Afternoon
13th of May, 1916
City of Mondstadt
"So they're the Otherworlders." Ningguang said.
They had been unable to speak to the Grandmaster of the Knights, leaving the two Qixing members to oversee the handling of their goods. There wasn't much else to do in Mondstadt, Keqing never was one to drink much and they were both supposed to be on official business.
"They all look very Fontainian." Keqing noted, having already seen one of them with the Traveler yesterday. Seeing this many of them had her concerned. They were showing off, parading their soldiers through another city.
She also noted that every one of them had a musket. Some carried larger ones with a half moon contraption, while everyone else seemed to carry a more conventional design. She remembered some Fontainian arms merchants asking for approval to sell their own muskets in Liyue, something Ningguang had denied. A small part of her wished they had allowed the sale, because the number of arms the French had was ridiculous.
She began to wonder if they were again showing off, or if they really did need so many firearms.
Soon, the French columns passed them, continuing on their way to the statue. Ningguang had walked away as soon as they passed, and so did many others. Keqing kept watching them until she couldn't see them anymore. It was then that she joined Ningguang, the woman deep in her thoughts.
"I believe that one of us should return to Liyue to tell the rest of the Qixing what we know about the Otherworlders." Ningguang said, "I think I should go. Would it be alright with you to stay here for a while longer?"
Keqing nodded, "I have nothing tying me back to Liyue. I could stay here for a few more days. Do you think it would be possible for me to meet with the French?"
"Perhaps. This display has all but ensured that they are here to stay. It's likely that they will pursue some sort of trade between them and Mondstadt. If we can join in on that trade, well, we'll be even more wealthy than before."
"Selling goods from another world would attract some attention and buyers." Keqing commented, "Very well. Will you be leaving tomorrow then? It's already too late for you to leave before the sun sets."
"Yes, I will be leaving tomorrow." she said, "I will be retiring to our quarters, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all." Keqing shook her head, "Get your rest."
Evening
13th of May, 1916
Favonius Cathedral, City of Mondstadt
The diplomatic meeting would take place in the cathedral. It was decided due to the Mondstadters wanting to show off and that Jean's office wasn't exactly in the best of shape in terms of cleanliness. Dubois never wanted to comment on it, but there were books and papers strewn about everywhere.
He had greeted the Colonel and the diplomat, Sir Jacques, alongside Grandmaster Jean. A few polite words and introductions were spoken before they were taken into the cathedral. From outside he could faintly hear some music from what he assumed was from a Mondstadt band. It was nice, he wished he could hear it more clearly.
In the cathedral was a table and two chairs on either side. Jean took the one facing the main doors and Sir Jacques to the opposite one.
"Let's get started then." said Jean, "Captains Cartwright and Dubois have already gone over the broad strokes of what the French want in Mondstadt. Have there been any major changes to the demands you gave them?"
Sir Jacques shook his head, speaking in English, "No, no changes have been made. We have a treaty ready, however."
One of his aides came over and handed it to him, Sir Jacques displaying it on the table. The Grandmaster seemed to have trouble reading it, Dubois remembering that they used a completely different written alphabet. He doubted a translated version even existed. From where he stood he couldn't exactly make out what was written, but he was sure that they weren't so brash as to effectively trick the Grandmaster into signing away Mondstadt.
"I assure you that everything on this treaty simply pertains to the verbal agreement you made with Captain Dubois." Sir Jacques said, noticing Jean's frustration, "If there is anything you'd like to discuss?"
"What will you do in Teyvat?" she asked.
Sir Jacques took a moment to answer, "We will be ensuring that nothing from this world may threaten France. We will also be looking into trade with the other nations of this world. If you feel threatened by our presence, rest assured that it is merely a defensive operation here.."
"Yes, I am aware of the war you have with the Germans. Captain Dubois told me about it."
"Then you understand why we wish to keep a sizable force here?"
She nodded, "I do. I would do the same if I were in your position."
"France is already at war. If you are worried that we would bring war to this world then those worries are unfounded."
"Yet your garrison in Dadaupa Gorge numbers over 500 with weapons that the most advanced nations in Teyvat have only just developed. I understand that you are taking precautions, but you still pose a major threat to Mondstadt. Do you promise on behalf of your nation to not take up arms against Mondstadt?"
