Not much to say here, heh. Hope you enjoy!
A Knight's Retirement
Chapter 3: Acclimation
It was the day after Cyril had awoken in this wonderfully foreign land.
He took a moment to stretch, realizing that he'd taken off his armor to sleep. It wasn't something he often did back in Lordran, given how quickly things could get dangerous, but already he was beginning to get caught up in the peaceful atmosphere of Mondstadt. He couldn't help a small, amused smile from appearing on his face.
Still, he had no intention of venturing outside his quarters without his armor on.
Speaking of his accommodations, the room he'd been given was actually rather nice (though he didn't have a particularly high bar for that). The construction was the simple but aesthetically pleasing timber-focused style that most of Mondstadt's smaller architecture used, with solid wooden beams and polished flooring. As he prepared for the day he took a moment to ensure he looked presentable in the mirror, just in case he needed to remove his helmet, before beginning to strap on his armor piece-by-piece.
For now, Cyril had two immediate desires: finding work, and bathing in Mondstadt's atmosphere some more. He had to quash both of those though, as it was becoming more and more apparent that despite some surface-level similarities, this land was as alien as can be.
Yesterday, he'd glanced at a map in a bookstore he'd passed, and recognized absolutely none of the locations depicted, as he'd feared from his conversation with Lady Jean. A quick conversation with another merchant claiming to sell "elemental crystals" of some kind revealed that magic as he knew it either didn't exist or was completely unrecognizable from what he was used to. Apparently to use magic here, one had to be blessed with a "Vision", whatever that was. It was truly baffling to him that no one seemed to use pyromancies, sorceries, or miracles. It was as if he'd traveled to another reality altogether! Which, in all honesty, wouldn't be all that surprising.
So he was a fish out of water, so to speak. Therefore, his goal this morning was to go to the library Lady Jean had informed him of. The previous day he'd also noticed something interesting: despite being in a completely unknown land (or world, as he was beginning to suspect), he had no issues with reading signs or communicating with the citizens of Mondstadt. Which is all the better, given his lack of scholarly skill. Though he was as educated as a knight of Astora would've been expected to be, having to learn an additional language still would've been daunting.
The knight guarding the library seemed to recognize Cyril, and let him pass with no issue. And while the library itself certainly wasn't as grand as something like the Duke's Archives, it was more than enough for someone like Cyril.
It'd probably been an eternity since he'd navigated his way through a library to actually look for books, but luckily for him, the Knights of Favonius were well-organized. Within several minutes, he was making his way to an empty seat with a small stack of books. He'd retrieved a general encyclopedia for reference, what looked like a simple history book, and a traveler's guide.
He soon lost himself in learning about the land, which he found out is called "Teyvat". Teyvat is divided into several countries, each ruled apparently by a god, known as an "Archon". Each Archon was a master of a specific elemental attribute, and magical abilities were also derived from the elements. Interestingly, they didn't seem to have an exact equivalent for miracles or sorcery, but many powers listed had similar effects, such as hydro elemental techniques being used for healing.
Among mortals, some are granted "Visions" by the gods to amplify and hone their elemental skills. It sort of reminded him of how Lord Gwyn's miracles were passed down to followers of his covenant. Strangely, there seemed to be no set pattern or criteria for being granted a Vision, but Cyril knew the whims of beings that called themselves "gods" were unpredictable.
As he began to read more concrete information about the current state of Teyvat, he realized that despite the many marked scars and ruins from the so-called "Archon War" along with lighter conflicts since, there didn't seem to be any land or country that was in as dire of straits as Lordran and its surrounding lands had been. That was a very good thing, of course.
And he had to admit, the descriptions of places like Liyue and Inazuma were intensely fascinating, and he wouldn't be averse to traveling to visit them either. As he continued to read he was filled with a certain sense of wonder, and maybe just a bit of envy, that a whole realm like Teyvat was as prosperous and full of people as it was.
"Well, well, if it isn't our mysterious new friend?" A man's voice roused Cyril from his reading. He looked up to see a tan man with long dark blue hair approaching him. But the man's most distinctive feature was the eyepatch over his right eye.
