean about" Sora replied.
"I'm sure you'll have the time to talk with her. But in any case, seeing that I've done what I was asked. I'm afraid I'll be needing to step out. Sora, it was a pleasure meeting you along with giving you a tour of Mondstadt was quite enjoyable" Kaeya said.
"For sure. It was nice to see Mondstadt and what it has to offer. Thanks again, Kaeya" Sora replied.
"Mm, and Eula, do take care of our dear guest"
"Honestly, Kaeya. You say some of the most idiotic things to ever come to one's mind" Eula said, crossing her arms and glaring at Kaeya.
"Hahaha. True. I do say some ridiculous things. Nevertheless, I'll still say them. Now then if you'll excuse me. And see you two later" Kaeya said, waving off the two while making his way out the door.
Left alone with each other, Eula could only scowl at Kaeya and his demeanor and carefree attitude. Still though… Kaeya was someone you could count on when things got rough. With that in mind, Eula turned to Sora and was about to lead him to speak with Jean when he was already starting to say something.
"Hey…Eula. Are you…ok?"
"…I'm sorry. What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Well…it's just…crap. How do I explain this…" Sora said, not really sure how to bring up what happened with the knights and them talking bad about her.
"…"
After a moment of silence, Sora let out a tired sigh and decided to follow his heart and say exactly what he was trying to say in the first place.
"While Kaeya and I were taking our tour around Mondstadt…we ran into a couple of knights that we're talking about…you," Sora said while looking concerned.
Eula felt a lump in her throat and a cold chill run through her body. It didn't help that her right hand began to slightly shake, and her nerves were at an all-time high. This was what she feared would happen to Sora while walking around Monstadt. Doing her best to compose herself and make it look like she was fine. Eula looked at Sora waiting for him to continue.
"The knights we ran into called you…some names and said rude stuff that I know is in no way true!"
"Sora…"
"And I couldn't just stand there and let them talk badly about you!"
"Sora, you didn't have to do anything"
"No, you're wrong. You're my friend and they were talking badly about you. There was no way I was going to let them keep talking about you like the way they were. Plus, Kaeya also stepped in and told those knights off. He had enough of their crap and told them off as well. Even risking the chance of getting in trouble with Jean and the Grand Master" Sora explained.
"…Sora" Eula muttered.
"I know who your family is or better yet what they are known for. And honestly, I don't care!"
Eula looked stunned at what Sora just said.
"You may share the same last name as your ancestors but that's it. Sure, other things like culture and aristocracy etiquette have been passed down to you, but that that's all in your family name. You are Eula Lawrence. Spindrift Knight and Captain of the Knights of Favonius Reconnaissance Company. You decide how you want to live your life and you don't see the world the same way as your old ancestors did. You have likes and dislikes and are your own person. Anyone who says otherwise or speaks badly towards you has never even gotten to see the real you. Your friends have though. They have seen how much you actually care about them" Sora said, not faltering or stuttering while saying these things.
"And…I know that I just barely got here but I too see you as my friend. And I want to get to know you better. To me, you are Eula Lawrence, and even after learning about your family history. You are still Eula Lawrence to me. And if it wasn't for your help at Wolvendom, I don't know how much more trouble the Heartless would've caused. But because you were there, we managed to beat the Heartless and save the fallen knights and even Kaeya! Never stop being yourself, Eula. No matter what anyone thinks or says, your friends will always be there to lend you a helping hand" Sora finished, looking into her eyes, and seeing the stress and nervousness she was feeling slowly go away.
Taking a moment to process everything Sora had said. Eula felt a thump in her heart.
Hearing what he said and how he stood up for her even when he didn't have to. Eula was…happy. During her time in Mondstadt and joining the knights, she didn't really have that many friends. But thanks to Amber, Jean, Kaeya, Klee, Lisa, and others, they made her life so much more enjoyable. Pretty soon, others started to talk and listen to her, and while they were still wary of her. Life began to improve. But there were still those in Mondstadt that saw her as worthless and nothing more than a bother.
However, to hear that not only Kaeya but Sora as well stood up for her, she couldn't help but smile. And on top of that, hearing that Sora saw her as only her and nothing else was all she could ever ask for. The mysterious boy with the strange power just gained not only her appreciation and attention. But… her heart. Her cold yet warm heart did not let just anyone in. Save for the few friends she had in Mondstadt.
Another thump in her chest could be felt. And Eula couldn't help but smile.
"…Sora. *Grasping her hands together* Thank you"
"Heh heh. *Smiling at her* Your welcome. Any time you want to talk I'm always free to lend my ear! Not literally though mind you. Still need that. Hahaha!" Sora said, laughing at his dumb joke.
Eula also began to laugh but tried to cover it with her hand. But she was not exactly doing a good job at hiding it.
With all that out of the way, Sora nodded his head and looked over at Jean's door. Ready to answer all questions about the Heartless. Seeing that…Mondstadt would have to prepare itself and change to stand a chance against this new dangerous foe.
Knocking on the door, Sora waited for a confirmation call from Jean to enter.
"Come in, please"
Hearing the call, Sora opened the door with Eula following right behind him ready to see Jean who was sitting at her desk writing something. When she saw Sora and Eula she smiled and put away whatever she was writing.
"Good to see you again, Sora. I hope Kaeya was a good tour guide" Jean said.
"Yeah, he was. We managed to cover most of Mondstadt and even stopped by Angel's Share. We ordered something to drink there and met up with Rosaria and Venti" Sora explained.
"*sigh* Of course, Kaeya would take you to Angel's Share," Eula said, facepalming herself.
"And we also met Klee before coming into your office. She's a… what's the right word? A bundle of energy?" Sora said, chuckling at himself.
"Yes. Klee can be… a handful at times. But she's also a joy to be around" Jean said, recalling many incidents involving the small elf girl.
"Heh heh. She also said that you're really friendly but also very scary at times" Sora said which earned him the reward of seeing Jean get flustered.