Another moment of silence, "The stance of the heads of government of France is to avoid war in Teyvat. I promise you, we will seek to not bring war to this world."
Evening
13th of May, 1916
Le Mort-Homme, Verdun
Lieutenant Jacob had been forced to the forward trenches as the Germans attacked their positions yet again. As the sky turned dark the Germans seemed to begin pulling back, finally giving the French some rest. Jacob looked around the trench, the fading sun making it harder to see. He could make out some of his men lifting their dead comrades out of the way, some throwing their bodies on the parapet. Others were taking their time rummaging through their belongings, taking their identification tags, cigarettes, boots, and more ammunition.
Jacob sat on the firestep, rubbing his tired eyes with his weary hands, hands which were now covered in mud and blood. He groaned, everything was sore, everything hurt. He was alive.
He thought back on their Guests, the ones he had been tasked to protect after that portal opened in Paris. He had watched as the task force crossed into the other world. He wondered what that world was like. What did it look like? Was it beautiful? Was it nice? Would he be able to see it for himself? He hadn't spent too long with Sir Aether and Miss Paimon, but a part of him wanted to see that world, to join the task force. Instead, he found himself in hell. No, worse.
He was in Verdun.
A runner from the rear lines came to him, telling him to see the captain. Jacob nodded, getting up, he tried in vain to wipe away the dirt on his uniform. As he walked through the trenches, men quickly made way for him on account of his being an officer, many forgoing saluting him as he passed. Not like he cared at this point, he was just as exhausted as them.
He eventually found his captain by the radio, speaking into it. Jacob stood at attention, waiting for him to be addressed.
"Very well, I understand." his captain said to the radio operator. He turned to Jacob, "Lieutenant, we're being moved across the line. Inform the men to gather their belongings."
"Yes, sir." he said, hesitating before speaking again, "Why are we being moved?"
His captain looked into his eyes with a dead expression, "Command is preparing for a counterattack to retake Fort Douaumont. We will be part of the attack."
Jacob felt his stomach turn. He always felt this way before an attack, that same sinking feeling. He nodded, saluted, and turned back to return to the forward trenches. Along the way he caught hold of one of his sergeants and told him to prepare their brandy, the man also looking dead after hearing him.
Jacob looked into the now dark sky, a sky quickly illuminated with flares from both the French and German lines. They were like small suns, stars, slowly falling into the earth, burning bright for only a few minutes.
Even the night was no longer a time for rest in Verdun. The fighting continued as both sides shot at anything that moved in No Man's Lands. Marksmen fired at anyone that made the mistake of poking their head out of the trenches for too long. And the artillery.
God, the Artillery.
It seemed like every moment a shell would crash into the ground, on a few occasions they were close enough for Jacob and his men to hear their whistling before they blew. It drove him insane. And with the fact that units were rotated out of Verdun only after a number of men had already died, he was certain that he'd have to go some more nights without any sleep. He wished he had been part of the task force into the other world.
Evening
13th of May, 1916
Favonious Cathedral, City of Mondstadt
Grandmaster Jean and Sir Jacques had both stood from their seats and shook hands, Jean having just signed the treaty. A cameraman took a photo of the display for the papers in France. It was also decided that a translated version of the papers would be made for those in Mondstadt. Dubois knew that whatever would be written in them would be censored or embellished, anything to keep face and to make France seem greater than it actually was.
"With this business dealt with," Jean started, "what will your plans be now?"
"We will reach out to your neighbour, Liyue, for trade." answered Jacques, "As for militarily, one company will be returned to the front, leaving only two of ours and one from our British allies."
"Very well, I hope everything works out." Jean took a bottle on the table, pouring its contents into a cup, "Care for a drink?"
"Yes, please." Jacques took the cup and held it to his lips. It was clear that he very much enjoyed it, "I believe that it is time for the band, sir Colonel?"
Augeureau nodded, "After the playing of La Marseillaise will we all be able to retire. We have brought enough equipment for the company to camp outside of the city."
"Miss Gunnhildr, if you may lead the way?"
Everyone made their way to the exit, walking out to see a French band standing in front of the company. The Knights standing in formation had been moved to the side to give them more space. Once everyone of importance had left the cathedral did Colonel Augeureau give the order for the band to start playing.