Idly, Cyril also noted that the man's appearance likely made him more than a little popular among the ladies. And now that he knew what to look for, he spotted the cryo Vision on his person immediately. It matched the design of the ones he recalled seeing on Sister Barbara, Lady Jean, and Bard Venti as well.
Internally, he pondered half-jokingly about whether the gods favored those with good looks, or if their good looks came because they were favored. He'd only seen four Vision users thus far though, so further conclusions would have to wait.
"Greetings. I don't believe we've met. I am Cyril of Astora." Cyril stood and bowed slightly in respect. His helmet was already off and sitting on the table next to him (it wasn't very conducive to smooth reading), so his face was already exposed.
The man looked him over several times, focusing intently on his face, before cracking a sly smile. "I'm Kaeya Alberich, the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius."
"Sir Kaeya, then." Cyril nodded in return.
Kaeya's one visible eye widened, before he let out a short string of amused laughter. "C-Can't say I get called that all too often. A guy could get used to that kind of respect though."
The knight from Astora tilted his head questioningly. "Are you not commonly addressed in a manner befitting your station?"
"Befitting my station?" The odd knight of Mondstadt's mirth only seemed to increase at that. "No, we tend to be a bit casual around here. Even our great acting boss Jean doesn't keep an iron grip on us. Though we do make sure to behave ourselves depending on the situation."
Kaeya shook his head, the amused smile lingering on his face, before taking a seat across from Cyril. "Speaking of, Jean's told us Captains a bit about you. Far from home huh?" He asked with undisguised curiosity.
"Yes, very far if these books are any indication," Cyril admitted. "We called our gods Lords, not Archons. And I've never heard of any of these places or their gods themselves, either."
Though Cyril was pretty sure Lady Jean would've informed her trusted subordinates of all he'd said, a look of surprise and skepticism still made its way onto Kaeya's face. It did make sense to react as such, given how fantastical his circumstances were.
"Hm, that's some curious news indeed." Kaeya rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But hey, origins aside, I wanna know more about the man in the armor, if you know what I mean. Jean's not the type to pry, but I'm more than a little curious about your circumstances. If you're willing to share."
The reason for the sudden visit was becoming apparent: information gathering. Cyril took no offense, rather, his opinion continued to rise. His hosts were doing their due diligence while still being open and welcoming enough to be accommodating of his situation.
And while Kaeya did not look like he was going to press Cyril for answers, he was certainly already appraising him, watching him with a trained eye. For his part, Cyril was willing to entertain the Cavalry Captain's interest. There were certain things he would keep close to his chest, but honesty had always served him best in the long run. Even if he did sometimes find himself on the backfoot due to it.
"Ask whatever you wish," Cyril replied, pushing his books aside for the moment.
Kaeya's smile turned a bit more friendly. "Great! I guess we can start with your homeland. Is that armor of yours common there?"
Cyril shook his head in response. "I suppose the answer is yes and no. Anyone from my lands would recognize this armor as being that of an Astoran Knight. However, this particular design is only afforded to the elite, those who have been through rigorous and selective training or accomplished great feats. Though I suppose nobles have their ways of getting their own set without much effort…"
Kaeya gave his armor another look. "Looks sturdy enough, even if your set is a bit worn. Your home have a history of knightly traditions?"
"It is what we are most known for," Cyril explained with some amusement. "Knights aren't uncommon across the various nations of our land, but Astora's knights were considered in a league of our own. Some detractors may say we lack speciality, but versatility is a strength in itself."
"Won't argue there, though now you have me curious to see you in action." Kaeya gave a small shrug and smirk, before his eyes turned more serious. "I noticed you speak in past tense. And Jean mentioned some turmoil…"
"Hmm. Turmoil would be putting it…lightly to say the least." Cyril's expression became distant. "I may have understated the plight when conversing with Lady Jean as I didn't wish to overwhelm her with a stranger's woes. In my time, there was little to no governance. Most people had been forced to become nomadic, or retreated and became fiercely reclusive. I myself wandered the lands aimlessly, fighting vagabonds and living off of the land for many years."
