Aoi Hyoudou: Thank you for your continued support. It's always great to see readers enjoying the new series. I'm excited to see how Ash's interactions with other characters in Mondstadt will unfold. And it's always fun to have some comedic moments in the story. As for the Travelers, they are still part of the narrative, even if they are off doing their own thing for now.
Venti
...
"And this here is the famous statue of Lord Barbatos, the Anemo Archon," Amber declared with a smile.
Ash, accompanied by Paimon and Amber, was being given a tour of Mondstadt by Jean's orders. As they walked around the city, they stumbled upon a plaza area where a large stone statue stood in the center. The statue depicted a mysterious young figure with a hood, two wings, and its hands cupped together. Despite the whispers and looks from the bystanders, Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario couldn't help but feel awed by the city's honor of a mystic figure like Barbatos.
Meanwhile, Paimon had a different opinion about the statue. She thought it was redundant and overboard to build a statue for a god-like being who hardly did anything to influence the outcome of Mondstadt's growth and its people. "Eh, don't you think it's a little too much?" the fairy-like being questioned, expressing her skepticism about the statue.
Amber could only scratch her head sheepishly, somewhat agreeing with Paimon. "Yeah, I think so too," she openly admitted. "I mean, I heard stories about Lord Barbatos, but most of them are pretty inaccurate, so I don't know what to think of it. But hey, I can't question the fact that the city was dedicated to building a statue for him," she added with a shrug.
"Sounds like he was important then," Ash said, staring at the details of the statue. He was fascinated by the intricate carvings and the overall design of the statue, as it was a testament to the skill of the artists who created it.
"Maybe so," Amber said, shrugging her shoulders again. She wasn't entirely convinced of Lord Barbatos' importance, but she didn't want to dismiss the beliefs of the people of Mondstadt either.
As Ash was staring up at the Barbatos statue, he suddenly noticed something strange. For a brief moment, he could have sworn he saw a figure sitting in the statue's cupped hands, staring down at the group with a bright smile. The young male had dark blue hair that bordered on black, with short twin braids that faded into an aqua color that glowed bright cyan when he cast magic. He wore a white ruffled blouse with a corset-like leather mid-section, along with teal shorts with gold embroidery and a matching teal cape held together by a deep blue and gold bow. He also wore white stockings with 3 golden diamond shapes along each leg and a beret-like hat with a Cecilia. Ash rubbed his eyes, thinking he was imagining things, but when he looked back up, the figure had disappeared.
"Ash, are you okay?" Amber asked, noticing the bewildered look on Ash's face. She felt slightly concerned and wondered if something was wrong.
Ash turned his gaze away from the statue and fixed his attention on the worried knight with a smile. "No need to worry," the Pokémon Trainer said, reassuring Amber. "I just thought I saw something strange for a moment, but it's nothing. Let's continue the tour." He tried to brush off the strange sighting and focus on the tour.
Amber noticed that Ash's explanation didn't seem to satisfy Paimon, who looked really annoyed. The fairy-like being flew towards Ash's face and demanded a real answer from him. "Out with it, Ash! Paimon knows when someone is lying," she replied, her impatience getting the better of her. Amber couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the sight of Paimon's reaction.
"Wait, really?" Ash asked in disbelief, surprised that Paimon was able to tell when he was lying. He had never encountered a creature like her before, and he was starting to find her more intriguing with each passing moment.
"That's right!" Paimon straightened her posture in a cocky manner with her little fists against her hips. "Paimon always knew Aether was lying to Paimon when he always tried to hide something," she explained, which drew a confused look from Ash.
"Aether? Who's Aether?" Amber chuckled at Ash's reaction, amused by the befuddlement on his face.
"Oh, that's right, you guys still haven't met yet," the female knight realized, remembering that Aether was on a mission before Ash arrived in Mondstadt. "You see, Aether is an Outlander who, like you, mysteriously arrived in Mondstadt not so long ago," Amber explained.
