Less stuff to cover = shorter chapters. Feels a little weird though, considering the longer ones breach 7k.
The sun was fully over the mountains by the time the dust settled. As far as she'd heard, no one had been majorly injured. There were sprains and wounds of course, but the preparations she and the other knights had done meant medical attention was only a short stretcher away rather than requiring a full run into the city.
Amber wiped some sweat away with the back of her hand, rocking back onto her butt to take a small breather. Really, the worst of things was the damage to the roads that the lawachurls had made. Albedo and some of the other Geo Vision holders had done what they could, but no one really focused in terraforming. Not to the level they needed, anyway. No, making the roads back to a proper level would require some machinery to pad everything down, if they didn't outright convert the damaged roads into cobbled paths.
She sat like that for a short while before rocking back to a knee, fingers snaking their way into the ropes to try and untie them. As quickly as the construction had been, she was rather proud of her knights for how well their work was. Granted, it made clean up a pain, and were it not for the desire to try and preserve the ropes, she would have simply used a knife to cut away at things. As it was, she, as well as several others, had to resort to the quiet and time consuming task of untying everything.
The oranges and yellows of the morning were starting to disappear when the scent of the wind changed. The gritty taste of dust that lingered in the air gave way to fresh pine and cedar, with hints of the sea colouring it even more. Amber looked up and into the wind, a tiny smile gracing her face as she took note of the white clothes heading her way. "Hi, Traveller!" She gave a quick wave before returning to her work, letting out a tiny huff when the ropes refused to budge.
"Hi, Outrider!" Paimon answered back as she neared. Behind her, Aether gave a wave in return. "Whoa... what happened?"
"You remember that hilichurl camp I cleared out when we first met?" She held back an annoyed groan, instead pulling out a knife and carefully needling it between the ropes to garner some purchase. "Turns out there were more of them. Hilichurls from all over were gathering, from Dragonspine and even some tribes from Liyue. While you guys were gone, they decided to attack." Amber let out a quiet 'yes!' when the rope finally went slack, the planks the rope were holding up falling slightly as the pressure on them ceased to exist.
"Is Mondstat okay?" the Traveller asked.
She wiggled some of the loosened wood back and forth, easing them away from their brethren until at last she was able to pull the piece out, the rest of the construct collapsing. "Mondstat proper? Yup. As far as I'm aware, no major losses have happened, and considering there's no smoke on the horizon, I'm willing to bet a month's pay that all the settlements were ignored." She let out a breath as she tugged the rope free, deftly coiling it around her palm and upper arm before knotting it secure. "But that doesn't mean the roads are exactly usable right now, and who knows what sort of damage the hilichurls did on their way here."
"Sounds like there's a lot of work ahead," they said.
Amber nodded, resting her hands on her hips. "Oh, definitely. I'd imagine it'll be at least the middle of next week until we learn the true extent of damages."
"Acting Grand Master!"
"Lawrence." She dipped her head in acknowledgement, taking note of the bandolier of water flasks strapped across his chest. "Everything good on your end?"
"Yes, m'am." He untied one of the flasks, exchanging it for hers once she drained the last drops of it. "Captain Hertha says you're good to take a break once you finish up with this one. Oh, Traveller." Lawrence smiled and gave a quick salute in greeting. "You missed one heck of a fight earlier. Lawachurls from Liyue and Dragonspine showed up." He chuckled, one part lingering anxiety and two parts relief lacing the sound.
Amber's smile turned into a tiny amused grin. "Oh, I'm sure the Traveller had their hands full. Right?"
"It wasn't that difficult," they answered slyly.
"Ever so humble." Lawrence chuckled. "Well, I better get back. I'm sure Captain Hertha has more messages to run. You two enjoy your day!"
It was a rise in the breeze that made her return to her work. Even with the rope no longer tied, the rest of the wood still maintained a tightness that needed to be undone. "You smell like the wilds and the sky, Lumine. Did you get sucked up by a tornado again?" She gave a wry grin, shooting the traveller a small smirk. She absolutely wasn't jealous of being able to glide that high at all, no, not at all.
Paimon made a small sound of discomfort. "Something like that," the pixie said in their stead.
Amber chuckled. "Either way, Acting Grand Master Jean mentioned that you had a hand in helping out with Dvalin. I'm sure she'll have a thank you for you later, but what do you say to me treating you to some sticky honey roast at Good Hunter later today?"
"Hey, what about Paimon? Paimon helped too, you know!"