"*sigh* That girl. I don't purposely act scary. It's only when she does something bad that I have to play the bad guy. Amber tends to look the other way while still being light on reprimanding her. Lisa tends to scold her which ends up becoming a lesson that leaves Klee bored and becoming distracted with anything other than Lisa's lesson. Whenever she's with Albedo, he tends to have her full attention. Especially since listening to Albedo gives Klee many more ideas on what to do with chemical reactions that are activated when blowing things up. And Kaeya…well, he tends to let her get away with everything. Even breaking her out of timeout and unlocking the door when no one is looking. Which leaves me to be the one to act all scary and lock her away she says" Jean explained, having a pink tint on her cheeks.
"Hahaha! Boy, Klee sounds like she's always up to something" Sora uttered, laughing at the idea of Klee running around and blowing things up. "But wait, what about you, Eula? How do you act with Klee when she's done something bad?"
"Most of the time, I'm out on patrol or doing reconnaissance and am not there when Klee ends up doing something destructive. However, one time I found Klee wanting to set up an explosive that would allow her to blow fish out of a pond. I managed to stop her before the explosion went off and when I confronted her, she for the most part listened to me when I reprimanded her" Eula said.
"Moreover, I believe it was me using my formal aristocracy phrases that seemed to catch Klee's attention. She probably wasn't sure what I meant and took it as me reprimanding her but not as harsh as Jean" Eula added.
Hearing that, Jean couldn't help but have a darker tint of pink appear on her face looking embarrassed that she was considered the scariest out of everyone. Seeing Jean's flushed face, Sora figured he could get the conversation back on track.
"Eheheh. But after we saw Klee, she heard her mom calling her, and then Kaeya said goodbye to us. He said he had other things to do"
"Well, at least Kaeya was able to show you around the city. Normally, he'd somehow find a way for someone to get tangled up in one of his grand schemes. That's what happened to Aether and Paimon" Jean said while shaking her head.
"I take it this Aether has helped you guys out quite a lot?" Sora asked.
"Yes. Aether and Paimon have helped us with a great number of things. They've also been to two of the other regions that have an Archon of their land. Rex Lapis of Liyue and the Raiden Shougun of Inzauma. They even found a way to get Inzauma to open its borders again which hasn't happened in quite some time. From last I heard, they were finishing up some requests and whatnot before they begin making their way to Sumeru which is where the Dendro Archon resides" Jean explained.
"I see… I hope I get to meet them soon" Sora said, curious about his traveler.
"I wouldn't worry about it that much, Sora. Aether and Paimon tend to be on the move all the time. I'm sure they'll show up here soon" Eula said.
"Mm, then I hope we'll cross paths soon. But there's something I have a question about"
"What's your question, Sora?" Jean asked, wondering what was bothering him.
"So much has happened in just one day, but one thing I'm curious about is the elements. What are all the elements?" Sora asked.
"Sora, do you not know the elements? I could've sworn that you were using different elements during our time in Wolvendom. I thought…" Eula asked, now looking at Sora curiously.
"Eula…since you and Sora have gotten close and he's going to be around now. Perhaps we should fill you in on the situation. Sora, what's your take on telling Eula?" Jean asked.
Giving it a thought, Sora knew that telling others his situation of being lost and not from here was something he would probably have to do to get some help. Of course, keeping quiet about being from another world is something he'll keep to himself. But Eula was someone he could trust. Plus, it would help to have another friend that knew of his situation to help him.
"It's alright, Jean. Eula deserves to know. Besides, I wasn't exactly trying to hide my powers while we were fighting against the Heartless" Sora replied.
"Ok. Well, Eula. Earlier before you walked in and reported the sighting of the Heartless, Sora came to me for help about him being lost and no idea where he was" jean said.
Surprised at what she was hearing, Eula looked over at Sora.
"I…I didn't know. No, I mean…"
"It's alright, Eula. Thanks to Diona I was able to get a quick explanation of where I ended up. There's just a bunch of other stuff I'm curious about. And I bet you guys have questions of your own. Am I right?" Sora said.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't have questions for you, Sora. Nevertheless, let's go about this by asking one question at a time so we don't overwhelm each other" Jean said, looking down at something.
"However, back to your question, Sora. Seven different nations make up the world. Us being in Mondstadt with Barbados the Anemo Archon. Liyue and their Archon, Rex Lapis, rule over the element of Geo. Inazuma is controlled by The Immortal Shogun who controls Electro. Sumeru which is the Dendro or Nature element that has the God of Wisdom as their Archon. The God of Justice resides over Fontaine which deals with Hydro. The Pyro Archon, Murata, watches over the nation of Natlan. And…the Cryo nation, Snezhnaya, is ruled over by the Fatui and their leader The Tsaritsa" Jean explained.
"So… the elements of fire, ice, water, earth, wind, lighting, and nature… If I'm understanding this right, then isn't it true that you guys only have one vision or well elemental ability?" Sora asked.
"Yes. That's correct. I have a vision which gives me Anemo power. Eula has a Cryo vision. Kaeya has a Cryo vision as well. And Klee has a Pyro vision" Jean said.
"I see… and Aether can use multiple elements at the same time?"
"From what I understand, yes. He can use other elements. At the same time, I'm not entirely sure. But so far, I've seen him use Anemo, Geo, and Electro in combat" Eula said while immediately realizing something. She then looked at Sora, "Sora, with your weapon you were able to use different elemental abilities. How are you able to do that?"
"That's where things get a bit difficult to explain," Sora said, realizing that he'd need to come up with something on the fly. Something that was a half-truth. "My weapon known as a Keyblade lets me use different elemental abilities. I don't have a vision or anything like that. My weapon is... well, I still don't know everything there is to my weapon"
Left pondering what Sora meant by not knowing everything about his weapon, Jean had to consider the idea that… maybe more and more people would start showing up out of nowhere able to use elemental abilities and not require a vision. First Aether arriving and being able to wield multiple elements and now Sora. What else did the future hold?
