Amber tried to enjoy her sticky honey roast but couldn't. Xianyun was watching her again. The bird lady always did this whenever she thought Amber wouldn't notice. It was honestly getting annoying. She'd put up with it to be polite, but her patience had all but run out.

After the UHA meeting, Amber approached the tall woman.

"You keep staring at me," said Amber. "Do you have something to say?"

Xianyun, perhaps impressed by Amber's forthcomingness, surrendered a smile. She gestured Amber to follow her outside. The tall woman broke her silence as they crossed the golden bridge linking two islands.

"You remind me of someone. A mortal from Liyue Harbor."

Amber cocked her head. "Why do I remind you of him?"

"Your eyes," she said. "And your archery skills. He once led a mercenary group, but they were wiped out by savage monsters."

"What was his name?"

Xianyun spoke the man's name. For a moment, Amber's whole world blinked. That name…it was one she hadn't heard in a long time.

"I know him," Amber said in a quiet, little voice. "That's my grandpa."

Xianyun stopped in her tracks. Letting out a moue of surprise, she stared at the young outrider. Amber could tell the tall woman had a lot of questions to ask—how was he, why didn't he return to Liyue Harbor, and so many other things. Amber, however, didn't have the heart to answer any questions about him. Xianyun seemed to sense this, for she kept those questions to herself.

The Adeptus smiled faintly. "Well, that certainly explains things. Whenever I observed you practice archery, I saw that man's form reflected in your technique. I wondered if perhaps there might be some connection. I never knew he had children.

"He was the finest archer and mercenary in all of Liyue back in the day. One recalls a contest where he managed to shoot a fan fixed upon a pole at 3,000 yards. Even the Adepti were shocked."

Xianyun shared various anecdotes of Amber's grandpa. Hearing about her grandpa and the kind of man he was before Mondstadt, made Amber feel bittersweet. Grandpa rarely talked about his life before Mondstadt. To think, he'd made a name for himself. And he never even told Amber.

The stories made her feel closer to him, which only enhanced the bittersweet feelings. Even after all these years as an outrider, she was no closer to understanding why he abandoned Mondstadt.

In between words, Amber interrupted, "Grandpa disappeared years ago. Do you know where he could've gone?"

Xianyun shook her head. Amber sighed. Of course, it wouldn't be that simple.

"This subject is painful for you," observed Xianyun. "I am sorry for speaking at such length."

"No," said Amber with a smile. "Hearing about grandpa is nice. Would you please tell me more stories?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. A lot of who I am is thanks to him," said Amber. "If I know more about him, it's kind of like I know more about myself."

"Very well," said Xianyun. "One shall tell you all that one knows."