'Allons enfant de la patrie!'
'Le jour de gloire est arrivé!'
Dubois found himself standing next to Aether and Paimon, the two looking confused as La Marseillaise played.
"Would you like to know what they're singing?" he asked them.
Paimon nodded, "Paimon has heard this song a few times back in Paris, but Paimon could never understand them. Could you tell us?"
"They're singing La Marseillaise, the National Anthem of France." Dubois explained, "It is about France during the revolutionary wars, when the First Republic was under threat of foreign invasion by all of our neighbours."
"What are the lyrics in English?" asked Aether.
Dubois waited until the anthem reached its bridge before translating for the two.
'Aux armes, citoyens!'
"To arms, citizens."
'Formez vos bataillons!'
"Form your battalions."
'Marchons! Marchons!'
"March on. March on."
'Qu'un sang impur!'
"Let their impure blood-"
'Abreuve nos sillons!'
"-Soak our furrows."
The bridge would repeat, Dubois looking to Aether and Paimon as they were able to put some meaning into the lyrics.
"Uh, it sounds pretty… violent…" Paimon remarked.
Aether nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I didn't exactly expect that. Watering the fields with the blood of your enemies?"
"The impure blood is French." he said, "We had just ousted our king and executed him. Our royal neighbours wished to put the pure blood of royalty back in control of France, and so the 'impure' French people would defend their new 'impure' republic, watering the fields with their 'impure' blood."
"Still, that's pretty dark." Aether commented.
Dubois shrugged, "It conveys the feeling well enough. Especially in these times."
With the band having finished playing, a round of polite applause erupted from standersby and the Knights. Colonel Augeureau and Sir Jacques mounted their houses again, moving to the right of the French formation. The French company commander then did an about face, now facing his men.
"Compagnie! Tournez à droite!"
The whole company turned to their right, another command was called and they were all now marching off.
"What will you do now, Sir Aether?" Dubois asked him, "With this business finished you are free. I assume you will be looking for your sister?"
"We'll be looking for a way into Inazuma, the Electro Archon's nation." Aether answered, "It's been isolated for a while now, and they don't exactly let any travelers in on a whim."
"I see. Good luck on your journey then. Know that if you need anything, you can call on us to provide any aid we can." Dubois said, "I will be returning to my room for the night."
"Goodnight, Jean!" Paimon said, waving to him as he walked away.
Noon
15th of May, 1916
City of Mondstadt
The city of Freedom was abuzz with activity after the events two days before. Whoever had worked with the French writers had worked fast, as by the next morning there was already a translated version of their paper circulating in Mondstadt.
The front page of course displayed the photo of Acting Grandmaster Jean and Sir Jacques shaking hands after the signing of the Treaty of Mondstadt. It was the contents of the rest of the paper, however, that drew the attention of the people.
'Robert Nivelle issues new orders: Not one shall pass!'
'Verdun stands! The Dead Man remains under French hands!'
'German gas attacks fail!'
The people of Mondstad were now able to read about the war ongoing in the other world. They read of how the French withstood against the German assaults at Verdun, the monster that was the German Chief of Staff Falkenhayn, and the general state of the war. It was all sensationalised, but it gave them a window into the Great War.
Dubois had been approached by the locals more often now, mostly from those asking him if the papers were true and for any stories of his own. All they got for answers were his half-hearted attempts at saying that everything in the papers was true. He didn't tell anyone about his stories.
As part of the agreement, 3e Company would be stationed in Mondstadt for the time being. They were given quarters within the Knights of Favonious Headquarters' empty rooms, many of them left due to so many Knights taking part in an expedition. His men were all currently still in the Headquarters conversing with the Knights and telling them their own stories of their time at the front. To ensure nothing came about, he made it very clear that any sort of incident would be punished severely.
The purpose of keeping his company within the city was officially to promote interaction between the locals and the French. Unofficially, it was to keep the Fatui in check. While they had been doing nothing untoward against Mondstadt and France in recent times, it was decided they would remain as a show of force. He remembered the Grandmaster trying to assure that they weren't needed, but Sir Jacques was ruthless.
The reason Dubois wasn't currently with his company was because of a meeting with a woman he would need to be present for soon. He had gone out for breakfast using some funds that the Knights had lent him and returned to the Headquarters, taking a right into the library.
