A Knight's Retirement
Chapter 10: Moving Foward
Cyril already knew that Lisa had a sharp mind from how quickly and thoroughly she'd questioned him about the unique magics of his world, but he hadn't truly appreciated her prodigious abilities until she'd taken it upon herself to become his editor in all but name for his writings.
In a way, she was serving as an intermediate step for his firsthand knowledge to be translated into usable information for the people of Teyvat.
At first, his writing was focused primarily on bestiary-like entries about common adversaries, but he soon found himself expounding on the lore, technology, culture, and other more encyclopedic topics with her help. Both her patience and fascination with the subjects at hand did much to ease his feelings about this whole ordeal.
"Hmm…" Cyril frowned at the parchment before him. At the moment though, he was currently working alone, as Lisa had gone to rest for the night some time earlier.
Many of the larger, unique threats of his previous home he could safely ignore, given that most had already met their end by his own hands. Still, there were a myriad of things that could pose a danger to the safety of an innocent traveler if they made their way to Teyvat.
With a start, he realized he'd become too focused on the types of hollows one could encounter, getting fixated on their equipment and techniques. But the people of Teyvat are at least already familiar with how to fight other humanoid opponents. The difference in magic was probably the only major change.
It might be more prudent to begin some entries on the more creature-like adversaries such as the undead dogs that plagued him to no end or the deadly basilisks armed with horrid curses. Lady Sucrose had already begun on that end, given her fascination with his journal, so perhaps he should be focusing on similar topics as well.
With that in mind, he continued to tackle his task throughout the night with unflinching fervor.
Lisa Minci was of the mind that if one couldn't enjoy life, then life wasn't worth living. Some would call her lazy, but she was well aware what the consequences of unchecked ambitions could be. Of course, she acknowledged that taking the complete opposite approach to life wasn't exactly solving the problem, but it was more enjoyable that way.
That's why despite her fascination with the knowledge Cyril had to share, she still made sure to take breaks for tea and get a full night's sleep. She hoped that by doing so, she could get the high-strung knight to relax at least a little bit.
He just seemed to be too fired up by the fact that she and her fellow Mondstadters hadn't shunned or exiled him.
She felt a pang in her chest at that. While she wasn't as close to him as someone like Amber was, she'd come to appreciate his company whenever he came to ask questions or do research. So it hurt a bit to see how utterly surprised he was when they accepted the truth about him.
But that's why she had to do her best to support him now, to prove once and for all that he had nothing to fear.
Already knowing that she'd find him at the desk he'd been given to do his work at, she could only sigh in exasperation as she entered the library and found his position unchanged. He'd pulled another all-nighter, making it his third one since he'd revealed his past.
"Want some tea, hon?" Lisa changed the way she addressed Cyril constantly, hoping to see some kind of reaction from him eventually.
"Ah, my thanks, Lady Lisa," Cyril looked up and smiled smoothly.
Taking in his sitting figure, Lisa had to admit she much preferred him without his helmet. There were times that his expressionless helmet came across as...cold. At least until he spoke.
"I've been meaning to ask, since you call Amber and Jean without titles why don't you do the same for me?" Lisa latched onto an easy topic to continue their conversation, "I'm not even a proper knight, and I like to think we're past the point of that formality at least."
"...Uh, my apologies, it's a bit of a habit at this point. I will endeavor to call you by just 'Lisa' from this point onwards." Cyril replied seriously.
Lisa raised an eyebrow at that. She'd heard how he'd resisted changing the way he addressed Amber and Jean, so why was it that he agreed so readily this time? Was it because he was used to it by now? Or was it something else?
She decided to just address that curiosity directly, "Oh~? That was pretty easy..."
Cyril stopped writing for a second, his expression turning somewhat sheepish, "In all honesty, I have always felt that I would be unlikely to best you in a verbal argument. Therefore I have no intention to try to do so."
She blinked, feeling somewhat flattered but also bewildered, "O-Okay...well, I won't look a gift horse in the mouth…"
Cyril just smiled and returned to writing after taking a sip of her wonderful tea. He also admitted to himself internally that partaking in Lisa's afternoon tea time had given him a finer appreciation for enjoying the strange beverage.