Kaeya looked surprisingly understanding as Cyril explained. "Damn. Sounds pretty bad out there. But then you found something you wanted to fight for, right? That's what led you to that old ritual and landing yourself here, somehow."
"Mm," Cyril acknowledged. "I'm unsure what I managed to accomplish in the end, but I hope that my actions did even a little bit of good."
"Do you plan on going back?" Kaeya asked with an intent look.
"..." Cyril paused, but came up with an answer quickly, "Honestly, I have no intention of doing so at the moment. I earnestly hope my actions contributed to something…but I have no love for Lordran. And the Astora I knew is no more."
"So Lordran is another place, right? The one run by your Archons? Ah, your people call them Lords…" Kaeya inquired.
"Yes, a separate land, and the place where I spent the majority of my life," Cyril confirmed. "As I said many nations had collapsed. And Lordran was only marginally better in some ways. In the end, I can't say I wish to return at all."
"...Some might get the wrong impression from that kind of answer," Kaeya pointed out.
The implication of disloyalty or cowardice was certainly there, and it wouldn't be far-fetched for a random listener to reach that conclusion.
"Ha, when they have fought and seen the things I have then their words shall have weight. In the meantime, I will do what is necessary to prove myself worthy of your peoples' kindness and trust." Cyril raised a gauntlet fist to his chest.
"Well, I can definitely say I approve of that kind of attitude." Kaeya laughed. "I guess that's all I wanted to hear for now. Don't be surprised if you end up in a spar or two sometime soon. We're understaffed but we won't just give out jobs to anybody. Of course you're free to take on work from whoever you like, but Jean seemed optimistic about you."
"I will prioritize the tasks the Knights of Favonius wish to bestow upon me," Cyril replied dutifully. "It's only right to repay the faith they've shown a stranger like myself."
"It's really not that big of a deal…" Kaeya's response was wry in tone. "But do whatever you want, I guess. Hey, if you're ever looking for a night of relaxation come join me at the Angel's Share, alright? I'd love to hear more about your secret homeland."
"It's hardly a secret…" Cyril trailed off as a familiar name had come up. "That is the second invitation I've received to the Angel's Share."
"Oh really? Wait, don't tell me. Hmm…you've run into Venti?" Kaeya guessed.
"Yes, how did you know?" Cyril shot him a look of surprise.
"Well the owner would never invite you himself. And the only other regular that would just waltz up to your intimidating and shiny self and invite you would probably be a social butterfly like me or Venti," Kaeya replied with a grin. "But that means you definitely have to show up at some point. It'd be rude to turn us both down, right?"
"I suppose so…" Cyril made a face. But then he realized he was being led on a little. "Haha, once I'm able to pay for my own share of drinks I will accept your offer."
"Good enough for me. Sadly I can't spend all my time chatting, so I'm off for now. Enjoy your reading, Cyril." Kaeya gave a short sigh before he stood up and stretched.
"Ah, of course. A good day to you, Sir Kaeya." Cyril nodded.
The form of address got another laugh out of the Cavalry Captain, who gave one last languid wave before disappearing around the corner.
Taking a moment to collect himself after that involved conversation, Cyril shook his head with a small smile and returned to the books he'd been reading. He had much to learn, after all.
It was nearing noon when Cyril decided he'd gotten a decent grasp of the common knowledge he'd probably be expected to know. One of the main things he'd found interesting was the existence of "monsters", separate from the wildlife that inhabited the world. Creatures born from the natural elemental energy of the world, with many defining characteristics that separated them from something like a boar or deer. It seemed there were quite a few jobs geared around hunting said creatures for materials which had various uses in all kinds of fields.
Now those kinds of jobs were something he could probably adjust to doing rather quickly. Taking mental note of books he still planned to check out later, he dutifully returned his borrowed books to their original locations.
Just as he finished, Lady Jean entered the library, accompanied by another woman that he did not recognize. The new woman was, at this point unsurprisingly, also stunningly beautiful. Her hair was a fair bit longer than Lady Jean's, colored a light brown that framed her emerald eyes nicely. She wore a rather form fitting dress with a purple theme that left little to the imagination; but her most noticeable accessory was the wide-brimmed, floppy hat that topped the outfit.
