"My, my. What an epiphany." Venti said, standing directly below the wooden palisade, observing slajlandian soldiers being about finished with the set-up and waiting either on the wall or in tight groups close to the four entrances. "You organise them well, General."
"Slajland is sparse in people, my musically gifted friend." Harald said, smiling greatly and fully. "But a ship with even the smallest of holes can sink in an instant."
"Seafaring can truly give you a breeze of inspiration." Venti agreed, as his ears twitched. "Hmm, I hear they have a war speech going on soon."
"So they will attack after." Harald concluded, proceeding away from the guest and to the palisade. "I want to hear this. And so should you."
"Oh, well."
"Brothers! Cousins! Father! Sons! Clanmates!" A tall man in a full thick chainmail and thick sea blue tunic underneath called, parading on the equally armored brown horse in front of the rows of similarly dressed warriors. "As you all know, today marks our just and sanctioned pacification of treacherous Mondstadtian rabble! The treason of thousand years past has now come to cleanse the evil of insubordination and pave a way to new era of prosperity, order and strength for our Clan!"
"HUUUURRRREAAAAAYYYY!" Thunderous roar of positive reception sounded from mounted combatants.
"But, as we see before us, bootlickers of the south had lied their way into providing for some mercenaries to themselves." The man speaking continued, turning towards the wooden camp ahead. "Look at these foul faces, primitive weapons and shoddy craftsmanship! Only one of innumerable grains of sand on the beach that exemplifies that anything outside of what Lawrence Clan approves is below human!"
"Yyyeeeaaahhh!"
"So what should we wait for more? Dissidence is begging to be cleansed with such pitiful excuses of preventing order! Bring them down!"
"YEERERRAAGHHH!"
"How did it sound to you?" Venti asked, looking left and up at the Slajlandian General.
"Meh, I've heard better war speeches from my mother." Harald said unimpressed, as he noticed two grey-brown masses rushing ahead from the sides of a tight cavalry formation with a large banner sporting Lawrence Clan symbol in the center. "Of course, they send their peasants first to weaken us."
"And you will have to kill them?" Venti asked curiously.
"I mean, I don't like wasting ammunition." Harald responded, looking down at the boy in the green cap. "Have any ideas?"
"I have one." Venti responded, pulling out a flute. "But I need your army to stay put."
"Aye, we can do that. Now hit it!"
"Endless thank you for your help, noble knight." Ayaka said warmly, as he, Noelle and two Iramati tribesmen sat down on a tripped tree log for a rest, in front of them standing a table set with plentiful mixtures, wooden bowls and other kitchen utensils.
"I only did what was asked of me to help." Noelle blushed lightly, being as humble as usual.
"The crew is about fully healed up by now" Iramati to their left said, crossing her arms with satisfaction. "Also, you have some nice vegetation over here. Few animals eat it I presume."
"Well, indeed wild animals of a bigger size aren't often seen." Noelle nodded. "Except Wolvendom that is."
"I mean, not that we mind." Iramati to their right responded, pointing ahead to the house-sized pile of bone masks. "Those grey monkeys make for a perfectly challenging hunting target. Even if they are not to be eaten."
"The Hilichurles?" Ayaka asked.
"That's the name. Yeah." Iramati to the left agreed.
"I must say though, their neck fur makes for amazing mix-in clothing material ." Iramati to the right added. "Truly, Teyvat has so much for us to discover."
"Right." Ayaka agreed. "I am indeed glad we got to meet with you."
"Ohh, courtesy of the nobles never gets old." Iramati to the right chuckled lightly. "But since our next Khan and your brother are away at the time to converse with the Knights of Favonius, we may as well share more tales about our lands, don't we?"
"Indeed." Iramati to the left nodded, pulling out a brown leather sack with cream-dark seeds in a shape of a sickle inside. "This here are seeds of a desert plant called Anthonine Barb. Called so because of adventures that died while trying to traverse them carelessly in an old folk tale."
"What are these like when they fully grow?" Noelle asked curiously.