It was here that he spotted a woman wearing a purple hat and dress drinking tea and reading at her desk. The description Grandmaster Jean had given him matched, so he walked up to her.
His approach seemed to have caught her attention, "Oh, you must be the one Jean told me about." she said, putting down the book in her hand, "Captain Dubois, is that correct?"
"Yes, that is correct. I was told you could help me understand your written language?"
She nodded, "Of course, and if there's any other languages you'd like to study, I can still be of assistance."
"Shall we begin?"
The woman, Lisa, nodded again, gesturing for him to pull up a seat beside her.
Noon
15th of May, 1916
Liyue Harbour
"Umm, are you okay?" Paimon asked, "You've been acting strange ever since we left Mondstadt."
Aether remained silent, staring ahead into Liyue Harbour.
"It's about your sister, isn't it?"
He was still silent.
"Hey," she patted his shoulder, "if there's anything Paimon has learnt about you these past few months, it's that when the going gets tough, you get tougher! Your sister said that you'll have to reach the end of your journey. Paimon doesn't know what that means, but for now, let's just keep moving forward, alright?"
Aether nodded, "Yeah. Thanks, Paimon. I really don't know where I'd be without you."
She chuckled, bashfully hopping in the air, "Awww. You also want to get revenge on that unknown god too, right? Maybe we can get answers from the Electro Archon?"
"Right. Zhongli said Inazuma was their domain. It's closed off though, so outlanders can't exactly just waltz into there."
"Oh, oh! Paimons knows someone who might help! Atsuko at the harbour! She's Inazuman! We can go ask her."
"Right, let's go then."
"What I mean to say is… unless you have an extremely compelling reason to go to Inazuma, you should abandon your plans of trying to get there." Atsuko said.
"I have a compelling reason." Aether said, determined.
Atsuko sighed, "You should know that the sea around Inazuma is engulfed in a perpetual tempest of wind and rain. Supposing you've survived that, you would still need to get past the samurai guards that enforce the Sakoku Decree, the closed nation policy of Inazuma."
Aether was about to interject and say that he could handle that, but Atsuko continued, "And even if you did manage to find a way, you'd still have to produce the necessary documentation at the Ritou centre for processing outlanders. Otherwise, you'd be kicked out immediately…"
"But if you really are set on going, there is one thing you could try…"
"Hmm? Who've we got here…" the eyepatched woman said, turning to them, "Wait, I know you. You're the traveler, Aether, aren't you? The one who fought against the Fatui and Osial, right?"
"Have we met?" Aether asked.
She laughed, "Ningguang told me about you. 'A traveler of great insight and remarkable skill has saved Liyue, she said. She's a hard one to please… so praise from her is high praise indeed. I remember thinking at the time that it'd be good to meet you in person." she looked him up and down, "Judging by the clothes on your back and this floating thing," she turned to Paimon, "I guess that time has come."
Paimon 'stomped', "Hey! The name's not 'floating thing', it's PAIMON!"
"Paimon… hmm…" the boy to Captain Beidou's right spoke, "What a fascinating being. You two give off not only the essence of wind and earth, but also of… yes… the stars…"
"Eh? The fragrance of what now? That's the weirdest compliment Paimon has ever heard…"
"Pay it no heed… I mean only to say I am certain… that it is by fate, not chance alone, that we should meet… and that gives our encounter meaning."
"Is this guy a bard, by any chance?" Aether asked Beidou, being reminded of Venti's antics.
"This young man is Kaedehara Kazuha," Beidou said, introducing him "a temporary addition to my crew for reasons I won't bore you with. Occasionally, he opens his mouth and flowers come out instead of words."
Kazuha offered her a glare, "With this fine ship and the soft sea breeze… would it not be romantically irresponsible of me not to acknowledge it with a line or two of poetry?"
"Haha, can't argue with that.. Okay then, once The Clash is underway, I'll give you a chance to perform."
"W-Wait a minute, what's The Clash?" Paimon asked.
"The Crux Clash is a martial arts tournament that I hold. There'll be a whole lot of folks trying to showcase their talents." Beidou explained, "There are two important rules. One - competitors must be renowned fighters. We want those with real martial arts ability, not just people taking part for the fun of it. So, you've got nothing to worry about there. I don't think there's anyone out there who hasn't heard of you."