Though they looked nothing alike, the hat alone was enough to make Cyril remember his friend and mentor, Big Hat Logan. He felt a pang of grief at that, one that he did his best to push away, lest even darker memories surface.
He quickly found something else to latch on to.
The unknown beauty also had a Vision, an electro one, if he was recalling correctly. He mentally marked down another unnaturally attractive person as a Vision user. It was looking more and more like the gods were a bit biased in these lands, Cyril thought to himself with growing amusement.
Returning to his attention to the pair, he noticed something was off.
Lady Jean was frowning, though it seemed her displeasure was aimed somewhere else, while the mage/witch had an indulgent expression on her face. Once Jean spotted him her frown melted away, and she greeted him cordially.
"I see you've already jumped straight into your studies." Jean nodded approvingly, before presenting her companion. "This is Lisa Minci, our librarian."
"Hi there~! You put the books you were reading back where they belong all by yourself? Hmm, you're already my new favorite visitor." The witch, Lisa, giggled melodically.
"Erm...thank you." Cyril replied unsurely, before remembering his manners and continuing, "My name is Cyril of Astora. It's nice to meet you."
"The pleasure's all mine, dear." Lisa smiled with a demure response.
"Sorry to trouble you so soon, but a problem's come up concerning your ability to take up assignments from the Knights of Favonius." Jean looked unhappy as she explained.
"Ah, I understand. I will endeavor to prove my skills and character to earn your trust, such that I may be entrusted with the Order's requests." Cyril nodded instantly. He'd had a feeling that they were being much too lenient with a stranger like him.
"What? No, it's nothing like that." Jean stared at him for a moment, before giving a short laugh. "It isn't like the work we put up is that critical or severe. Those kinds of assignments we would handle by ourselves."
"Oh. Then...what is the issue?" He tilted his head curiously.
"Well, in short, because you're not accredited at all, one of our knights argued against my proposal to allow you to receive assignments." Jean sighed. "While I have the final say in the matter, he brought up some good points. You don't have a reputation among us yet, nor are you a registered member of the Adventurer's Guild."
"And while getting you registered with the Adventurer's Guild is an option, you'll have to do your work through them. They don't like it very much if you go around their system and start taking paying jobs on your own. Though I suppose they make exceptions at times," Lisa added helpfully.
"So that's the problem…" Cyril frowned thoughtfully. "Do you have a solution you wish to propose?"
"Actually, the knight that protested provided one himself: he wants to test your skills in a sparring match," Jean said with more than a little exasperation.
"That sounds simple enough," Cyril replied, satisfied with the idea.
"I was worried you'd say that." Jean grimaced. "I wouldn't go as far as to request you take it easy on him, but...I honestly have a feeling that you outmatch him."
"How would you know that without seeing me in combat?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"The history you informed me of is one thing, but also your body language easily identifies you as a veteran to anyone else with experience. I have the utmost faith in our knights, but it is true that most of them are lacking in terms of practical exposure. You see, most of our skilled members are out on an expedition…"
"Don't you think you're being too hard on them?" Lisa spoke up, "Most of them are only assigned guard duty, after all. There isn't exactly much for them to do besides train or patrol."
"Yes, you're right..." Jean trailed off, a somewhat helpless expression on her face.
"This land is peaceful, then? I gathered as much from my readings, but to think it was to the extent that your more skilled hands are better utilized farther away…" Cyril mused at the unfamiliar concept.
"Most of the time, yes. We've had some close calls at times, but there are still many reliable individuals we can lean on to help," Jean replied.
"What Jean doesn't mention is that she picks up most of the slack," Lisa added teasingly, earning a flush from the blonde knight.
"That is good, then. Even in peace, a strong leader can serve as an example to strive for." Cyril gave a single nod of satisfaction. His words only seemed to embarrass her more.
"Ahem...back to the sparring proposal, though, I take it you have no problem with it?" Jean asked.
"None."
"Very well, we'll hold the spar outside, near the dummies," Jean announced. "I'll go inform him of your acceptance."
"Understood."
"Oh, I can't wait to see you in action~," Lisa's tone was playful, but she did seem genuinely interested in his capabilities.