"When fully grown, they appear as black, bundled wires that grow up and to the sides like a ball with spikes all around for protection." Iramati warrior continued. "Spikes they have are very sharp and can slice about any meat and skin with no difficulty."
"That sounds awful to end up inside of." Ayaka responded, gulping lightly.
"Indeed. That's why people don't go into them usually. But Anthonine, according to the version my Mom shared with me, was impatient and went through them, quickly collapsing to the pain of body being torn apart and the rest is obvious."
"... Oh." Noelle and Ayaka gasped together.
"Erm, excuse me." Cute voice made them four look behind at a familiar person standing behind them with a purple, roughly square lead in hands. "What is that?"
"Yoimiya?"
"That, my dear guest, is a leaf of a certain tree grown in Labigail Coast." Iramati botanist continued her teaching, carefully taking the leaf into her own hands. "It is called Sarungia. Basically a seawater variation of rungia, distinguishable by their leaves turning purple shortly after separation from the main plant and very potent spread even without proper growth."
"Sounds impressive." Ayaka commented.
"But won't its appearance here in Teyvat cause seashores to become abundantly grown over?" Iramati on the other end of the log asked.
"Not quite, because this plant doesn't like being on rocks or sand. Only grass by the saltwater." Iramati botanist explained. "Its flower petals also has minor quirk of curing Eleazar, but that illness got wiped out a four life times ago-"
"Eleazar?!" Noelle exclaimed, almost tripping down on the ground.
"Something the matter?"
"By Eleazar you mean the illness that makes the infected person fatigued and slowly develop black scales over the body?" Ayaka asked in turn.
"Now that you said it… Yes, yes that's it." Iramati responded with a kind smile. "You in Teyvat haven't figured it out yet?"
"I heard that Eleazar is impossible to cure completely, and can only have the symptoms removed." Noelle responded.
"You know how much smiles can this revelation cause?" Yoimiya added, showly twitching to the left as if resisting an urge to run in that direction.
"You want us to plant it around here?"
"Land given to you has plenty of coast." Noelle responded. "I gladly join and help!"
"Me too!" Yoimiya added, moving her arms up to a 90-degree action-ready pose. "Ayaka?"
"I can't say no to such a virtuous idea." Miss Kamisato smiled, slowly standing up. "Should we gather whatever we need?"
"No need to." New voice joined them, as the group looked back towards the forest where Kadiq stood along with about a dozen of maidens from his tribe behind him. "I want my people to feel at home too. So let's get to work."
"Bloody hell just ignited." Harald said with an impressed face as he saw a lake-size conga line of peasants dance to a rhythm of Venti's flute, walking away into the forest and to the side of the clear path between the camp and Lawrence Clan force. Effectively leaving the battle as a result.
"How did it go?" Venti asked, looking up at the impressed General.
"Amazing work, bard." Harald responded, as he looked ahead and saw rows of horse archers in more oriental dressing appear from the forest and ride from behind Lawrence Clan core group. "These are the Sunutrians I heard from a scout last night."
"Splinter group of Iramati, yet." Venti added. "Seems they are in alliance against Mondstadt."
"Then we fight them as well." Harald said, as his soldiers brought up their slings, either pulling them for frontal strike or swinging around them for an arced throw. "Fire at will when in range!"
"..." His soldiers went silently obedient, before suddenly they started their throws and tosses from the tops of planted in trees.
"Areiya!" Callout of unrecognizable language came from the swooping in horse archers, who at once turned their charge to the left and opened their own bow fire, riding evenly alongside the palisade.
And then, all hell broke loose.
"Whoa!" Venti ducked, narrowly escaping an arrow to the head as Harald swapped in front of him with the all-to-recognizable rectangular shield.
"Get to safety young boy!" General shouted, as beside him one soldier was less fortunate and fell down the wall with a painful shriek.
"Khyaaghhh!"
"Gladly!" Venti agreed, dropping down from the wall and back to the camp grounds, getting into a conveniently shaded position from which he observed hail of rocks and arrows fly back and forth above him in the air.