"Your weapon, may I see it, Sora?" Eula asked.
"Sure! Here you go"
Raising his right hand, in a flash of light, the Kingdom Key sat there in his hand. Eula still couldn't get over how… strange his weapon looked. Looking eerily like a giant key yet is very useful and damage-inducing in a fight.
"May I hold it?"
"Yeah. Go ahead"
Picking up Sora's weapon, Eula was amazed by how light it was. Not as heavy as her claymore but lighter than most spears she was used to practicing with. The handle of the blade was also quite comfortable even with its overtly large handle guard. The teeth on the blade were where she guessed Sora cut things even though the teeth weren't very sharp and more for blunt force. She also noticed the chain at the bottom of the handle. It appeared to be three circles all connecting but the middle circle was the largest. Such a strange object.
However, before she could continue to observe the blade, something felt off. Almost like the blade was pulsating in her hand. And then out of nowhere, the blade flashed in a bright light and disappeared from her hand. Looking flabbergasted, she looked over at Sora who had a sheepish smile on his face while awkwardly laughing.
"Uh…whoops. I forget to mention that the blade will return to me. Heh heh…" Sora said.
Looking down at her hand, Eula was left with even more questions than answers about Sora's power.
"Sora. I have a question. Given that… I don't have the answer to how you ended up here or how to send you back home. What is it that you are looking for exactly?" Jean asked.
"I…I guess I'm just looking for any kind of answer. I mean, I don't think I'll be able to find a way home. But maybe I'll find an answer for why the Heartless are here or records of the Heartless having already been here. Maybe even why I appeared here. Anything would be helpful" Sora answered.
"I see… well, perhaps maybe giving the library a look might prove something useful," Jean said.
"Yeah, that might be a good idea. Do you mind showing me where it is?" Sora asked looking at both Eula and Jean.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to, Sora. I have a couple more tasks I need to get done before the day is up. And once I finish, I'll come and find you. Thanks to Jean, we were able to book you a room at one of the inns for the night. It's not much but…" Eula said but was stopped by Sora.
"Really?! That's great to hear! I was wondering where I'd sleep for the night. Maybe find a tree or buy some camping supplies. But if you guys were able to get me a room for the night, then I'll gladly take up that offer. Thank you!" Sora replied enthusiastically.
"Of course, Sora. It's only natural that we help you after you helped us with the Heartless. Thanks to your info, we've now got scouts hanging around Mondstadt watching for any more Heartless to appear" Jean said.
"That's good to hear. Let me know if any do show up and I'll be there to help"
"Mm. In any case, while Eula steps out to finish her tasks. You won't mind if I accompany you, Sora?" Jean asked, casting a small smile on her face.
"Not a problem! Thanks, Jean!"
"Alright, with that in mind. I'll be heading out now if you'll excuse me" Eula stated before giving a slight nod and making her way out. Leaving Sora and Jean to themselves.
"Well then, shall we make our way to the library?" Jean asked.
"Yeah. Let's go!"
Upon exiting the Grand Master's office, Jean and Sora entered another door that left Sora flabbergasted.
Inside was the library which had rows upon rows of books. All are neatly put away and filed in the designated spot. Sora had seen a couple of libraries in his many travels but seeing the knight's library was another one for the books.
"I'm not seeing Lisa here. Maybe she hasn't returned yet. Or maybe she's just hiding away" Jean said, looking around the library.
"Wow… it must take a lot of work and effort to keep this place clean and tidy. This place is so cool!" Sora said, bewildered by how clean and neat the place was.
Seeing a flight of stairs lead down to the floor below, Sora followed Jean and was continuing to look at all the different books and the various sizes of books. He wondered if this library could possibly have a book that would help his situation. However, before Sora could start searching on his own for a book, a woman's voice could be heard.
"Mm Hm. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to keep this place all neat and orderly. Some people dare to not turn in late books. Leaving me to go…*confide* in them" a beautiful brown-haired woman said while she was putting away several books.
There in front of Sora was another beautiful girl that looked to be a mature girl with light brown hair that was tied in a loose side ponytail with fair skin and green eyes. Her attire consisted of a white and purple dress with open slits at the sides with black gloves that had a purple trim. Black stockings and dark high heels with an earring on one of her ears. There also appeared to be a golden necklace that had a purple color clasped to the collar of her dress.
"Lisa…what have I told you about chasing down overdue books? At least give them a day or two before you do anything *drastic*" Jean said, having a small smile on her face recalling Lisa and her scary attitude when it came too late books or even just making the witch get angry.
"Jean, if you were waiting for a report and didn't receive it on time or given a heads-up notice, then you would start to get antsy and start to track down the report" the girl now identified to be Lisa said.
"That's…*sigh* you're probably right" Jean replied, defeated at her friend's words.
Noticing Sora standing there, Lisa sprung to greet him. "Oh, I don't think I've seen you around Mondstadt before?"
"I'm new around here. My name is Sora. Jean and the others have been helping me get around" Sora said, giving a friendly smile while taking on his signature pose of his hands behind his head.
"It's nice to meet you, Sora. My name is Lisa. I'm the librarian of this humble abroad. I hope Jean has been putting a good word in for me. Can't be scaring away new friends now, can I?" Lisa said.
"Haha. Don't worry I'm sure you had a good reason to go chase down after those late books. It takes a lot of work and time to keep everything looking in tip-top shape" Sora added.
"You're right about that. Most people don't seem to appreciate how much dedication goes into keeping this place looking professional while also easy to navigate. But from the sounds of it, Sora, you have an idea of how much work goes into this place. And you only just got here. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that my heart is beating a little faster" Lisa said, earning a look from Jean while Sora was smiling but seemingly looking around the library.
"I mean, yeah. Books hold so many experiences and vast amounts of knowledge. Memories waiting to be shared. It would be a disservice to not treat them with kindness and respect. But… as much as I would like to check out all the books here, we actually came to see if the library had any specific books that we are looking for" Sora said.