Morally, maybe. Or perhaps even pointing out something everyone might have missed. She gave a small smile. "Yes, you're welcome too, Paimon."
"Yay!" Paimon clapped her hands, kicking her feet in excitement.
"Yeah, that sounds good." Aether glanced over at Mondstat's gates. "I suppose I'll see if anybody needs a helping hand."
"Check around the markets." She grunted as a particular section of rope refused to budge. "Lots of people congregate around there, so having those back up quicker will mean everyone's happier."
"Will do."
"See you later, Amber!" Paimon shouted as she floated after Aether.
"It's Outrider, please," she murmured, only marginally offended by Paimon's lack of title. Once again the wind kicked up, this one bringing an even fresher scent of wood and sky. Amber gave a full body sigh. She wasn't jealous. She really wasn't. She didn't wish she could detour to the highest point in her scouting area to have a nice long glide, taking advantage of any updrafts the landscape might have been capable of. She didn't wish she could have had a way to escape the sensations of being chained to the ground. She—
"Breathe, girl. Breathe." Once more her fingers worked the rope, the remaining pieces of wood finally becoming loose enough to fall on their own. All that was left was stacking everything up for someone to grab them, and then she could take a tiny nap.
/ - /
Ten years ago, if she was in the same position she had now, she probably would have been writing on parchment or vellum. "How lucky I am to be where I am, when I am," Amber muttered, dipping her quill back into her inkpot. Paper wasn't quite common enough yet to be a household name, but compared to parchment it was far easier to acquire and pass around. Certain things were still written on the leather based writing surfaces, but in this day and age the wood pulp creation was by and large more prevalent.
The door to the Grand Master's office clicked open. Jean strode in, wearing a fresh pair of her usual clothes, hands tying her hair up into a high tail. "Afternoon, Dandelion Knight." Amber dipped her head slightly, setting her pen aside and pushing a small stack of papers forward. "These are the most pressing, in my opinion. I've organized things how I normally do, so apologies if anything you were working on before your departure have been misplaced."
"No worries, Acting Grand Master." Jean moved a chair over to the other side of the desk, gathering everything she needed before immediately setting to work. "I trust in your judgement."
Amber only nodded, picking her pen back up. "I had Kaeya make sure all the knights were up to standard in regard to physical fitness. The majority were slacking, but three weeks of training should be enough to get them back into shape."
"Is that by Ordo Favonius standards or your own?"
She smiled. "In terms of cardio, it would be by Ordo Favonius. In terms of combat, it would be my own."
Jean let out an amused breath. "I look forward to seeing their results, especially once tryouts arrive."
"As do I." Small claims weren't normally something the (Acting) Grand Master was meant to overlook, but the ones she'd selected from the pile already submitted were places she had a special interest in. Perhaps it was a little unfair to other businesses or civilians, but Amber doubted anyone would be too peeved to hear that orphanages, soup kitchens, and the various community centric workshops got first priority for repairs.
For a time, no words were spoken between them other than mostly meaningless things. Future harvests from Springvale; reduced yields from the various farms; the surprising amount of ore adventurers were bringing back from their travels. It wasn't until Amber tied her last set of reports together for later review and began stretching that Jean cleared her throat, hands folded in her lap.
"I have plans on giving a speech later in the day. Explain some of what happened as well as giving some thanks to all those who stepped up. I'd like for you to be there in some formal wear."
"Would my current clothes work?"
"If you wish. A variation of your usual outfit would be fine as well." A light wind came in through the open windows, bringing with them the continued scents of the morning. "Amber, I wanted to thank you for stepping up while I was gone. It was an error on my part to not remember that Kaeya would be gone for a little while longer, and I should have—"
"You're fine, Jean." Amber crossed her arms. "We've been dealing with the damage from Dvalin, concerns from the Fatui, preparations for the upcoming Windblume festival; besides, it was something we were able to smooth over, so it's not the end of the world."
She sighed. "Yes. Yes, you're right." Jean smiled. "Thank you again, Outrider."
It was a smile she returned. A little less wider, but a smile all the same. "Might I be excused then, Acting Grand Master?"
"Of course, Outrider." As one they rose, Amber heading out the door while Jean took her usual seat.
It wasn't even a full twelve hours since the attempted invasion had ended, and already people were starting to bounce back. Merchants were starting to hawk their wares, civilians were gathering in their usual meeting spots, and spirits all around were higher than they'd been in the past few days. Amber greeted people as she walked through the streets, stopping every so often to check up on her favorites, and waving to those she passably knew.