"Knut?" One soldier asked, walking up to the now fallen flat body of an unlucky comrade, crouching to inspect the arrow stuck in the forehead, red fluid slowly spreading from the hole in the helmet and around the place. "... Dead on the spot. Dammit."
"Brace for impact! Square!" Harald shouted from the wall, as soldiers below swiftly organised into a right formation with shields around and above to take more arrows into the painted wood. "Young friend! Your usefulness has been outlived!" He added towards Venti, in the meanwhile going down from the wall on a rope.
"I don't think I will have to." Bard smirked, as he pulled out a lyre out of nowhere. "How about I play you the song of my people?"
"After the battle, if so." Harald commented with minimal amusement, running up to his square squad down below. "To the northern gate! Their cavalry is preparing to charge!"
"Haaarrr!" A grievous roar sounded back from the walled formation, as it started moving to the right towards the gap in the palisade - an obvious entrance."
"Now then." Venti sighed, putting the string up close to himself and tensing his back. "May the dead grant support to the living." He commented before backing away into the shadow, out of sight for people who had far more pressing concern at the moment.
"I presume the Acting Grand Master isn't available at the moment?" Ayato asked, as he and Hakh stood in the middle of Jean's office, along with locally available Favonius Captains in a half-circle between them and the deck.
"She will be tomorrow." Kaeya responded. "But once she's out I am confident she will agree to your proposal."
"Still, I must request you to decide on this matter now." Hakh added.
"Why the pressure, cutie?" Lisa asked with a melodramatic accent. "Something weighing you down?"
"..." Hakh went silent for a moment, checking his back and pockets before looking back up at the gathering. "I must say that Razenvy Khaganate can spread their operations onto us any day now-"
*THUD*
"What the?" Hertha asked out loud while everyone else looked behind at the doors slowly opening to reveal Matthias holding a maid with modestly length blonde hair in the air by the neck, looking like a mix of highschool bully pose and presentation of severe head. His hand is covered with cuts of nail origins.
"This woman, Adelaide Shepherd, is a traitor to Mondstadt and an agent of hostile forces!" He proclaimed with a riled up voice, dropping her down and not caring to observe her drop down on the knees, grabbing her red throat while gasping for air like a wounded animal.
"Matthias, what's the meaning of this?" Hakh asked, turning around just like all others did to pay direct attention.
"While trolling aimlessly around the city to blow off frustration you caused…" Matthias began, taking a pause to give Iramati heir a vicious glare. "... I happened to come across a suspicious activity in the backyard grounds of Favonius Cathedral." He continued, taking out a ripped letter and pulling out a card from it. "My grand hosts and fellow guests, please allow me to share the contents of this deceitful paper."
"Give me that." Kaeya said, walking over in a wide stride and unceremoniously grabbing the paper from his hand before getting to read it out loud.
"To The Great Lord Lawrence of The Lawrence Clan.
For many years, I had to see the land and home of my treacherously deceased Father, Crepus, be shamefully mismanaged and maligned by disgusting traitors and corrupted officials within Knights of Favonius. For years I hoped they could be changed for the better, cut out the rot within and become what Mondstadt needed to be secure, prosperous and most importantly: happy. But alas, with the last week my illusions of sincere will to do better have been shattered. And so, I plead to you, nobles just as royal as me and my ancestors and my Ragnvindr Clan, to accept my leading call for alliance and agreement to protect Mondstadt, land I know that you hold dear, from threat from outside and inside.
Barbatos my witness, Crepus my allegiance, peace after bravery, hope in victory.
Signed, Diluc Ragvindr, Dawn Winery."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"B-bbb-b…" Kaeya stuttered, his eyes going wide as he broke the uneasy silence of gathered officials and the quietly crying maid among them all.
"What can I even say?" Matthias crossed his arms with an annoyed gesture. "We discuss, they act. Then we wonder why we are so far behind."
"Diluc? How could he." Hertha asked, looking at Lisa and exchanging uneasy glares.