"Oh! Taken an interest in a subject I see. Well, let me help you" Lisa said while quickly putting away the books next to her.
Once done with the books, Lisa reached behind her where a large purple witch hat was left and lightly brushed it off before placing it on her head. Upon seeing her with her outfit complete, Sora couldn't help but compare her to a witch. Of course, not the bad kind! Just that…she looked really pretty with her witch attire.
"Alright, so, what subject have we taken an interest in? Hmm~" Lisa asked.
"Well…would you have any books on monsters? Specifically, monsters that have a dark appearance and big yellow eyes" Sora responded, hoping at least something would be here.
Hearing what Sora said, Lisa summoned a book out of nowhere and began to search for something inside the book. Jean had a thoughtful expression on her face seeing her friend look for something so vague yet extremely different than any other type of monster they've encountered before.
"A monster that has a dark body and yellow eyes…can you tell me anything else about this monster?"
"Yeah. This monster is called a Heartless. Just like their name, the Heartless go after people's hearts and manage to rip them out while also turning the people into Heartless themselves"
"That sounds…very gruesome and extreme if you ask me"
"Err… not the physical heart mind you. But like… the physical manifestation of someone's heart or in better words, the emotions a person has is stripped away leaving them with no body or soul left which turns them into a Heartless" Sora explained as best as he could without getting into the complicated side of things.
After hearing Sora's input, Lisa continued to search in her book for any details that might have matched what he said. Scanning through various texts in her book, Lisa had an index within her grimoire that let her know what information each book in the library contained. This helped her guide people to the book they entered the library looking for and leaving with content minds.
However, everything that Sora had mentioned was not coming up at all. This was beginning to frustrate Lisa. There had to at least be one book that contained some speck of information about this mysterious monster she had never heard about before. Throughout the many years she spent studying and scavenging the libraries of Mondstadt and Sumeru, she had never heard mention of a monster that went after people's hearts. This not only intrigued Lisa but lit a fire in her heart seeing that there was something new to be learned along with it being quite the challenge to find any information about this topic.
While Lisa was still searching through her grimoire, Sora began to look around the library and see that they were the only ones there currently. That eased him a bit seeing that he could talk with Jean about the Heartless without anyone overhearing them. He'd have to ask Jean whether it was a good idea to have Lisa learn about the Heartless. But that would have to wait as Lisa let out a sound of frustration.
"You would think that something like a dark monster that goes after people's hearts would be interesting and important enough to write down in a book, but it appears that I don't have anything regarding what you are looking for Sora. I'm terribly sorry this has never happened before. Or I guess I should say that I've never had anyone come to me asking for information on a specific monster" Lisa said, having a frown on her face.
"That's alright, Lisa. Honestly, it's both a good and bad thing there is no information regarding the monster I'm interested in" Sora replied.
"Mm? What do you mean by that?"
"Well… what do you think, Jean? Should we tell her?" Sora asked, looking at Jean leaving the decision up to her.
Taking a moment to think it over, Jean knew from the start that she wanted to include Lisa in the Heartless situation. Not only was Lisa one of Jean's best friends, but she was also a strong and well-knowledgeable witch that had come across a lot of discoveries and ancient texts. Perhaps she would know something useful that could be used against the Heartless or even help Sora.
"Yes. We should or rather…I want to include her. Lisa is very knowledgeable in a lot of ancient texts being an intellectual witch and she's bound to at least have some detail of input we might be ignoring" Jean replied while glancing at Lisa who tilted her head wondering what was going on.
"Ok. Well, Lisa, to start things off. I'm not from Mondstadt. I'm actually not from here at all and somehow ended up on the northeast coast outside of Mondstadt. I was found by Diona over at Cat's Tail who brought me to the city to see Jean for help, but we ended up having to deal with a monster problem. Monsters that I'm familiar with but everyone else has never encountered. I was then asked by Jean to accompany Eula to aid Kaeya and stop the monsters roaming over Wolvendom. And after solving that issue, we returned to Mondstadt to reassess the situation along with finding any answers to the questions we have. Which is how we ended up here at the library looking for anything that might tell us that the monsters that appeared have been here before" Sora explained, managing to cover most of what happened today.
Lisa closed her eyes after Sora was done explaining his predicament leaving Jean and Sora to wonder if they overloaded her with information. Suddenly, Lisa began to walk to her main desk where several books were placed. With a flick of her hand, the books began to glow purple before they disappeared in a glowing light clearing the desk with only a few piles of paper and pens.
"Hearing everything that's happened to you, Sora, I hope that you are doing well. Being in a new place with no idea how you got there sounds horrible" Lisa said, concern could be heard in her voice.
"I'm… I'm doing good. I've been able to make new friends today which is honestly better than being on my own. But thank you, Lisa. That means a lot" Sora replied, feeling happy that someone asked him about his wellbeing.
"That's good to hear. If you have anything bothering you, don't hesitate to find me. I'm sure we can have a nice cup of tea and talk about what's bothering you" Lisa added, earning a warm smile and nod from Sora. "Now, onto this monster problem we seem to find ourselves dealing with, Sora, do you think you could draw what these monsters look like?"
"Yeah! I can draw what the basic version of the monster looks like. Also, these monsters are called Heartless. They have different forms that can range in size and shape, but I'll draw the most common type of Heartless" Sora said, beginning to draw on a piece of paper.
"To add to what Sora said, today was the first time we've had an eyewitness account of seeing the Heartless appear. After a squadron of knights were sent to scout the initial area reported, they returned suffering injuries and reported to Eula about the situation" Jean said, crossing her arms and scowling.
"In addition, while Sora was on a tour with Kaeya, another report came in that just to the southwest of Wolvendom was another sighting of the Heartless. However, that sighting was reported to take place at the same time as Sora and Eula were on their way to Wolvendom to meet up with Kaeya and his squad" Jean added.