Things would be fairly quiet for a bit. Perhaps it wouldn't be until a few weeks after the Traveller left for Liyue that things would pick up again, and that was time she could spend refining her skills. As far as she could recall, other than a few repeated instances regarding Dragonspine, nothing would truly be bothering Mondstat. It all be minor events that were easily handled by a single person whom the Traveller would be interacting with for the first proper time.
Amber laid her hand against her door. For many people, the events that happened here would be the highlight of their life. Nothing else would likely be as monumental as a dragon terrorizing their home. She sighed and leaned her head forward. And to be honest? That was perfectly okay. If the rest of her life was nothing more than a quiet affair where she silently became the best archer in all of Mondstat— nay, all of Teyvat, then that was fine. So long as the Outriders were rebuilt; so long as she lived a long life; that's all that mattered. With a slow, reaffirming breath, Amber unlocked her door and stepped through, a slightly cleaner room than a few days ago greeting her.
"I'm back."
/ - /
"I'd also like to thank our own Outrider Amber for stepping forward and taking care of Ordo Favonius while I was away. Without her help..."
Amber tilted her head to the side. Something felt off. Tainted Cryo and a very familiar Anemo subtly exploded outward. What was—
"Outrider?"
"Jean, launch me." Amber stepped towards her Acting Grand Master and tensed slightly, jumping up as high as she could and bracing herself for the explosion of Anemo underneath her. As she neared the apex of her path, she summoned two constructs in her hands. The first: a Baron Bunny tied to a strung Pyro arrow. The second: a thin but durable bow. Her construct flew through the air happily, clearing the wall that acted as a backdrop for Mondstat's central fountain and by her direction, bracing itself against the wall to keep the line taut. Amber ignored the voice in the back of her head criticizing the burn damage that her creations left against the stone bricks, forcing herself to rush forward one stride and jury rigged grappling bunny at a time.
The scents got even stronger, and as she moved into a firing position to launch a tether Baron Bunny up Mondstat's largest wall, she could see a near invisible pillar of divine Anemo energy rise into the air, flecks of Cryo thrown about.
There was no one to see her as she hurled herself over the edge. No one to watch as she sprinted across the plaza and rushed up the stairs.
There was no one conscious to help as she slid on her feet to Venti's supine side.
"Dammit, Bard."
"Am... ber..."
"C'mon, Bard. We need to get you out of here." Venti strained to push himself up, quickly relenting to letting her guide him into a princess carry. "Think you have enough strength to give me a wind?"
"For you, my star crossed bunny?" He coughed and curled up in her grip. "Sorry, I don't think I can quite find it in myself to be funny."
"Just save your breath and focus on yourself." Amber lifted him up onto one of the flat parts of the fence bordering the cathedral, hefting herself up before hopping onto the other side. "I'm serious, though. Can you help us cross the lake, or do we need to slip through the city?"
"I can muster a few gales." He chuckled weakly, turning his head into her chest. "I'm not that in need of pity."
Amber only clicked her tongue, briefly setting him down to set up her wind glider. "Bard."
"Outrider."
She sighed and picked him back up. "Have I ever mentioned how incredibly light you are?" she whispered quietly.
"Only as light as a dandelion on the wind, that I might travel just as far," he responded just as quietly.
/ - /
She didn't look at the Traveller as they approached. Didn't say a word about how loudly the grass crumpled beneath their feet. She didn't turn her head as they stopped a few steps away. "The wind here is so calming, don't you think?"
"Amber? What are you doing here?" Paimon squeaked.
She raised a finger to her lips and glanced at the two meaningfully, returning her hand back to Venti's head. Whether because the Traveller had arrived earlier than they were meant to, or whether Venti had taken that much damage; he had fallen into a restorative slumber and had yet to wake up. Vanessa's Tree had done much to help him heal, but she imagined anyone would need significant time to recover from having something so vital torn from their body.
"This is one of Venti's favorite spots." She winked, letting the wry smile on her face blossom. "Don't let him know I told you that, though." She looked down, continuing to brush her fingers through his hair. "He'd probably never let me live it down." When neither Paimon or the Traveller said anything, she patted the ground next to her, quietly returning her hand back to her ministrations. "You three got into a fight, didn't you?" When neither of them said anything, she snorted softly. "Maybe fight's a rather big word. Skirmish? Scuffle?" She glanced at them dryly. "Curb stomp?"
"There was this woman," Lumine began, "she was dressed in red and white and had a white catalyst that she used to fire Cryo at us."