"How? Because he feels it's a better play for him." Matthias continued with a tone of complete confidence in his own viewpoint. "He sees the domino effect we try to stop and concludes that stopping it isn't worth it, a reason enough."
"So it appears Diluc is going to stir a rebellion in Mondstadt to later link up with Lawrence Clan armies." Hakh responded, slowly backing out of the room. "I need to gather my tribe and come back with the army to honor my vassalship."
"I'll join you as an escort." Matthias responded, before handing the envelope to Ayato and running out of the room, Iramati visitor following instantly after. "You all gather the defences!"
"... Shame." Ayato commented, before using the collective shock freeze in the room to walk up to the burning candle on the desk, and put up the envelope above it to read.
"I am sorry, but we can't keep going like this. A change is happening all around us, and since you are unable to act the part and protect Mondstadt and its people, I have to step up and do your job. Regardless of your opinion on it."
"He didn't want to do this." He concluded swiftly.
"I… I don't know what to think." Kaeya shaked his head, covering his eyepatch with left hand. "But it pains me to say this…"
"Hm?" Other four remaining people in the room looked back at him with anxious looks.
"We have to stop my brother from destroying Mondstadt. Whatever game he wants to play with Lawrences will only backfire on him." Kaeya said, suddenly pulling out his sword for all to see. "But to do that, hereby I call for an open declaration of war against the Lawrence Clan!"
"I agree." Lisa nodded decisively.
"I abstain from voting." Hertha added.
"Majority in favor it is." Kaeya confirmed, before crouching down to the side of the forcefully brought in maid. "Adelaide, I know you didn't mean to carry out a treason."
"But, Master Diluc will kill me once he finds out." Maid said, her body shaking and eyes shrinked.
"Not if we defeat him first." Kaeya responded with a polite gesture of helping her stand back up. "But for a time, could you join Knights of Favonius with our less… Outdoor activities? In exchange for pardon, that is, we need all the people we can get."
"That will be a godsent." Adelaide bowed lightly with respect and a warm smile. "Thank you, Master Kaeya."
"You can thank me with good work for Knights for a time being." The Cavalry Captain smiled. "Looking back at Lisa, Hertha and Ayato. "So, Mister Kamisato, are you here for alliance?"
"Mutual, I assume?" Guest from Inazuma asked back, smiling lightly as he knew the answer already.
"Mutual."
"Then I agree in full."
*Crash*
"Hold the line!" Harald shouted, sliding backwards so hard that his boots left visible plows in the dirt below. Apparently the push force of crashing down on his man charge was that strong.
"Heya! Heya! Heya!" Chant from forward sounded back, as suddenly the formation of cramped up shields and axes spread to the sides and General came up face to face with a speeding brown horse and a set of plate armor on top with lance in hand.
"Die scum!"
"Hargh!" Harald growled, stepping to the right and blocking the high lance strike with his shield, then swinging the Ace after the breaking in opponent and narrowly slicing the tail of the horse. "Dammit! Gather down!" He called into the air as battle turned from ranged exchange into a chaotic melee inside the camp.
"Bow down!" Another armored raider made him turn back to the front of the camp, once more facing an incoming lance to the head.
"Whoa!" Harald stepped to the right again and crouched, allowing horse and lance to go past him before bashing the edge of the shield against the rear leg of the horse, causing it to fall down to the side-slide with panicking neigh.
"Uwaaaaa!" The rider on top cried as well, going face-first into the dirt and sliding further into the camp, before meeting a premeditated downward axe swing.
"They don't give us mercy! So don't show them either!" Harald agitated on the sight of forgoing prisoner taking, running to the side and ducking under a sword slash from a lance-less knight who blocked his way.
"Eat steel!" The Lawrence Clan member shouted, swinging twice as his horse made slow side steps towards Harald.
"Not in years." General responded decisively, before suddenly jumping into the air and knocking down the sword upon its third swing.
"Oh!" Rider gasped in shock, finding himself to be disarmed before Harald tossed his shield at the precise angle to decrease the number of intact teeth in his mouth and throw him off balance.