"I see…these Heartless. How dangerous are they?" Lisa asked.
"Very. The Heartless are very dangerous. Even if it's just a single Heartless roaming about, it can find a way to multiply and spread without stopping. The Heartless are physical, living manifestations of the darkness within people's hearts. They are devoid of emotion and will attack anyone or anything that has a heart. What I mean by heart is not the actual body part but more of a magical definition. Like somebody's emotions and the light inside of themselves that pushes them to keep on living. The Heartless strip that away by ripping it out and leaving a person without a heart causing them to turn into Heartless themselves" Sora explained, having finished his drawing.
Processing everything Sora was saying, Lisa summoned her grimoire out of thin air and began to write in it about everything about the Heartless. Upon seeing Sora's drawing, Lisa was also able to copy the drawing into the book while identifying the striking appearance. Covered in a dark color with antennas and claws along with bright yellow eyes. A monster she has never seen before.
"I take it that you have some sort of history dealing with these Heartless then, Sora?" Lisa asked.
"Yeah…I have quite a lot of experience dealing with them. I…don't know if anyone ever has really dealt with them. But…on my island where I used to live, that's where I dealt with them for the first time" Sora said, deciding that he would tell them a bit of his time dealing with them. And should they ask for more details, he would tell them but keep away from mentioning any locations or worlds and stick to obscure but generalized information.
"Your island? Do you think we could find it on a map?" Jean asked, growing interested in where Sora was from.
"I… I don't think you'll be finding it on a map. My island… well, it was lost to the Heartless. And I doubt you'll be able to find it on a map. I was told before that the islands don't appear on most maps of Teyvat" Sora said, telling a half-truth.
"Sora…" Jean said, looking at the boy in a different light now.
"But… it's ok. I was able to escape from my islands and save my friends from the Heartless. Thanks to this" Sora commented before raising his hand and summoning his Keyblade.
Surprised at what Sora just summoned, Lisa could feel a pulsating light coming off his weapon. It was like an ancient relic that had some energy leftover from being dormant for many years. But Sora's weapon was something else. Something she's never seen or felt before.
"My weapon known as a Keyblade is the only true way to defeat the Heartless and releasing the hearts that have been taken. Of course, anyone can kill the Heartless but down the road, the defeated Heartless will come back. It's also a pain that there aren't that many Keyblade wielders anymore as they all disappeared over time" Sora explained.
Everyone was silent as they began to take in what Sora had said. Hearing that these monsters could be killed was a relief. But to hear that they could return later and the only way to kill them was by the weapon Sora uses. What kind of cruel fate was given to Sora to have to deal with the responsibility of defeating the Heartless?
"That… are you ok with that, Sora? Having that much responsibility on your shoulders?" Lisa asked.
"At first…I hated it. I only wanted to save my friends from the Heartless. But…getting to meet so many different people and learning how much my involvement really made a difference. And now… while it's difficult at times, it's also an amazing feeling being able to help others. Plus, I'd rather deal with the Heartless than force anyone else to deal with them" Sora said, bringing a hand over his heart.
"Helping others, huh…" Lisa muttered.
"Sora, you've helped us not only deal with the Heartless but given us the advantage to know more about this monster. If there's anything you need don't hesitate to call upon us. We're your friends now and friends help each other" Jean said, supporting a smile on her face.
Feeling a smile appear on his face, Sora felt joy course through his heart at having new friends ready to help him. It also meant a bit more since he's in a mysterious world that he's barely scratched the surface of.
"Thanks, Jean. That means a lot. Especially since I'm not familiar with anything here. I don't even know what to do next. Or where to go next…" Sora said, feeling a bit overwhelmed about what to do next.
"Hmm, Sora, what appears to be your number one concern at the moment?" Lisa asked.
"My number one concern? I… I guess it would be about dealing with the Heartless. I'm honestly not sure how I got here or if there's even a way to get home. But since the Heartless are here and it appears that nobody knows what they are, then I'll need to make sure for myself that the Heartless are dealt with. Or at the very least, the people of Teyvat know about how dangerous they truly are" Sora answered.
"If I may, Sora, I would suggest heading to Liyue then," Lisa said.
"Liyue? That's the region with the Geo Archon, right?" Sora asked.
"Yes. The Geo Archon also known as the God of Contracts ruled the land for many years. For man years, both Adepti and man helped to build the city and create a name that is spread far and wide now for its commerce and trade sectors. Now, the city is governed by the Liyue Qixing. For clarification, the Liyue Qixing is a committee made up of seven business leaders who govern Liyue. Their job is to implement policies laid out by the Geo Archon" Lisa explained.
"I see… quick question. What are Adepti?" Sora asked.
"The Adepti are a group in Liyue that consists of both gods and illuminated beasts bound by a contract to protect Liyue from darkness and evil. They serve as a sort of safeguard for the people living in Liyue. But due to some recent events, the people of Liyue have come to prove to the Adepti that the future of Liyue is in the hands of man and will do their best to carve a path forward into the future" Jean said while recalling the events that occurred which involved Aether and Paimon and the sea monster that attacked the Jade Palace.
"Got it. So, you think Liyue is my next step to go then?" Sora asked.
"Yes. While I'm more than happy to help you keep looking for anything that might relate to the Heartless, I don't think we'll be able to find anything here in Mondstadt. There is an Astrologist here who might be able to help us but…I'm not sure where she is at right now. The chances of us finding her may be slim. So, we should consider your other options" Lisa said.
"What would my other options be?"
"We could continue to search the library for anything that could relate to the Heartless. Or… there are ruins scattered all throughout Mondstadt that may hold secret libraries. That idea has a low chance of us actually finding a secret library so I'm not too keen on it. Which leaves going to Liyue as your most likely to work option" Lisa added.
"What is the reason Sora should head to Liyue, Lisa? Will there be a library that has an assortment of books on monsters?" Jean asked.
