"So this is Sumeru…?" Mieko was amazed by how lush and green everything was. She and Albedo had been traveling for a few days, and to see their destination so full of beautiful plants made the woman smile. "It's really amazing here…" She added.
"It is, isn't it?" He was glad she seemed to be enjoying herself. He glanced her over, the outfit she was wearing covered less than what he was used to seeing her in. There were mesh panels, and the shoulders were open. It was certainly nice to see her wearing something that exposed a little skin. He had mentioned that she looked more confident in it, but she just shook her head.
"I'm glad you like it, Albedo." She replied with a tired smile. Albedo watched her working and did his best not to baby her too much, since she noticed. They spent some time exploring and studying the plants, taking their time along the way. When they did finally arrive in Gandharva Ville, it was almost sunset.
"You're finally here?" They looked up, seeing Tighnari smiling. He came down to greet them, Albedo smiling and shaking his hand. "Is this your partner you mentioned?"
"Yes, this is my Mieko. Mie, darling, this is Tighnari."
"A pleasure to finally meet you." Mieko smiled, shaking Tighnari's hand.
"Likewise." He replied.
"I'm sorry I couldn't meet you when you came to Mondstadt for Windblume." She added, Albedo placing a hand on her back.
"It's alright, Albedo mentioned that you own a shop and were busy." Tighnari replied. "I heard you were tending to an incident as well." Albedo gripped the back of Mieko's shirt at mention of it.
"Ah, you heard about that too?" She asked, smiling, gently rubbing Albedo's arm to try and soothe him.
"Albedo ran off so quickly, Cyno and I were surprised." He said with a smile. "Traveler explained, though."
"Well, when a member of the knights came running and said Mie was in trouble, it was… Difficult to stop myself." Albedo replied.
"Don't worry about it. Come on up, you're just in time for dinner." He added, leading them to a dining hall of sorts. They sat down for a meal, Tighnari explaining to them where they would be going to look for flowers to study since he had duties to attend to. "I was hoping to get to show you around a little, like you did for us, but…"
"Please, don't worry. I can keep Mie safe and study the flowers at the same time." Albedo said as Mieko ate. He was surprised she didn't retort, but he assumed she was getting used to him saying things like that. "And if we need to fight, we're both prepared to do so."
"That's good to hear." Tighnari nodded, glancing at Mieko before looking up to the door. "Oh, there is someone I'd like to introduce you to." Tighnari said, ears twitching. "Mira. Come in."
"Hehe, you knew I was back?" A woman with multi-shaded purple hair walked in, carrying a basket of mushrooms. "Here, your mushrooms."
"Thanks Mira." He turned her to the guests at the table. "This is Mira. Mira, these are my guests from Mondstadt. Albedo and Mieko."
"Oh, I see." Mira smiled. "A pleasure to meet you two." Albedo greeted her while Mieko stared a bit at the woman.
"Mie? Are you alright?" Albedo asked, snapping her from her headspace.
"Yes, sorry…" She replied, looking up at Mira. She got up from her seat and walked over to her, bowing her head suddenly. "I… Could I ask you to model my earrings for me? You're so beautiful, like the living embodiment of a wisteria."
"E-Eh? Me?" Mira asked, Tighnari chuckling.
"See, Mira? Even someone you've never met calls you beautiful." He told her. "You should do it."
"I-If you say so." Mira said, still surprised by the request. But she was happy that someone like Mieko, who Mira thought was much prettier than she was, would say something out of nowhere like that.
"Ah, I'm sorry, was that too sudden?" Mieko asked, looking a little embarrassed as she stood up straight again.
"No, don't worry." Mira smiled. "Thank you for the compliment. And I'll gladly model them for you. So you're a jeweler?" The purple haired woman asked as they both took their seats at the table.
"She is." Albedo smiled.
"That's wonderful. May I see your work?" She asked, Mieko nodding and opening up her bag to show Mira the style samples that she had with her. "Oh, then you model them all after flowers?"
"Yes, I do my best to keep them true to form." Mieko replied.
"You do an amazing job." Mira said. "I've only read about most of these, but they look just like the books, just much smaller~" She giggled. "What flower will you be having me model?"
"I'll have to see what I can come up with… I certainly want you to wear the wisteria earrings, but I want to make some styles based on the flowers that are native to Sumeru."