"I hope to live up to your expectations, Lady Lisa." Cyril opted to call her in the same manner that he did for Lady Jean. Judging from her smile, she didn't seem to mind. As Jean left, he thought of one last question to ask her, "Ah, is the use of magic prohibited or allowed in the coming match?"
"Hm?" Both women scanned his person briefly, likely looking for a Vision but finding none, before Jean answered, "No magic. The knight you're fighting, Swan, lacks a Vision."
"Good, if I'm being honest, a regular test of arms is my preferred method of combat." Cyril allowed himself a confident smile.
Jean nodded in acknowledgment and turned to leave. "Wait here, I'll ensure everything is prepared first."
Now that they were alone for the moment, silence descended upon them. The purple-clad witch seemed to ooze a mature charm that, honestly, threw Cyril for a loop.
"Please don't be too hard on poor Swan. He's just a stickler for rules and regulation," Lisa said. "Even more than Jean is, honestly. He'll back off as soon as you prove you're capable."
"Do not worry, I understand where he is coming from. I will not cause any undue harm," Cyril promised.
"Happy to hear it." Lisa giggled.
He tried to think of something further to say, but words eluded him at this moment.
"Hey~, I can't sense a Vision on you," Lisa suddenly said. "Are you actually able to use magic without one? Natural mages are pretty rare and require a lot of training."
"Ah...in my homeland, we did not have Visions," Cyril explained. "Magic stems from the soul, given form, then shaped to the wielder's purpose. In all honesty, finding out about Teyvat's magic system was quite a revelation."
"Oh, that sounds...fascinating! You're the second person I've met who can use magic that isn't a trained mage or vision user…though it looks like your situations are completely separate." Lisa's eyes lit up intensely for a moment, before she seemed to clamp down on her excitement. "I'd love to hear more, maybe after the spar?"
"I am no expert, but I will do my best to pass on what knowledge I have." Cyril saw no reason to keep it a secret, and he was actually quite interested in finding out the differences and similarities in their magic systems.
"Great! It's a date, then," Lisa declared cheerfully.
Before Cyril could ponder what a "date" was, Jean returned to the library. "Cyril, it's time. Let's head out to the training area."
With a nod of acceptance Cyril fastened his helmet and headed out the door with Lisa following closely behind. They'd apparently cleared a small space outside the building for the spar, given the training dummies and targets shoved over to one side.
The knight, Swan, was...well, he wasn't very intimidating. He had neatly combed brown hair and wore the standard uniform and armor of the Knights of Favonius that a majority of the guards seemed to wear.
Despite his apparent protest of Cyril's prospective work, the knight greeted him politely, "Greetings. I apologize for the trouble, but the Favonius Handbook strictly outlines which assignments are meant to be handled by a full-fledged knight. I simply can't condone trusting an unproven outsider without proper cause."
There was a small gathering of other guards, but it seemed Lady Jean wished to keep the spectacle to a minimum, which Cyril was glad for. He did not wish to incur any bad will in the coming battle.
Also glad to see the lack of hostility, Cyril simply nodded. "I understand completely. Will we fight to disarm? Or to first blood?"
Jean interjected, "Both are win conditions, the first to achieve one will be declared the winner."
The two combatants looked at each other and gave a nod of acknowledgment.
"Then, begin on my signal." Jean stood at the ready.
Swan drew his sword which, like most of the blades Cyril had seen here in Teyvat, was ornate but looked to be well-made for combat. Cyril, for his part, drew the Astora Straight Sword he'd had for for as long as he could remember. Noting Swan's lack of a shield, he adopted a two-handed stance, leaving his Crest Shield slung on his back.
"I can't believe Swan picked a fight with a guy that looks like that…" He overheard one of the knights mutter to another, who gave a nod in response.
"...Begin!"
The spar started calmly. Swan had assumed a standard stance for one-handed sword fighting, but Cyril could only think that it was much too orthodox. Content to let the younger knight make the first move, Cyril simply watched him intently.
"...Hah!" Swan stepped forward quickly with a sharp thrust towards Cyril's torso. It was a solid textbook move that showed how much he'd practiced. It also showed how little experience he had in live combat.