"That's a possibility. But I'm thinking more on the lines of just a wider selection there since Liyue is the City of Contracts, there's bound to be someone who has information on the Heartless but is keeping a close eye on it. Since the Heartless have appeared, there could be the chance that that book containing information will be put up for auction. Or the information will be locked under a contract of sorts. It's not a very clear-cut or promising plan. But it's our only option that has a higher likely hood of working" Lisa explained.
"Honestly, I'm all for exploring abandoned dungeons and ruins to find secret libraries. It sounds so cool! But… I know that time is of the essence and that the longer we wait, the faster the Heartless will begin to spread. And that's not even the worst part about them…" Sora said.
"What do you mean, Sora?" Jean asked, feeling a bit on edge with what he was getting at.
"I mean that… there could be a group or faction of individuals who will see that the Heartless have started to appear and that they see the dark potential they have. It's bound to happen, but someone will try to control the Heartless and get them to infiltrate their ranks creating an even bigger problem" Sora explained.
Both Jean and Lisa looked at each other and knew what the other was thinking. The Fatui, Abyss, and Hilichurls. If even one of those groups tried to get into contact with the Heartless, then… things will definitely get worse.
"There are a few groups we can think that will want to use the Heartless as a means of gaining power. Sora, you're new so you aren't aware of these groups. So, I'll explain them to you…" Jean said while looking at Lisa and then back at Sora. "The first group would be the Hilichurls which are a tribe's people that wear wooden masks and use spears and shields to fight. You might have seen some matching the description I'm talking about"
Sora nodded at her description recalling the individuals he met when he first woke up in this world.
"The next would be the Fatui. They are a delegation of diplomats from Snezhnaya. Eleven Fatui Harbingers leaders act as a military detachment following right under the Tsaritsa herself. The Fatui are always up to no good creating conflicts both with the different region's governments but also the Archons as well" Jean added.
"What's going on with the Archons?" Sora asked.
"Recently, in the past year, three of the Archons have had their Gnosis taken away. A Gnosis based on what Aether explained to us is that it's an item used by The Seven Archons as proof of an Archon's status. It's also The Seven's method of resonating with Celestia which is…we don't actually know" Jean explained.
"Not that many people understand what Celestia is. All we know is that it's a floating island that can be seen in the sky above Teyvat along with the residence of the gods but other than that it's all speculation" Lisa said.
"Celestia…" Sora muttered, becoming curious about the island.
"And finally, the Abyss. They are a powerful, but mysterious legion of monsters from the Abyss who are enemies with humanity. History has hidden the truth behind the Abyss but… the destruction of the nation of Khaneri'ah by the gods caused the Abyss Order to seek revenge against the nations watched by The Seven Archons" Lisa explained.
"The Abyss Order… The Fatui… there is so much we don't know about them. If Mondstadt were to start looking into the Fatui, then relations between the two nations would be destroyed. Leading to war. And we don't have enough research to investigate the Abyss Order. It's all thanks to Aether and Paimon for finding themselves involved with those two groups" Jean said, feeling guilty for not being able to help the traveler in his adventure.
"And now…the Heartless" Sora remarked, realizing a cruel truth. "I traded one villain for another. Finishing off Organization XIII and now having to worry about The Fatui and Abyss Order. Fate must be messing with me at this point…" Sora muttered under his breath.
"Alright. *sigh* It sounds like things are going to get a bit difficult with those groups causing trouble. On top of that, the Heartless now appearing" Sora said.
"Mm. This means we don't have that much time to warn the other nations. I'd say that getting to Liyue and meeting with the Liyue Qixing. And then after that maybe find a way to get to Inazuma and warn the Raiden Shougun" Lisa said, pulling out a map of the Mondstadt and Liyue nations.
"Perhaps maybe waiting until you meet Aether and Paimon to travel to Inazuma. They have a friendly relationship with the Shogun and will be the best people to get you an audience with her" Jean added.
"Well then, it sounds like I've got a lot of ground to cover and places to be," Sora said.
"Do you have a plan in mind for how you'll get to Liyue, Sora?" Lisa asked.
"Uh…no. I was honestly going to take a picture of a map with my camera and go from there. Probably stop by a store and get some supplies to help me get there *chuckles*" Sora explained.
Looking at Sora and shaking her head at her friend's plan, Jean wanted to tell him that Eula wished to travel with him. But it wasn't her place to say anything. Instead, she'll do what she can to help prepare him for the journey.
"That… sounds a bit…"
"Crazy. Unprepared. Not smart. Yeah, I can see that. But I'll most likely leave tomorrow morning after making a stop at a couple of stores to prepare for the road" Sora said.
"I see… well, seeing that it's getting late, we should get you to the inn to rest up" Jean stated.
"It sounds like you'll be quite busy, Sora. Even with your busy journey, I'm grateful that you were able to teach me something new. These Heartless… I'll need to get to work on researching them and creating documents that could help us stay ready for when they return. But overall, thank you, Sora, I've now found a challenging subject to research. I'm excited to the point where I don't even want to sleep" Lisa said with her eyes brightening up and a smile on her face.
"That's good to hear. And if I find anything in Liyue, I'll come back and report it all to you guys. It might take some time to get here, but it's the least I could do since you've all helped me today. It really has been an eventful day hahaha!" Sora commented.
"Oh! Lisa! I have a bunch of documents with me that can tell you a bunch of information about the Heartless. You could use that information in your reports" Sora said.
"Truly? That would be wonderful, Sora! Who knew that you could make a girl's day with just a few words~" Lisa said which earned her a side glance from Jean that she must've missed or ignored entirely.
With that in mind, Sora spent several hours in the library helping Lisa write down notes on the most common forms of Heartless. Jean had also helped teach Sora about the layout of Liyue and Mondstadt. Lending him a map as well if he were to get lost while on his journey.