"I see," Ash said, trying to process the information that was given to him. He found it intriguing that there were others like him who had mysteriously appeared in this world. He wondered if there were any other similarities or connections between him and Aether, but he decided to leave those thoughts for later.
"The only reason you guys haven't met yet was because Aether went on a side mission with Barbara to help her gather some materials," Amber explained. Noticing that Ash seemed like he was about to ask who Barbara was, she quickly added, "Barbara's the deaconess of the Church of Favonius and an idol to many of her fans. And she's also Jean's younger sister." Ash's eyes widened in surprise. He had no idea that Jean had a younger sister who was a church maiden and an idol.
"She's something else," Ash commented, to which Amber nodded in agreement.
"She really is, although it can get annoying for her," Amber agreed with a slight smile. Ash looked at her, confused. "Her fanbase would follow her around even if she were on a day off," she explained. "It's hard for her to have a moment of peace and quiet, but she still manages to handle everything with grace and kindness."
"That's crazy," Ash said, feeling sympathetic towards Barbara. He could only imagine how difficult it must be to be as popular as her.
"Tell me about it," Amber said with a tired sigh, feeling a bit sorry for Jean's little sister. "Anyway," she continued, lifting her hand and pointing her finger past the statue towards a large church-like structure that almost looked like a castle in the distance. Ash followed her gaze and saw the impressive structure she was pointing at. "That's the Church of Favonius. We could check it out, but since Barbara's still not back yet, we can do it some other time," she suggested, to which Ash nodded in agreement.
"That's fine."
"Wait a minute!" Paimon suddenly interjected, growing a little annoyed that Ash and Amber were getting off-topic. They both turned their attention to the fairy girl. "Don't try to change the subject here. You still haven't told us what was bothering you earlier," she said with an angry pout. Ash and Amber exchanged a glance before turning back to Paimon.
"Oh, right, sorry, Paimon," Ash apologized, scratching his head sheepishly. "Well, I thought I saw someone sitting on the statue's hands and staring right back at us," he explained, hoping to put Paimon's curiosity to rest.
"Wait, really?" Amber asked as she glanced back at the Barbatos statue, but she noticed nothing out of the ordinary. She turned back to Ash with a frown. "Are you sure?" she asked again, wondering if Ash was playing a prank on them.
"I'm not even sure myself," Ash said with a sigh, feeling a little embarrassed that he might have imagined it. "Maybe I just saw a shadow or something," he added, trying to convince himself.
Amber nodded in agreement. "It could have been just your imagination," she said, patting his shoulder reassuringly.
Paimon, on the other hand, still looked skeptical. "Hmm, I'm not so sure about that," she mumbled under her breath.
"In any case, there's still more to see," Amber said, trying to lighten the mood with a smile. "Let's go!" Ash smiled back at her and nodded, feeling grateful for her positive attitude. He and the group followed the female knight as she led the way towards another part of Mondstadt. Despite the strange encounter earlier, Ash was excited to see more of the city and learn about its history and culture.
Meanwhile, the mysterious bard reappeared and sat on the statue's cupped hands, watching the group's retreating form with a smile. He knew that there was something special about Ash and his companions, and he was eager to see what kind of adventures they would have in Mondstadt. "This might be interesting after all," he said with a chuckle, his fingers strumming the chords of his lyre. He had a feeling that he would be crossing paths with them again very soon.
...
"This is With Wind Comes Glory!" Amber's group stopped in front of a special souvenir shop. They were greeted by Marjorie who ran the store.
"This is where you can purchase souvenirs from your wonderful trip to this beautiful place," Marjorie said with a warm smile. The shop was filled with unique items, from postcards to handmade crafts. As Amber browsed the shelves, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the memories she had made during her journey.
"Boring!" Paimon rudely interrupted Amber, whose eyebrow slightly twitched in annoyance. "Let's go somewhere more fun!" she argued. Amber took a deep breath and tried to keep her calm. "Paimon, please be respectful. Marjorie has been kind enough to show us around her shop," Amber said firmly. Paimon rolled her eyes but didn't argue further. As they left the shop, Amber couldn't help but feel a little frustrated with Paimon's behavior. She decided to talk to her about it later when they were alone.