"Does that mean you'll be making these beads from scratch?" Tighnari asked.
"Ah, well, yes and no…" She smiled. "Albedo offered his services to help me make the prototype beads with Alchemy, so I'll dictate the design. Once we work out the kinks, then we'll take the samples for production to an artisan." She stated.
"Oh, then this is a business expansion." Mira smiled. "How big do you plan on going?"
"I… I don't know." Mieko replied, taking Albedo's hand. He squeezed her hand back. "But I promised Albedo I would do whatever I could…"
"Whatever you could?"
"It's a long story…" Mieko was about to dismiss Mira's question, but Albedo stopped her.
"It's alright, Mie. I'll tell them if you want." His gaze was so gentle, Mieko just stared back. When she didn't speak, he turned to Tighnari and Mira to explain. Mieko fell into silence, leaning over to Albedo and leaning on his shoulder. Albedo just sighed, reaching up to play with her hair.
"It sounds like burn out to me." Tighnari stated. "But you said that she's been unable to sleep due to insomnia? And even when she sleeps, she's not getting any better?"
"Yes. She's been like this for a while now…" Albedo pet her head. "She zones out like this, as if she's in a trance…" He leaned over and kissed her forehead. His worry was very clear. "I've made countless potions to try and assist, nothing seems to help for very long. And nothing seems to be having any lasting effects, either."
"That's definitely not normal…" Tighnari pondered. "Something more must be going on."
"That's the conclusion I've come to as well. She's never been like this, and it's only getting worse… However, nothing I've researched has come up with a straight answer."
"Well, take your time. Don't rush." Tighnari stated. "And if you need anything from us, let me know."
"I appreciate that." Albedo smiled, brushing his hand against Mieko's ear. She jumped, looking up at him.
"Albedo… I-"
"It's alright." He replied, Mira and Tighnari both noticing how careful he was with her. "Did you manage to rest for a moment?"
Mieko observed the flowers and took lots of notes, Albedo going between watching her and keeping an eye out for monsters. Thankfully this area didn't have too many, and Mieko could work in peace. Sometimes he'd look over at her and see her staring at him. "Yes?" He would ask, smiling as she turned back to the flowers with a blush dusting her cheeks. He was glad that the work was easy for her. However, he had noticed something potentially troubling while she was observing something earlier. There were some people skulking around, and while it was clear they weren't actively causing harm, he wondered if he should report this to Tighnari when they got back this evening.
"Something troubling you, Albedo?" He turned to Mieko, who had since stood up and was now standing behind him. "And don't tell me it's nothing, you've got that look on your face." She poked his cheek, making him smile a little.
"I think I should wait to explain until we're back at the village." He replied simply.
"Whatever you think." They headed back together, spending some time just observing their surroundings. Tighnari would be late coming back anyway, and there was no point in hurrying if they'd just have to go out and try finding him anyway. They arrived back at the same time as he did, so they stopped him.
"People wandering around…?"
"They looked like Akademiya uniforms to me." Albedo stated as they stood there, Mieko looking around at the plants in the village near where they talked. "And they seemed to be looking for something."
"Akademiya, huh?" He sighed. "Hopefully it's nothing, but I'll look into it. Thanks for letting me know." Tighnari said before hurrying off again. Albedo went over to Mieko, who was lost in her thoughts again.
"Mie." She jumped, turning to look at him. "Hungry, darling?"
"Ah… I suppose by now I should be, but…" she shook her head. "I'm not." Albedo nodded, taking her hand and leading her to sit down. "I'm sorry…"
"What for?" He asked her.
"I… I don't know."
"Then please don't apologize." He leaned his head on her shoulder. "Would you like to sit with me, and talk about the designs?"
"I… I think that would be helpful to clear my head. Thank you, Albedo." She replied softly, showing him her extensive notes about potential materials and such, Albedo just enjoying hearing her voice. It was soothing, listening to her talk like this. It made him worry a little less. By the time dinner rolled around, they decided just to split one portion, Mira surprised by this.
"Are you two really not hungry?" She asked.