"Two - you can't take part if you've got a Vision." Beidou continued, "Otherwise things get a little… one-sided."
"I don't have a Vision, but-"
"You must be feeling confident," she interrupted, "but you might wanna watch out - there are a few crouching tigers and hidden dragons lurking around Liyue. And with Liyue's saviour taking part in the tournament… now that's gonna turn a few heads. I think we can expect a healthy turnout this time…"
"But we didn't come here to take part in a martial arts tournament." said Paimon.
"Well, before you dismiss the idea completely, you might be interested to hear that the prize this time 'round is particularly sought after… Get this. It's a masterless Vision."
"Supplied by myself, as a matter of fact." Kazuha added, "If the tournament champion can reawaken that Vision, it belongs to them. When a Vision bearer dies, the light in their Vision will fade away. But the shell that housed that light remains. As for whether the shell has any practical application, well, this remains to be seen. But my intuition tells me that while it remains in the world, it may just be possible for someone else to inherit it."
Having signed up for the Crux Clash, Aether was now practising fighting without the use of the elements or his blade. He threw his fists against a dummy weighted at its base, sending it crashing to the ground and startling everyone around.
"Maybe you should hold back a bit." Paimon suggested, "We don't want to seriously injure someone."
"Yeah, I think I'll do that…"
"Y-You? You're the hero everyone was talking about? How am I supposed to win now!" his opponent cried.
Aether wasted little time in beating him, a few hits was all it took to knock him down. Everyone cheered for his victory, leaving his opponent to quietly sulk as he walked off the ring.
Beidou laughed off to the side, "I knew introducing you as the favourite would pay off!"
Aether had 'won' The Crux Clash.
Saying he won wasn't exactly true, as the one he was meant to face in the last match had in fact stolen the Masterless Vision. He and Kazuha had gone after the thief and quickly dealt with them, with Kazuha giving Aether the Vision to see if he could bring back its glow.
Nothing had happened, both of them concluding that once its master was gone, a Vision's light truly was gone. Kazuha went on to talk about the Vision having belonged to his Friend who had lost his life fighting against the Raiden Shogun's Vision Hunt Decree.
He felt for him, having found similarities between Kazuha and his Friend with his own sister. At the very least however, his sister was alive.
With Aether taking the championship for this year's Clash, Beidou agreed to take him to Inazuma on their next voyage to the Electro nation. There, he'd seek out the Electro Archon and get some answers to his questions. Both Venti and Zhongli hadn't given him enough information, and all he had to show for it was being declared the Honourary Knight of Mondstadt and the Saviour of Liyue.
In essence, they had given him nothing.
Now having found themselves a quiet spot just outside the city, Aether was writing a letter while Paimon decided to hit the hay early so she could be rested for later during her watch. The sounds of her snoring and the burning of the wood in their fire was all he could hear late at night. The lights of Liyue Harbour still shone bright, giving him plenty to write without straining his eyes.
The letter he was writing would be for Dubois. He felt that he needed to let the French know of how he was doing, he owed them that much after offering their resources to help him in his endeavour. Yet he could fully understand their being apprehensive. They were at war, they had their own problems. The Fatui were a problem in Teyvat, yes, but he still found himself bitter at Mondstadt and Liyue for not doing anything more.
Though he probably should've asked for more than just missing person posters…
Morning
20th of May, 1916
French FOB, Verdun
"Our forces are not ready! This attack will fail, I tell you!" one of the officers shouted, "Our best bet is to hold the line! I won't stand by as you throw French lives and waste French blood on this hopeless attack!"
"The Germans have been on the attack since February. France must show the world that we won't sit idly by while they continue grinding away our identity in Verdun!"
"Hasn't the fact that the Germans haven't taken Verdun enough? Why must we waste more of our country's men? Why must we commit to these hopeless operations?"
The atmosphere in the tent wasn't at all what professional officers should be acting. Nivelle watched as two sides quickly arose between the men. There were those who were against the attack on Fort Douaumont, and those who supported it. The younger officers were the ones who were more in for the attack, the older and more experienced men knowing better.
Nivelle himself hadn't wanted to order this attack so early either, but the events back in Paris, that portal to another world, forced his hand. The High Command wanted results.