Sometime later…
"Aaaand done. Whew. We managed to completely fill three books with information. Now all I need to do is compress the information into a simple yet effective manifesto so that it's easy to read" Lisa cheerfully said.
Knowledge was a very powerful tool. Lisa knew firsthand how important knowledge was when something was hidden or locked away. Recalling how she gained her vision and the consequences behind it. All for seeking knowledge. But now… with Sora's help… she could use her skills and lend her support to her friends. Giving them the edge, they need while dealing with this new and deadly enemy.
Sora meanwhile was doing his best to not fall over in his chair due to being tired of drawing. Spending who knows how long helping Lisa understand the Heartless detail for detail. And drawing out what the Heartless looked like was a pain. Jean had been going in and out of the library helping the two with ink and paper along with taking her own notes on the Heartless. Constructing a list of which Heartless were the ones to look out for especially when it came to Heartless that could fly or swim.
"Thank you, Sora. All this information… will not only teach us more about the Heartless but save many lives. We couldn't have done it without you…I couldn't have…" Lisa said before doing something that shocked both Sora and Jean.
In a matter of seconds without saying a word, Lisa had gotten close to Sora to the point that they were only a few inches apart. Then what she did next was totally unexpected and out of the norm for her.
She brought her arms around Sora and hugged him.
A pen could be heard dropping to the ground. Jean was speechless and looking at the scene in front of her with so many questions. Sora…well, his face matched the color of his jacket along with his eyes becoming saucers and mouth agape.
Lisa stepped back from Sora and had a small smile on her face. She grabbed the top of her witch hat and readjusted it before looking at Sora and gave him a quick wink. Lisa then excused herself heading out of the library but not before speaking.
"I'll be sure to tidy up all the information and get it ready for the knights to use to keep them safe. You've not only helped the knights and people of Mondstadt, Sora. But you've also given me the knowledge to save my friends… Thank you…my hero~" Lisa said before stepping out of the library leaving Sora and Jean to look at each other in silence.
"…"
"…"
"So… that just happened," Jean said.
"Y-yeah. That did just happen. I was not expecting that at all. I've been hugged before but…" Sora said with a red blush appearing on his face.
"*cough* *cough* We should head out as well. It's getting late and you're probably running on fumes from all that's happened today" Jean proclaimed, eager to leave before Lisa returned.
"R-right. Let's go"
Pushing his chair in, Sora began to follow Jean out of the library and looked up at one of the windows. The evening was setting in. They had really spent quite a while at the library.
"Hey, Jean. Is Lisa…well, is she usually that straightforward?" Sora asked, feeling his face get warm again.
"I wouldn't say she's that forward. She tends to tease everyone in different ways. When Aether was helping us with some Fatui problems, Lisa would tend to call him cutie. Or for others, she'd have a nickname to call them and then proceed to tease them. But… she's never…hugged anyone like that before. And she called you her hero which she hasn't done before" Jean said, feeling weird about the whole thing.
"I see…I'm used to friends hugging me. But…to get a hug from her. That was different. I mean, not in a bad way! I liked it! I mean... I just wasn't expecting it. Actually, now that I think about it. Why did Lisa hug me? Was it something I said?"
"If I had to guess… it was probably the opportunity you gave her"
"Huh? Opportunity? What do you mean?"
"Lisa is considered by many, as a powerful and impressive witch that has exceptional skills and knowledge. She studied in Sumeru where she was deemed to be the most distinguished graduate in the past two centuries. But…due to circumstances regarding her vision, things weren't in the best favor for her. She was granted an opportunity to gain profound knowledge in Sumeru, but she was afraid of the price that came with gaining said knowledge. Lisa left Sumeru out of fear of the price she was willing to pay for claiming the knowledge she so desired. Which lead to her becoming the librarian and typically refusing any other duties. She also is obsessed with taking naps. Probably to keep her mind off the price she has over her head" Jean explained, earning a sad look from Sora.
"So, when you brought up the issue with the Heartless, it must've given Lisa the chance to use her vast knowledge to try and help us. And upon finding no record of the Heartless, she must've wanted to help us but did not have the means. Until you brought up having records and information about the Heartless which gave her the drive to copy everything that you had to say about the Heartless. Lisa must've wanted to help since she's normally not a fan of other duties or work and tends to take naps or spend the afternoon drinking tea and reading books" Jean added.
"There's a high price to pay for wielding such power foolishly"
Sora remembered those words Xehanort told him back when he was chasing after his friends' hearts. The warning he gave him about misusing his power repeatedly.
"There's no saving you"
Closing his eyes and letting out a quiet breath, Sora knew now. He knew exactly what Lisa was feeling with the power granted to her and her desire to seek knowledge but having it come with a price.
"I… I have an idea about what Lisa is feeling right now. She's afraid. She does not want anyone to seek after that profound knowledge she was so close to reaching. Only to find out that there's a high price to pay. And…I'm sure she has more feelings buried deep in her heart about the whole thing" Sora proclaimed.
"Do you think…Lisa, will one day open her heart and ask us for help? Or to listen to her fears?" Lisa asked.
"I do. And you can bet I'll be there to help her…" Sora answered.
Hearing Sora's answer, Jean could only nod and agree with him that when the day would come when Lisa asked for help regarding her vision and power, she along with all her friends would be there. To help save their friend.
Having exited the Knights of Favonius headquarters, Jean and Sora were met with a surprise when they saw someone walking toward them.
"Eula! It's good to see you" Sora shouted.
"Mm. Likewise, Sora. I take it everything went well in the library?" Eula asked.
"Err… not quite. But we were able to come up with a plan of action" Sora replied.
"A plan?"
"More like a set of goals to accomplish. But it's not going to be easy" Jean answered.
"Well, I'm certainly interested in what was going on at the library. I wish I could've been there, but I had unfinished tasks to get done. I apologize about that" Eula said, wishing that she could've been there.
"Oh, it's no problem. Nothing happ…I mean… yeah. We got to talking and even met Lisa there who helped us. I even got a quick lesson on the different factions that are causing problems with the nations" Sora explained while not mentioning Lisa's hug.