"La Signora," Amber supplied. "Eighth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, a group of people who act as spokespeople for the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, and hold strength akin to the Adepti if not beyond. She was in Mondstat as part of the Fatui delegation, though we rarely had any interactions with her. It was always her subordinates that made requests or sent messages." She stared at Venti's slumbering face, wishing that she at least had something for him to drink when he eventually woke up. "I think she felt slighted by the fact that Grand Master Varka wasn't here for her to talk to, though I doubt it would have done her any good. Acting Grand Master Jean was always the one to deal with social meetings where possible."
"Woah... you sure know a lot about the Fatui, Amber."
"Outrider," she stressed. "And not that much. Just the basics that I needed to know in case I ever had to act as a representative of Ordo Favonius for them. It's Kaeya who knows more about them than me."
Venti shifted. His hand, hidden from the Traveller and Paimon, tapped her leg subtly. The wind picked up at that moment, smelling of trees and the sea, and for a brief moment, the strong scent of earth came with it.
"Hey, Traveller?" She looked over at Aether, smiling softly. "No one's come forward yet about your sibling, right?"
They shook their head.
"You should consider heading over to Liyue. Once a year, the Geo Archon comes down and gives divine predictions to his people. Those predictions direct Liyue for the rest of their year, and the ceremony, the Rite of Descension, should be happening relatively soon." She turned her gaze back towards Venti, brushing a finger along his cheek. "If you make some proper connections, you could very well find yourself able to speak directly to Rex Lapis and ask of your sibling."
"Wha— directly talk to Rex Lapis?! Traveller, we gotta go!"
"Don't be in such a rush, Paimon, and keep it down a little." Amber once again brought a finger to her lips. "Take a day to recover. Gather some supplies, figure out a path to get to Liyue. The Rite of Descension won't happen for at least a week or so, so you have some time to get yourself situated. Besides," she poked Venti's cheek, smirking a little as he frowned and twitched away. "don't be in such a rush that you forget the journey. A destination is important, but every step along the way has just as much meaning as the end."
She looked up and stared at the distant waters of Falcon Coast. "The birds, the fish, the boars; every song a bard sings, every arrow an archer fires; even the Tsaritsa's Fatui and the monsters of the Abyss; they're all part of this journey we call life. So before you reach the end, don't forget to keep your eyes open. Take in every part of the world around you."
"Outrider..."
She giggled. "Sorry, Traveller. In quiet moments like this, where nothing's going on and nothing really matters, I sometimes get really sentimental." Amber laid her hand on Venti's head, letting her pointer massage him slightly. "If you decide to stay a couple days, don't let me forget to treat you to that sticky honey roast, okay?" She let her voice gain a teasing edge. "And definitely don't go trying it out beforehand."
"We won't," Paimon answered. "C'mon, Traveller, let's head back to Mondstat and get some supplies for the trip."
"Good-bye, Outrider," the Traveller said, rising to their feet.
"Did you know what was to happen?" Venti asked once they left.
"I had approximate knowledge," Amber answered.
"It really did hurt, you know." Barbatos curled up slightly. "To have a Gnosis plucked from your body like a fish in a stall; how utterly barbaric."
"I know." It was a bit awkward to position herself, but she leaned forward and kissed his head regardless. "I know you hear it a lot through the winds, but thank you for everything you've done for us, Bard."
"Eh-heh-heh... Don't thank me. Thank the people of Mondstat. You're the reason our lands are so prosperous."
"Hm." Amber resumed combing her fingers through Barbatos' hair, making sure to massage his scalp here and there.
"Hey, Amber?"
"Yes, Bard?"
"Can you sing me one of your songs? Something like a lullaby?"
She closed her eyes. Though she knew the wind was still blowing, every time they entered a moment like this, it always felt like it was just a quiet space, for only the two of them. "Dancing bears, painted wings, things I almost remember~ And a song, someone sings, once upon, a December~"
Venti joined in with her, intentionally singing with a conversational voice that was annoyingly off-key, yet still matching to harmonize with hers. "Someone holds me safe and warm, horses prance through a silver storm, figures dancing gracefully, across my memory~"
As one they continued singing, making their way through songs never heard from a time that never was and a past long forgotten. Songs that were familiar; songs that hurt as much as they made their faces hurt from joy and glee. In moments like these, they were not what the world saw them as. They were just two souls, lost in time, lost to the world.
Due to having cleared out my backlog, next chapter will be August 21st.