Nivelle waited for the ruckus to end, allowing him to begin speaking, "This attack will go through. We have roughly six thousand men, ten battalions committed to this. I will not turn them away, not when they have already endured so much."
"B-But sir-"
"I did not permit you to speak, Colonel." Nivelle said, "This attack will go through. I expect all of you to perform admirably."
God, the artillery.
Jacob watched as the artillery, French artillery, pounded the German positions in Douaumont. The former French fort found itself swiftly taken by the Germans early in the Verdun campaign. The garrison, completely cut off and confused, hadn't put up a fight when a full German battalion had shown up on their doorstep.
He cursed them, for the Germans had been able to use the fort's artillery and lookout positions to coordinate their own blanket fire. If they had held out, even for just a day, then perhaps they would've been reinforced.
He shook his head, clearing his mind. He stood among his men as they prepared for the assault. He checked his watch, the artillery would cease firing in five minutes, and it would be then that the French would attack. Those around him steeled themselves, uttering prayers, while others were kissing photos of their loved ones. Everyone was doing what they could to mentally prepare, none of it would be enough.
The artillery ceased firing. Jacob brought his whistle to his lips.
And he blew.
"RAAAAAAAAGGH!"
Hundreds of men surged from the trenches, rushing into a hail of bullets. They were falling by the dozen, but they continued on. Jacob went over the top as the last man did before him, directing his men from behind to avoid the bundles of barbed wire. Sappers with wire cutters were making a path through, the men accompanying them distracting the Germans. Jacob quickly found an overturned tree to use as cover, running to it and dropping low behind it.
"Go, go! Push through!" a sergeant said, urging those around him to continue. One of his men had gotten shot in the process, and now his squad was pinned in a shell crater by rifle fire.
"Machine gunner!" Jacob called, "Machine gunner!"
One eventually found him, dropping low at his feet to avoid getting shot, "Sir!"
Jacob pointed at the German squad pinning the sergeant's, "Lay down suppressive fire there! Give that squad there breathing room!"
He did just that, propping up his Chauchat before firing. A steady staccato of fire emitted from it, forcing the Germans to duck their heads. Not before one had already found a bullet to the head.
The sergeant's squad, now relieved, continued forward toward the German trenches. Jacob called for more machine gunners to keep the enemy's heads down, and the order travelled through from squad to squad. The French advance was made easier.
Jacob ordered his own men to move up as well. Covered by the others, they made their way to throwing distance from the German trench. Unclipping a grenade, Jacob directed his men to do the same and to throw them into the trench.
Boom!
Boom!
The enemy fire silenced for a second, a second that the French capitalised on.
"FORWARD!" he ordered
They fell upon them. French bayonets sunk into German flesh, their enemies dazed from the explosions of their earlier grenades. A few attempted to put up a fight, but they were outnumbered, and were killed where they lay. The German forward positions were now in French hands, and the Germans were in retreat.
They couldn't rest though, for there was more to be done. The rest of Fort Douaumont needed to be retaken. Jacob took the lead, his revolver cocked. He would be best suited to fight in these conditions, not having to be hindered by a bayoneted rifle.
A German tried to gut him, jumping out from a dugout. A quick shot from Jacob's revolver stopped him. His men followed closely behind, chucking more grenades into more dugouts as they went along.
Soon, they reached their next great obstacle. Fort Douaumont itself. The Germans had positioned their own machine guns to have perfect lanes of fire, forcing the French to continue through the trenches. They weren't even safe in those either. The Germans had set up firing positions and barricades out of sandbags.
At this rate, they couldn't move any further.
Afternoon
20th of May, 1916
Favonius Cathedral, Mondstadt
"I must say, getting the time to speak to you was quite difficult." Keqing said.
"I apologise, I have not had any free time recently." said Dubois, "So, what do you wish to talk about?"
The two of them were sitting in the Favonius Cathedral side by side, Keqing having found Dubois there and approached him.
"Allow me to introduce myself first. I am Keqing, Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing. I wish to speak to you about possible trade between Liyue and France."
"I see." was all he said in response.
"We are willing to allow French merchants to sell their goods in Liyue Harbour itself, so long as they pay our taxes and tariffs." Keqing said.
A lot of the legal jargon she talked about went over Dubois' head. A part of him now wished he had listened to his father and had stayed in business school.