"Is that so? Well then, seeing that it's getting late why don't we grab a bite to eat at Good Hunter?" Eula asked.
"Oh, man, I could go for a bite to eat. It's been an eventful day" Sora answered.
"What about you Jean? Care to join us?" Eula asked, looking over at the blonde-haired woman.
"I…" Jean muttered, realizing that she had spent a good amount of time hanging with Sora and trying to help him find answers. While it did throw off her schedule, she did not mind in the slightest and would do it again.
"I'm afraid not. There's a bit of paperwork I need to finish before the day is up. *Looking at Sora* And Sora, once again, I'm truly sorry about not having any of the answers to your questions. Even after spending hours in the library, we only managed to come up with a plan that has a slight chance of helping you" Jean said, looking distraught at not being able to help her friend.
"Jean. Don't worry it's not a problem. Sure, I couldn't get any answers that I wanted. But that's ok. I managed to make a bunch of friends today. Eula, Kaeya, Rosaria, Venti, Barbara, Bennett, Klee, and you. I'd call that a win in my book. Besides, we were able to come up with a plan. A plan that not only has the chance of getting me some answers but being able to warn the other nations of the Heartless. We really did accomplish a lot today. And who knows what's going to happen tomorrow" Sora said, bringing a warm and positive mood.
"That's good to hear. I'm glad I got to meet you, Sora. Before you decide to leave for Liyue, please stop by my office so that I can send you off while also helping with any last-minute questions" Jean said.
"Right. I'll definitely stop by before leaving. Thanks for everything Jean" Sora replied giving off his signature friendly smile.
Nodding at his answer, Jean was about to take off back inside her office when she looked at Eula.
"Eula. Now would be a good time" Jean commented.
"Hmph. I was going to go about it at my own pace. A transgression such as this is not only bothersome, but it ruins my plan" Eula said while having a frustrated look on her face.
"Ah. So that's what Kaeya meant about Eula…" Sora mentally said while remembering Kaeya's mention about Eula talking about vengeance or her formal aristocracy talk.
"Mm. My apologies. *Looking at the evening sky* Well then, I bid you two a pleasant evening. And a good night's rest" Jean said, having a smile and waving the two off before stepping inside the knight's headquarters.
Seeing Jean leave, Eula was silently calming herself down from having her plan be spilled by Jean. It wouldn't do her any good to start ranting about seeking vengeance on Jean. She had another goal in mind. And that goal involved Sora.
"*cough* Alright then, shall we move along?" Eula asked.
"Yep! Lead the way" Sora answered.
Together the two began to make their way to Good Hunter to see what specials they would have to end a rather eventful day in a new world.
Elsewhere in Liyue
The city of Liyue glowed vibrantly with all the various lights illuminating the night sky. Everywhere you looked, lanterns could be seen lighting away the dark of the night making it as if the dark was never present within the city.
Within an open market with stalls all around selling goods and foods to the cheerful children who were running around or the passing adult who was window shopping all seemed well. However, a certain woman with pale blue hair, fading into a darker shade and black-red horns that bent back along with her hair was reading a message sent directly to her. The contents of the message proved to be not what she was expecting. Not in the slightest.
This woman was Ganyu, a half-human, and half-Adeptus hybrid, and she had a worried expression on her face. Being the secretary to the Liyue Qixing, Ganyu is always finding herself busy with work to maintain the contract with Rex Lapis along with the prosperity of Liyue and its people. However, reading the message given to her from Baiwen, one of Ningguang's aides, left her with a lump in her throat.
Monsters that were never seen before and had the ferocity of ripping someone's heart out and even turning that someone into a monster. It all sounded like a story the elders would pass on to the younger generation if they did not go to bed on time. But the scary part was… this was no story, and it was happening right now.
Without wasting another moment, Ganyu brought the letter up in front of her and scanned the entire letter word for word. Remembering it all for safe keeping in her head and instantly summoned a small sphere of Cryo in free her hand while bringing the letter into the sphere. Doing so, completely encased the letter into ice which allowed her to take the frozen letter and crush it in her hand. The letter broke into pieces leaving nothing traceable. Almost as if the letter never existed in the first place.
The people of Liyue did not need to know about these monsters. Not yet at least. Having read the letter and the note directed to her from Lady Ningguang, Ganyu began to swiftly walk toward the Ministry of Civil Affairs to meet with a friend of hers. Someone she could trust with this information and was even mentioned in the letter. That someone being Keqing, who would have a better idea of what to do about the whole situation.
Just what was happening to the world… and what else was going to happen…
On Narukami Island in the nation of Inazuma
Within the Tenshukaku, the Electro Archon better known as the Raiden Shogun resides. However, while it was common to see the Shogun minding her business and fulfilling her order of watching over the nation of Inazuma. There was something different with the Shogun today.
Currently, she was sitting cross-legged and maintaining a position of peaceful slumber. Of course, that was all a façade as this body of the Shogun was merely a vessel for the current Electro Archon, Ei. To any bystander, they would see the Shogun unmoving and resting which would give them the idea to leave her be. But if one were to look closely at the Shogun's face, they would see a minuscule scowl appear in the corner of her lips.
On the other side of the coin, within the Plane of Euthymia lies the true Electro Archon, Ei. But alas, Ei was not sitting cross-legged but was standing up and looking out in the distance with a frown. The only being within the Plane of Euthymia was currently Ei, so she did not need to worry about anyone appearing anytime soon. But…she felt something was off.
Rather than knowing for sure, Ei only had a gut feeling that something was wrong. If she were to leave this plane and enter her puppet's body, she could move around freely and see what it was that was causing her to feel off. However, for now, she would remain where she was and continue to wait to see if this feeling would grow any larger.
The world has changed…was changing right before her very eyes.
And with change… that would also mean that those who lurk in the shadows are changing as well.