"I don't eat much to begin with." Albedo replied. "And Mie tends to lose her appetite, when she gets absorbed in her work like this." he added, covering for them both easily. Mira just nodded, smiling a little. She was their only company for dinner tonight. "So, Miss Mira. Please, tell us about yourself. Our introduction was cut short last night." He said, mostly wanting to distract from their lack of appetite. Mira introduced herself again, giving some details about herself, and about how she was brought here by Cyno after being saved to recover under Tighnari's watchful gaze. However, the way she talked was very self-deprecating, rather like Mieko did when she was lacking confidence.
"Some people call me a dreamer… Others call me lazy. I don't blame them. I think these things about myself sometimes." She smiled.
"That's not being lazy." Mieko replied quickly. Mira looked up at her. "That's just you doing as you're told… Recovering. Isn't it?"
"Hehe. Thank you for saying so. Tighnari tells me that all the time." She smiled cheerfully. "I try my best not to think that way… Doctor's orders, after all." They continued to talk until Mira went to bed, Mieko still wide awake as Albedo sat next to her in their borrowed room.
"What's bothering you?" He asked.
"Something feels off…" She muttered. Albedo held her hand, smiling a little. "I can't place it."
"Well, then, shall we follow that intuition of yours?" He asked. "If it's bothering you this much, perhaps it's more than just your anxiety."
Mira sighed to herself, knowing it would have happened eventually. They came back for her. The researchers that Cyno had saved her from came back to get her. Of course, she went with them without struggle. She couldn't risk them hurting someone from the village. She had resigned herself to this, but… "Miss Mie?" She was surprised to see Mieko standing in their way.
"Evening, Mira." She smiled. "I'll assume that these rude people are from the Akademiya?" They cursed at her, using the hired mercenaries to attack her, but they were all underwhelming in skill. Mieko was able to take them down quickly enough.
"Don't just stand there, get her!" One of the scientists said, Mira biting her lip as the person on her left walked up to stand against the blue haired woman. A Fatui agent.
"Ooh, Fatui huh?" Mieko asked. "Dangerous." She smiled. "But… I think I should be able to handle you." She added, starting her fight with the agent. Mira didn't know what to do. The Akademiya researcher's reinforcements were on their way, and with Mieko occupied… "Don't worry, Mira." Mieko said, surprising the girl. The Fatui agent came up behind her and was about to strike her down when an arrow came flying and hit them square in the shoulder. "Never said I was alone." Mira looked up, eyes watering when she saw Tighnari in the tree. She heard the Akademiya researcher grunt, feeling his grip on her arm loosen. She turned to see Albedo behind them, having used the pommel of his sword to knock the man unconscious.
"Mister Albedo…?" The enemy reinforcements flooded the ravine, surrounding Mieko. "M-Miss Mie is in danger!"
"I know." He sighed. "She told me 'Go make sure Mira doesn't get hurt. I'll have enough back up.', so I am doing what she's asked."
"But just Tighnari and her against all those pyro elements is-!" Mira heard crackling, turning to see a figure leap down from a tree, the electro energy filling the air. "Is that… Cyno?" The General Mahamatra stood up, standing now back to back with Mieko.
"I will help her if she needs me… But she wanted me to see how she's doing." He replied. "As I have been the one training her in combat…" He gripped his sword in hand, clearly bothered by this even though his face wasn't showing it. Mira didn't understand, but she just nodded.
"You're Albedo's girlfriend, huh?" Cyno asked. "You're reckless. No wonder he ran off to find you."
"Ahaha, I do apologize for that." Mieko replied. "But I'll continue to be a little reckless…"
"You already have a plan?"
"I do. An elemental reaction."
"Oh? But how will you distribute it? They're wary of you already."
"Don't worry about that part. Just… Be ready, okay?" She smiled. "If you would be so kind, General Mahamatra."
"Mm, demanding in battle… But, I'd like to see for myself. Since Albedo did praise your skills." He readied his weapon.
"Then…" She took a deep breath, dark clouds forming overhead. "May these tears bring solace, and light your path." She said, the rain coming down hard around them, her Hydro Scythe blade seeming to fill in its shape thanks to the water coming down around them. The enemy charged as the rain came down, the flowers in the area glowing. Mieko stood still as Cyno fought them off for a few moments, taking another deep breath once the Hydro blade was fully filled in. "Drown amongst the fallen petals." She spun her polearm in front of her, the rain starting to coalesce into what looked like glowing flower petals, encircling Mieko.
"Oh? A shield?" Cyno asked as he landed, surprised when the petals closest to him turned purple as his electro energy touched them.