"I am perhaps not the best person to speak to this kind of thing." said Dubois, "If you would like, I could get someone to speak to you some other time?"
"That may be for the best." Keqing said, "I would still like to speak to you personally. You've fought at Verdun, right?"
Dubois nodded, "I have. At this point, I think most of us have fought there."
"I've read about it in the papers. How do you do it?" she asked, "How do you fight in your war?"
He didn't really have an answer. Dessent believed that they were shouldering the burden so that those at home didn't have to. Augustin believed that it was his life's purpose, always having dreamed of taking part in a Great War like his ancestors that served under Napoleon.
Dubois? He joined the army because he didn't know what to do with his life. He had gotten a degree in business, but he never enjoyed it. The army was an escape, he thought at the time. He'd stay for a few years before getting a handle on what he wanted to do.
And then the war began.
"I am a soldier." Dubois finally said, "It is my job."
"Your job is to lead men across a dead field while under enemy musket fire. You are braver than most, I suppose."
"The papers are written by those who have not spent enough time on the front to know what it is truly like." Dubois remarked, "While they see us as throwing men in wasteful attacks, I see the efforts of the Flying Corps surveying the enemy positions, the efforts of the artillery to soften them up, the efforts of fellow officers preparing their men for the worst. We do our best, sometimes it just is not enough."
"I apologise if I offended you."
He shook his head, "No, not at all. I was just giving you a different perspective. Verdun is hell, that is certain, but is a different kind of hell every day."
"Some days are spent under German barrage. Others are spent in boredom as you have nothing to take your mind off of the mud and the misery. Everyday is hell."
The two went on, Keqing asking Dubois about France and his world, and Dubois asking Keqing about Liyue and the other nations.
"You've heard of the Fatui, right?" she asked.
"Sir Aether and Miss Paimon told us about them, yes. They told us of what they did in Liyue and his battle against the 11th Harbinger."
"May I ask what France's stance on the Fatui is?"
"They are diplomats of Snezhnaya, and are to be treated as such. They have done nothing untoward against us, I can only hope that remains to be true."
Keqing nodded, "I see. I don't exactly trust them to stay so cordial with you for long. It all depends on them, I suppose." She noticed Dubois' staring down along the cathedral, "Do you have gods in your world?"
"Yes."
"What are they like?"
Dubois thought for a moment, "It depends on what god you follow. Christians and Muslims believe in only one god, pagans follow multiple, and different pagans may have different pantheons with different gods. The Christian god is said to be slow to anger and rich in kindness. The same could be said for the Muslim god."
"You have not met your gods?" Keqing asked.
"Ours are not like your Archons," Dubois explained, "many believe God is above us. Beyond us. Others question the very existence of a God, owing to the fact that we have no true tangible evidence, and the scripture being thousands of years old."
Keqing followed along, though she was a little surprised. The Archons were very much a fact of life in Teyvat, despite her own doubts of the power of Rex Lapis. To hear of a world where such beings were even debated was completely foreign to her.
The conversation between them grew quiet, the two not having anything else to say to one another. Dubois was the first to stand from the pew.
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Keqing."
"I can say the same, Captain."
The two shook hands and Dubois walked off. He'd need to write a letter to Sir Jacques to send a delegation to Liyue soon. He also was reminded of Sir Aether's letter from a few days ago. He will be leaving for Inazuma tomorrow.
Evening
20th of May, 1916
Northland Bank, Liyue Harbour
Koralev was currently waiting for an audience with the 11th Harbinger, Tartaglia. His letter to the Tsaritsa in his pocket, he busied himself with a newspaper that the French had translated to the language of Mondstadt. One of his agents had been able to procure the paper for him.
The situation France faced in their own world was dire. Stuck in the meat grinder of Verdun, he thought of ways that the Fatui could perhaps exploit it for their benefit. Delusions were lucrative, and he was sure the French or the Germans would like to get their hands on such power.
"Sir Koralev," a clerk called, "Sir Tartaglia is ready for you."
Rolling up the paper, he followed the clerk to the back and into the Harbinger's office, opening the door for him.
The 11th Harbinger was one that Koralev had some respect for. He was Snezhnayan, a true patriot, one who loyally followed the Tsaritsa. His more overt methods however made it hard for him to work with the man.