...
"I love cats!" exclaimed Amber, pointing towards a group of felines lazing around outside the tavern. "Wow, this place is called the Cat's Tail. It's a shame we're not of legal drinking age yet. Otherwise, we could have gone in," she sighed.
"Aw, that's too bad," pouted Paimon. "Then why did we even bother stopping here?" she grumbled.
Suddenly, Lucario started growling at the cats, his canine instincts kicking in. The cats noticed and hissed back at Lucario in anger. Paimon quickly pulled Lucario back, realizing that it wasn't a good idea to provoke the feline creatures. "Easy there, Lucario. Let's move on," she said, trying to calm the Pokémon down.
The tension between Lucario and the cats escalated quickly. The growling and hissing became more intense, and it seemed like a fight was about to break out. Paimon frantically tried to pull Lucario away from the cats, but it was clear that the Pokémon was determined to defend its territory. The group stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do next, as the standoff continued.
Amber looked around nervously, realizing that the situation was getting out of hand. "Maybe this isn't the best place for us," she said, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "Let's move on to another place." The group quickly left the location, hoping to find a more peaceful spot for their next stop.
...
"Hm?" Katheryne, the receptionist for the Adventurers' Guild, looked up with curiosity as Amber approached her desk followed by her party. "Oh, hello Amber! Are you here to sign up for a mission?" she asked with a friendly tone. As she looked at Pikachu and Lucario, she couldn't help but express her interest, "And who are these strange creatures with you?"
"Hi, Katheryne!" Amber greeted Katheryne with a smile, pleased to see her again. "And they belonged to Ash here," she explained, referring to Pikachu and Lucario. Ash gave a friendly wave at the receptionist as if on cue, adding to the introduction.
"I hope you didn't include Paimon with the 'strange creatures' category, Katheryne!" Paimon spoke up, puffing her cheeks in annoyance with her hands on her hips. "I'm not just some strange creature, you know," she added, sounding a bit offended. Amber chuckled at Paimon's reaction.
"Of course not, Paimon," Katheryne reassured the fairy girl with a slight smile, noticing that Paimon still seemed a little annoyed. She then redirected her focus to Amber and asked, "So, Amber, what brings you here then?" Katheryne inquired, her tone curious and professional.
"Since Ash's new here, we were just showing him around Mondstadt," Amber explained, gesturing towards Ash as she spoke, "and I thought bringing him here to Adventurers' Guild wouldn't be a bad location to visit, in case Ash decided to take on some missions to build up his reputation one day," she continued, her tone friendly and helpful.
"I see."
"Adventurers' Guild? What's that?" Ash asked, his curiosity piqued by the mention of the guild.
Katheryne gave him a small smile as she focused her attention on him and began to explain, "Adventurers' Guild is where I assign daily missions to guild members to take on different requests from citizens within Mondstadt. Depending on how well you do once you complete the tasks, your reputation level will expand, and you will receive rewards based on your completions," she explained, her tone patient and helpful.
"I see..." Ash said, taking in all the information provided to him. "It sounds like a lot of work, but also fun too," he added, grinning at the thought of embarking on new adventures and challenges.
Katheryne smiled, "Yes, it can be quite exciting. There are always new missions available, and the rewards can be quite generous," she said, her tone encouraging. Amber chimed in, "Plus, it's a great way to help the people of Mondstadt and earn their trust and respect," she added, her tone confident. "And when it comes to tougher missions, it's best to form a party to make it a lot easier to complete the tasks."
"That's cool," Ash commented, nodding in agreement. "I'm looking forward to meeting other adventurers and forming a party with them," he added, his excitement growing.
Amber smiled, "That's the spirit, Ash. I'm sure you'll make some great friends here at the Adventurers' Guild," she said, her tone encouraging.