Cyril matched Swan's step forward, shoving the thrust aside with his own blade and then driving his pommel into Swan's chest, sending him staggering back. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a few winces among the audience.
Swan recomposed himself, before launching into a series of swings which, while flowing together quite well, were remarkably easy to read. Cyril parried each blow, waiting patiently for an opportunity to end the fight cleanly.
After a few more ineffective attacks, Swan finally slipped up. He went a bit too high on an overhead swing, leaving himself open to a counterattack. Cyril capitalized quickly with a rising underhand swing, turning his blade at the last moment so the flat of the blade slammed into Swan's wrist, hard. The younger knight let out a yelp of pain, dropping his sword instantly and allowing Cyril to retrieve it with no trouble.
"And match!" Jean signaled the end of their spar.
With a respectful bow, Cyril returned Swan's sword, hilt first.
"Th-Thank you…" Swan was still rubbing his wrist gingerly. "You handled me like I was a trainee…There should be no issues with you acting on behalf of the Knights of Favonius."
"Thank you for your confidence." Cyril nodded, smiling from underneath his helmet.
The younger knight gave a last bow of acknowledgment, then walked off towards the Cathedral, likely to get his wrist checked by a healer. The few knights that had watched also began to disperse, talking amongst themselves.
"That looked like less of a sparring match and more like a student challenging their teacher," Jean remarked as she approached Cyril.
"It was only a gap of experience. He has a good grasp on the fundamentals," Cyril replied.
"Yes...that seems to be the main issue among the remaining knights." Jean sighed. "Thank you for indulging him. You handled that very well."
"I had no wish to brutalize an earnest young man. His loyalty and desire do credit to all the people of Mondstadt."
"There are always exceptions to the rule, but yes, I'm proud of this city and its people," Jean agreed with a warm smile. "So, with that, you're free to join us or take on any assignments from one of our captains. I look forward to working with you, Cyril."
"The pleasure is mine, Lady Jean." He inclined his head respectfully.
Her smile widened, and she patted his shoulder briefly before excusing herself to handle her other responsibilities.
As she left, Cyril felt a light tap on his pauldron. He turned to find Lisa looking at him expectantly. He blinked in surprise, and they stared at each other for several moments in silence.
"That was very impressive, Mr. Knight~," she finally said, leaning in with a mirthful smile on her face. Had she perhaps picked up on his earlier discomfort around her? Cyril sure hoped not. He got the feeling she was the mischievous type.
"It was nothing." Cyril took a step back, attempting to maintain a comfortable distance.
"If you say so…" She took a step forward, "So, we have a date, right?"
"Erm, I did say I would discuss my homeland's magic with you, yes."
"Great! Let's go to the library." Lisa grabbed his arm firmly and began pulling him along.
"Wha-, Lady Lisa, I can walk on my own," Cyril protested as he followed her lead, to no effect as the beautiful witch remained latched onto his arm.
Apparently she was even more interested in his magic than he'd thought. She ended up pulling him the whole way to the library, sitting him down in the seat he'd previously occupied while she sat down across from him.
"So, you mentioned that your magic comes from the soul? How exactly does that work?" Lisa asked immediately.
"Um…" Cyril organized his thoughts as quickly as he could, "To start with, the manifestation of magic can be categorized into three broad categories: the primal pyromancies, the structured sorceries, and the faith-driven miracles…"
He gave a quick overview of the key differences between the three forms of magic, making sure to stress that unlike the people of Teyvat, who derived all their power from the elements wielded by the gods, only miracles were a direct link to his land's gods, namely Lord Gwyn.
Lisa seemed to find their talk intriguing, despite Cyril's lack of expertise. As time went on, he grew more comfortable conversing with the purple-clad witch, and before they knew it, night had fallen.
Cyril retired to his room afterwards, but not before Lisa squeezed two promises out of him: Another "date", this time to discuss the lore and mythology of his land, and also an actual demonstration of what little sorcery, pyromancy, and miracles that Cyril knew so that she could see them in action.
All in all, his first full day in Mondstadt was both hectic and enlightening. He looked forward to many more to come.