"Distribution." Mieko replied with a smile. "Go ahead, Tighnari!" The fox-eared young man threw a Vijnans-Phala Mine towards them, before going down to where Mira and Albedo were. The three watched from their vantage point as some of the petals around Mieko turned green.
"You aren't going to help her?" Tighnari asked Albedo.
"I want to." He replied simply. "But I believe Mieko knows what I'm already seeing… She's slower than usual, her swing isn't as heavy, and she's…" He sighed. "She's not fighting as well as she has in the past… So she's having me watch, against opponents she knows she can normally defeat… To gauge her."
"If she knows, then why?" Mira asked. "How did she even know I was in danger?"
"We'll explain later." He said, watching Mieko and Cyno finishing off the enemy with Hyperbloom, thanks to Tighnari's Elemental Skill in the mix. Albedo's hand finally loosened up once the fight was over. As Mieko and Cyno came up to where they were, he walked right over to her, Mieko.
"Was it that bad?" She asked him, petting his head. "You look so worried." She was clearly exhausted.
"I'll give you a full report later." He replied simply. "For now… Please explain to Miss Mira about how you knew what was happening."
"Ah, very well." Mieko smiled. "Though it isn't much of an explanation. I have what a lot of people just call a good intuition." She explained this to Mira and Cyno, since she had already told Tighnari on the way. "And I'm almost always right. The stronger the feeling, the more I know it to be true. Though my insomnia makes it sometimes hard to gauge how bad the feeling really is." She pet Mira on the head. "I'm glad Albedo told me to go and see, though. You're safe now."
"Miss Mie… Thank you." Mira hugged her, smiling.
"Well I certainly wasn't about to let you get taken." She replied, letting Mira hug her. "I think Tighnari and Cyno would have been quite upset." The two turned away a little, cheeks dusted pink. "Now, that's too much excitement. Let's get you back to the village so you can sleep."
The next morning, Mieko was still awake, having kept watch over Mira all night. Tighnari, Cyno, and Albedo sat in Tighnari's home, talking. "Less than 80%?" Tighnari was shocked to hear Albedo say that Mieko's fighting style was lacking that much efficiency.
"It's around 73%. The fact that she planned to use her burst and Hyperbloom with the two of you…" Albedo sighed again. "In any case, it means my attempts to help haven't been helping enough… There must be something I'm missing." Tighnari and Cyno looked at one another, then at Albedo.
"You can't fix burnout that easily, you know." Tighnari said. "Mieko seems the type to keep working, even if you make her stop… Does she also have anxiety?"
"Yes she does." Albedo replied.
"She can't sit still, but also is working while being exhausted…" Cyno nodded. "That's a common occurance at the Akademiya as well. Can she not take breaks?"
"She runs her shop, Echoes, alone. She's also living upstairs, so she has to keep up with rent." Albedo stated. "I paid for 2 months of her rent so she could afford to come to Sumeru, but that's only because I surprised her. She built that business from the ground up, so she says that it's her burden to shoulder."
"Hm… Sounds to me like she's just being stubborn." Cyno stated.
"Really? It just sounds to me like she's trying not to trouble anyone else." Tighnari stated. "Is she really conscious of burdening others?"
"Yes, very."
"And she's the type of person to apologize a lot?"
"Yes."
"Then, while you guys are here, spend as much time as you can making sure she rests. You said you have a month and a half, right? Go sight seeing. You don't have to rush."
"I see… Even though she's here for work…" Albedo pondered this, writing down a plan. Mieko came down with Mira when she woke.
"Morning, you two." Tighnari waved at them. "Hungry? Collei made lots of food."
"I'd love some." Mira smiled, moving to sit. When Mieko didn't join them, Albedo got up and checked on her.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, just a little tired." She smiled. "Can I borrow you?"
"Of course." They went outside while Tighnari, Cyno, and Mira ate. When Tighnari left to work, they were still sitting in the same place.
"Don't forget. Take your time." Tighnari said before heading out. Mieko tilted her head at him, then turned to Albedo.
"What did he mean by that?" She asked.
"Nothing, darling." Albedo replied. She made a face in response, but she just went along with it.
((Have my attempt at a fight scene~ I don't know how to write these at all... And showing Mieko's condition worsening.
-Winter Cheshire))