"Pfah!" Harald laughed, seeing the cocky rider's body swing to the upside down position relative to the horse he rode into battle. "Gather 'round! Push hard!" He yelled next orders as he ran up to pick the shield again into the left hand and block a clone stone throw to his gut. "WATCH THE TARGETS!"
"Bragggh!" Less familiar yell got his attention to the right, where two of his soldiers were pushed back by suddenly thrown at them lance as the knight opposing them switched to a short spear and triangular-ish shield with Lawrence Clan insignia on it for battle. "Go back to swinging flails, runts!"
"You first!" Harald responded, suddenly tossing his axe at the knight, who blocked it with ease with a shield.
"Ha! What a farce!" Knight laughed, before Harald suddenly corrected himself with a stone throw right at uncovered by the helmet eye. "Off!"
"You nobles are so superior!" Harald called ironically, grabbing another axe tossed to him from the side. "Thanks, Fulke!" He added in an act of grace before running ahead to the disoriented enemy and slashing him on the left leg.
"Urghwaaa!"
"Now, brothers, now!" Harald called once more, having the two allies from earlier run up as well and literally axe the painted enemy out of the horse and flat on the ground. "Make sure he's dead!"
"Have at ye!"
"Wha-Aah!" Harald yelped in surprise, being smashed backwards with a hook smack of a spiked mace, briefly even lifting off the ground.
"Leave my noble brothers, runt!" New voice joined the fray as Harald looked up to see a familiar face from earlier smash one of his soldiers in the head so hard the helmet flew off the head and into the ground already covered with red fluid ground.
"Fight General like a general would! Akhh!" Harald called out, before grabbing himself on the throat and coughing blood.
"Hordes of murderers have no leaders, get humbled." Leader of Lawrence's army smirked, casually picking up the shield of his just so brought down clanmate to block two fired stones. "But I am never against cutting down rebellious plebs."
"Then come get one, son of a frog." Harald narrowed his eyebrows, before taking a defensive fighting stance of low crouch and sideways shield block.
"Gladly, mercenary." Lawrence Clan member smirked, before rushing ahead with a war cry. "Hyaaaa!"
"Hmh." Harald sniffed with a smirk before making an overhead sideways axe swing so hard, that shield his opponent Rose up to block was knocked down into dirt, digging half of itself into it like a stick.
"Huh?!"
"Bah!" Harald pressed on, shield bashing his opponent backwards to have himself freely turn into frontal position. "You swing your weapons like flails. If anything."
"Hrmgh!" His enemy growled, suddenly turning around to knock away incoming sneak attack from behind. "Get off me, pleb!"
*pluck*
"Get off of him." Harald said calmly, lowering his slings to pick up once again axe and shield after the bland shot at the rear of the head.
"Hrrr!" Lawrence Clanman turned back to look the General in the eyes. "Insolent!"
"As all of Slajlandian kin! Ack-kh!" Harald proclaimed, before suddenly coughing himself red into a crouch.
"Haaaa!" His opponent didn't waste any time, using the weakened state to launch an attack with an overhead mace strike.
"Hffd…" Harald almost hissed, raising his shield up once more only to have it broken in two halves as the mace went down, narrowly missing his face. But the attack didn't end there, forcing him to swing the axe upward and knock his opponent's jaw, forcing him backwards.
"Primitive!" His enemy shouted in a taunting manner, getting to run forward once more before a sudden rock from the side hit him on the ankle, bringing him down into a kneel. "AGH!"
"Servers you right, ukh." Harald commented, before noticing several heavy armored figures on horses and foot alike running towards the exit. "... Get out of my sight, blueballed."
"Your opposition won't be… Forgotten." His enemy added, slowly standing up as more Lawrence Clan members gathered with shields around him, slowly but surely escorting him away from the camp.
"... We won, General." One Slajlandian soldier said with relief, walking up to his mouth-bleeding overlord. "Now please, go rest in the camp. There doesn't seem to be too much blood."
"Ffuuufffuh… Fine." Harald relented, suffering too much internal damage to even cuss. "... And find the twink bard, he mustn't die."