Katheryne nodded, "Absolutely. The guild is a great place to meet other adventurers and form lasting connections," she said, her tone warm and welcoming. "So, if you are ever interested in participating, just let me know and we will sign you up as a member with Adventurers' Guild," Katheryne informed the Pokémon Trainer. "And if you need any assistance or guidance, don't hesitate to ask. We are always here to help," she added.
"Thank you, Katheryne. I appreciate it," he said, feeling grateful for the warm welcome he had received.
"Okay, now with that settled, can we get something to eat? Paimon's a little hungry," whined the fairy girl.
Amber, looking a little annoyed, replied, "Paimon, you just ate a few hours ago."
However, Paimon was persistent. "But I'm still hungry!" she whined again.
Amber sighed and gave in, suggesting they grab a quick bite at Good Hunter. Paimon was overjoyed at the idea, thanking Amber profusely. She then turned to Ash and asked, "I bet you're a little hungry too, aren't you?" inviting him to join them.
"I mean, I already ate not too long ago as w-" Ash's stomach suddenly growled loudly, interrupting him mid-sentence. He blushed slightly in embarrassment while Amber couldn't help but giggle at the unexpected noise.
"Looks like your stomach's saying otherwise," she teased playfully.
"I guess so..."
"Don't worry, it's on me this time around, but I expect you will return the favor next time," Amber said with a smile, teasing Ash playfully.
"Sure," Ash chuckled in response, grateful for the offer.
As Amber sharply turned away from Ash, she suddenly collided with someone. Ash acted quickly and caught the female knight before she fell backwards. However, the unexpected victim turned out to be Noelle, a Favonius maid, who fell backward with a loud 'ow.' Amber quickly helped Noelle back up, apologizing profusely for the accident. "I'm so sorry, Noelle! I didn't see you there," Amber exclaimed, feeling guilty for the collision.
"It's okay, Amber," Noelle reassured her fellow knight. "I should be the one apologizing. I wasn't paying attention if I wasn't l-" Noelle suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her heart racing as she fixed her eyes on Ash. The Pokémon Trainer looked back at her with a friendly smile, causing Noelle to feel a little flustered.
Paimon couldn't help but notice the interaction between Ash and Noelle. As she glanced back and forth at the two, a smug smirk suddenly appeared on her face. It seemed to Paimon that Noelle had a small crush on Ash, despite not knowing him very well.
As Amber noticed the exchange between Noelle and Ash, she couldn't help but feel a little concerned for the maid. Noelle had always been a hardworking and dedicated maid who dreamt of being a Knight of Favonius, but she also had a tendency to get flustered around people she admired. Amber knew that if Noelle's crush on Ash continued to grow, it could potentially affect her chances of being a knight someday. "Hey, Noelle, are you okay?" Amber asked, hoping to distract her from her thoughts.
"Oh yes, Amber," Noelle replied quickly, trying her best to hide her embarrassment. She straightened her posture and took a deep breath, hoping to calm her nerves. "I'm fine, thank you," she added, giving Amber a small smile. Despite her efforts to compose herself, Noelle couldn't help but steal a few glances at Ash.
"Well, okay then," Amber said with a deep frown, not entirely convinced that Noelle was okay. She could tell that the maid was still feeling a little flustered, and Amber didn't want her to feel uncomfortable around Ash. "If you're sure, Noelle," Amber said, her tone still a little concerned. "Let's go ahead and grab that bite to eat, shall we?" she suggested, hoping to change the subject.
As the group was about to move on, Noelle unexpectedly raised her voice, startling the rest of the party. "Wait!" she said, drawing everyone's attention. "Um...who's he, Amber?" Noelle asked, her gaze fixed on Ash. It was clear to everyone that the maid was curious about the Pokémon Trainer.
Amber hesitated for a moment before introducing Ash to Noelle. "This is Ash," she said with a smile. "He's our special guest who me and Paimon found a few days ago at the front gate. We're showing him around Mondstadt right now," she explained.
Noelle's eyes lit up with interest as she realized that Ash was the other traveler that Jean had mentioned. "Wait, are you the same traveler that Jean was talking about?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement. Ash nodded, confirming her suspicions.