"Sir Koralev, a pleasure to see you again." Tartaglia said, gesturing at the seat across his desk, "Take a seat, I hear you have much to tell me."
He took the chair, sitting down and placing the newspaper on his desk, "Read this, if you would."
"Ah, that tone of yours is going to get you in trouble with any other Harbinger." He read it, quickly finding himself intrigued by its contents, "This paper is from the otherworlders?"
Koralev nodded, "The French, yes. They have recently secured trade rights and have convinced Mondstadt to cede Dadaupa Gorge to them."
"Mondstadt ceded their land?"
He nodded again.
"I've heard rumours of the portal, but this is the first I've heard of anything coming from it. The French, are they powerful?"
"They cleared the Gorge completely of its Hilichurl population." Koralev explained, "My agents have also reported that every one of them is armed with a repeating musket. They are a professional fighting force."
"They rely on muskets then? I don't supposed they'll put up much of a fight in close quarters then." Tartaglia smirked, his specialty was with melee weapons after all, and if these newcomers were to become enemies of the Tsaritsa… "Have you seen them in action?"
"Not personally, but my agents have watched them use their weapons on Hilichurl bands. They have automatic muskets like the repeaters on Fontainian Gardameks around the Gorge, and they have man portable designs as well. The volume of fire they reported was unprecedented."
Koralev then pulled the letter he had written for the Tsaritsa out of his pocket, presenting it to the Harbinger, "I have a letter for the Tsaritsa explaining the situation. I believe that we must take action against the French."
Tartaglia adopted a questioning gaze, "Why is that?"
"They have already asked for land from Mondstadt under the guise of their own security and have started publishing this newspaper. French troops have been stationed within the city as well. They are occupying a sovereign nation."
"It could be said that we do the same with every other nation in Teyvat." he noted, "Though I understand your concern. What's stopping them from just Mondstadt? Supposedly this war they're tangled with is keeping the majority of their forces engaged. It's likely that they want to exploit Teyvat's resources to aid them. Their very presence threatens the Tsaritsa's dream..."
Tartaglia took the letter, "I shall forward this to the Tsaritsa. I recommend you return to Mondstadt and report to your branch master."
"I am the branch master." said Koralev.
"Ah, then if you trust in your subordinates, you could stay for a meal?"
"I'll take you up on that offer."
Evening
20th of May, 1916
French Trenches near Fort Douaumont
The attack had failed.
Jacob recounted the experience. The Germans had stalled the French in the forward positions long enough for German reinforcements from behind the line to support the ones in Fort Douaumont. The attack at that point had lost all momentum, and the French were being enclosed on their flanks by the fresh German troops.
Jacob remembered when his machine gunner was shot, turning to the side to see a German racking his bolt. He fired back, killing him, but then another German took his place. While that one fell, another one came. And then another, then another.
The sight of their perceived encirclement caused panic amongst the French, and they were forced to give up their positions. They had held out for an hour in the forward positions themselves.
And then the German counter batteries fired. They had hit the French artillery that had been supporting the attack, and then they turned their guns to the French.
No longer safe within the trenches, and with the Germans in their heel, the French had to flee.
It was a disaster.
Out of the six thousand odd men that took part in the attack, a sixth of them had died, with half the remaining number wounded or left behind to be captured by the enemy.
Over half of the attacking force lost in one day.
Four Battalions had suffered such grave losses that they were being sent out of Verdun, as per General Pétain's order of rotating units based on the number of casualties they had sustained.
Jacob wanted to weep. He wanted to scream. He felt so helpless, unable to stop the rout, unable to take back the fort. Unable to do anything right.
But he was an officer. Officers did not mourn the deaths of their men. They are examples for the men left, so they can keep moving forward.
"Lieutenant!" a young man, a corporal, saluted him, "The Colonel wishes to speak with you."
That's right. The reason the Colonel wanted to speak to him directly was because his captain had died during the attack. As the most senior officer in the company, he surmised that he was the next in command.
Jacob nodded to the corporal, who walked off. He looked into the bag he forgot was in his hand. Its contents? The identification tags of the wounded who died after the attack, those who suffered, were rescued, only to die in the mud of their own trenches.
He felt nothing looking at the tags.
He felt nothing at all in that instance.