"Yes, that's me," he replied with a smile. "Jean and I met and she told me about Mondstadt's history and culture," he added.
"It's nice to meet you, Ash! I'm Noelle," she said with a bright smile. "I'm one of the maids at Favonius Headquarters here in Mondstadt, and I hope to become a knight just like Amber someday," she added, her voice filled with determination.
Ash smiled back at Noelle, impressed by her goal. "It's great to meet you too, Noelle," he replied warmly. "I'm sure you'll make a great knight one day," he added, giving her a thumbs up. Noelle blushed at Ash's words, feeling more motivated than ever to pursue her dream of becoming a knight.
As Amber was about to speak, she was suddenly cut off by a commotion nearby. Several citizens ran past the group, clearly excited about something happening at the plaza. "Hey, what's going on?" Amber asked one of the passing citizens.
"A bard is about to start his music performance at the plaza!" the citizen replied excitedly.
Amber glanced back at Noelle and Ash, a smile spreading across her face. "Hey, why don't we check it out?" she suggested, gesturing towards the direction of the plaza. "It'll be a great way to experience the culture of Mondstadt," she added. Noelle and Ash nodded in agreement, excited to see what the performance had in store.
As the group made their way towards the plaza, Paimon couldn't help but get a sense that the bard the citizens were excited about was the same one she always referred to as the tone-deaf bard. "Hey, do you think it's the tone-deaf bard the citizens are excited about?" she whispered to Ash, trying not to attract attention.
"Um, who?" Ash asked, looking a little confused.
Paimon realized that she had forgotten that Ash hadn't met Venti yet, and she quickly explained. "Oh, sorry! Venti, the bard they were talking about. He's...kind of famous in Mondstadt," she said, trying to keep her voice down. Ash nodded, understanding Paimon's explanation.
"Ah, got it," he replied, looking forward to experiencing the bard's music for himself.
...
As Ash and his group approached the plaza, they noticed a sizable crowd had gathered near the Lord Barbatos statue. Curious, they made their way towards the commotion and were surprised to see the mysterious figure Ash had seen earlier sitting in the statue's hands. It was none other than Venti, who was already in the middle of a mesmerizing music show, playing his lyre beautifully. The melody he produced was so elegant that even Ash was left in awe.
"Beautiful." Amber's eyes sparkled with appreciation as she listened to the music, and a genuine smile played on her lips.
Noelle, too, was deeply moved by the music. Her usually vigilant demeanor softened, and she closed her eyes, allowing herself to be enveloped by the harmonious notes.
Paimon, ever the sassy and opinionated companion, crossed her tiny arms and pouted in disapproval. "Showoff," she grumbled, her voice carrying a hint of irritation.
Venti's keen gaze fell upon Ash amidst the sea of onlookers, and a mischievous smile graced his lips as his fingers continued to dance on the strings of his lyre. The wind Anemo Archon seemed to have anticipated Ash's arrival, and his playful expression suggested a level of familiarity that hinted at a deeper connection.
Ash felt a sense of unease as he noticed Venti's gaze fixed on him. He couldn't help but wonder why the bard was staring at him. However, he had a strange feeling that Venti was somehow anticipating his arrival.
As Venti concluded his enchanting melody, the final notes lingered in the air before fading away, leaving a momentary silence. Then, like a storm breaking, a thunderous roar of cheers and whistles erupted from the plaza. The crowd expressed their appreciation with unbridled enthusiasm. The cheers echoed throughout the air, creating a symphony of joy that filled the plaza. People clapped, whistled, and shouted words of praise, their excitement a testament to the magical experience Venti had shared with them.
"Thank you. Thank you. You are all too kind," Venti said, graciously nodding and waving his hands in the air with a bright smile, basking in the cheers of the crowd.
Paimon couldn't resist expressing her thoughts. With a sigh, she remarked, "That tone-deaf bard... He always wants to be in the spotlight."
The mischievous bard spared a side glance at Ash's group, a playful smile lighting up his features. With a flourish of his hand, he gestured to the spectators, redirecting their attention towards Ash. The crowd, still buzzing with excitement from the performance, followed Venti's lead, turning their curious gazes toward the new traveler.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we have a special guest in our presence. It's the new traveler," Venti exclaimed, his voice ringing out over the excited crowd.
"So it is," said one of the Mondstadt locals, nodding in agreement.
"Is it possible he's friends with this bard here?" said a woman in the crowd, pointing at Venti with a curious expression.
Venti, seizing the opportunity to amplify the intrigue, strolled confidently towards Ash's group. With a mischievous grin, he wrapped an arm around Ash's shoulders. Pikachu, responding to the sudden movement, jumped down, perhaps equally caught off guard by the playful gesture. "Yup, that's right," Venti declared cheerfully, causing Ash to flinch in surprise.
"What?"
"Shush! Just play along, okay?" His warm breath brushed against Ash's neck, sending a subtle shiver down the Pokémon Trainer's spine.
Ash gave a slight nod in response to Venti's whispered request.
Venti flashed a warm smile before redirecting his attention to the crowd. "If you are curious, how about we talk it over for some wine?" Venti proposed to the onlookers, his words met with a ripple of mutterings and curious glances among the spectators. Fixing his gaze once more on Ash, Venti's grin widened as he posed the question directly to the traveler, "What do you say?" The wind Anemo Archon's eyes sparkled with mischief, inviting Ash to join.
Paimon interjected with a hint of annoyance, "Hey! What do you think you're doing, tone-deaf bard?" Her tiny arms crossed in front of her chest, emphasizing her disapproval.
Venti turned his attention to the floating companion. "Oh, come now, Paimon. Just having a bit of fun," he replied, his tone light and carefree.
Paimon, however, wasn't easily swayed. "Fun for who? Certainly not for Ash!" she retorted, her frustration evident in her tiny voice. "You just want free wine!" she accused the mischievous bard, her arms still crossed in front of her chest.
Venti's nervous chuckle persisted in the face of Paimon's intense glare, but he seemed determined not to let her disapproval dampen the mood entirely. Recognizing that he couldn't let Paimon win so easily, the mischievous bard shifted his focus back to Ash, a glint of innocence in his eyes. "How about it?" Venti asked with an innocent expression, ignoring Paimon.
"Hey!"
Before Ash could provide Venti an answer, the atmosphere shifted abruptly as a cold, strong breeze swept unexpectedly through the area. The once lively and celebratory mood in the plaza was replaced by a sudden sense of uneasiness that raced through the spectators, causing many of them to exchange worried glances with each other.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" The sudden scream pierced through the uneasy silence that had settled over the plaza. As the crowd turned their gaze skyward, a collective gasp echoed through the area. A massive silhouette dominated the horizon, hovering above Mondstadt in the far distance.
The creature, scaly and majestic, showcased a striking shade of blue. Its main body exhibited a lighter azure hue, while its talons and horns bore a darker midnight blue. The creature emanated an ethereal glow, with its eyes resembling a blue flame and the scales on its wings emitting an aqua radiance. Six large wings adorned its formidable frame, granting it the ability to soar through the sky. A massive tail, feathered like that of a bird, trailed behind, and two goat-like horns adorned its head, transitioning from blue to black in a gradient. The creature's sharp beak, teeth, and talons added to its intimidating presence. Four sets of long, sharp nails on each talon and two spikes on its back further emphasized its formidable nature. As the crowd beheld the awe-inspiring and fearsome dragon in the distance, a collective chill ran down every person's spine, paralyzed by the sheer power and majesty of the creature that had graced the skies above Mondstadt.
It was Stormterror.
...
Dvalin must be thinking after overhearing Venti inviting Ash for a drink, "How dare you go drinking without me, Barbatos! Now Mondstadt must pay!" XDD Anyway, the next chapter will be something else, and also, a certain Traveler will show up to aid Mondstadt. Get ready! xp