At the very least, it certainly beat chugging estus flasks in the middle of combat.
After Lisa regained her composure she remembered her original reason for coming to the library earlier than usual (she would normally join him after eating breakfast), "Cyril, dear, you should take a break. You've been working for several days straight."
"There is no need to worry, I'm-" Cyril began.
"If you tell me again that you don't need food or rest, I'll be very upset." Lisa frowned severely.
Cyril's mouth snapped shut with an audible clack.
"Jean's already expanded the Knights' patrols, and she's been personally going over their reconnaissance reports line by line,'' Lisa shook her head, "You don't have to be in such a rush. I know there's no evidence that it'll continue on like this, but there was a large gap between the time you appeared in Teyvat and when that coiled sword did, right?"
"I suppose that's true…" Cyril frowned, "But I cannot help feeling somewhat apprehensive when I think about the various things from Lordran that may cause trouble here... "
"Which is understandable. But," Lisa's eyes narrowed, "You still need some kind of rest. And don't think you can fool me, mister. I know that sleep still does you some good."
"Yes, food and rest do much to maintain morale. But I have gone for far longer periods without either," he protested.
"And I'm saying you don't need to do that right now," she immediately countered, "There's no reason to push yourself that far."
"..." Cyril fell silent, as if pondering how to respond.
Lisa decided to push her advantage, "Everyone's worried about you. Klee was asking when you'd be able to play with her, and Amber's been more distracted these past few days."
She could see his resolve crumble at her words.
"...Very well. Allow me to finish this current entry, then I shall take a break," he finally said.
Lisa smiled in triumph, "Good. Come meet me by my desk when you're finished."
With her goal accomplished, the purple-clad librarian went to grab a bite to eat and then take care of her morning work.
In all honesty, despite coming to know Lisa quite well over his acclimation to these lands, and now her help with his writings, Cyril was still somewhat intimidated by her. Even with her normally cordial nature, she could be quite firm, as he'd just experienced for himself.
And as he noted before, it didn't help that like many of the female Vision users he'd encountered, she was strikingly attractive. The main difference was that she tended to flaunt it as well, which tended to catch him off-guard whenever she teased him or initiated any kind of contact.
Shelving those thoughts for now, Cyril finished up an entry about the aggressive plants of Lordran and how to combat them. After making sure the parchment was secure and his writing equipment was properly stowed, he went to go meet Lisa at her desk.
He found her sorting the previous day's returned books in preparation for reshelving, "Lisa, I've finished the current entry. I decided to shift my focus to the fauna of Lordran, since they can be just as deadly as a skilled hollow. Even more so since there are many that would be unfamiliar to the people of Teyvat."
"Oh? That makes sense," Lisa's eyes lit up in curiosity for a moment before she blinked it away, "So, how do you plan on taking your break?"
Cyril paused at the unexpected question, "I'm unsure. It's past breakfast now so perhaps I will just go and rest in my quarters?"
"Hmm…" Lisa put a finger on her cheek thoughtfully.
Cyril wondered why she seemed so invested in the specifics of his rest plans. So long as he took a break from his self-imposed workload, he assumed she'd be happy, but he got the feeling if he tried to leave right now she would stop him.
"How about another round of tea? And maybe some snacks?" Lisa suggested, gesturing at the little setup she had for her beloved tea breaks.
Cyril saw no reason to refuse her suggestion, "If you're alright with me imposing."
"Great! The tea's still hot, and you can help yourself to whichever snacks you want," Lisa handed him a small plate and teacup on a saucer, "I'm almost done here, so I'll join you in a moment."
He took the proffered items graciously, pouring himself his second cup of tea this morning and taking a few of the cookies that Lisa always kept on hand. Seeing no immediate seats near Lisa's desk, he simply stood to the side to enjoy his refreshments.
After a few moments Lisa looked away from her tasks to check how he was doing, giving him a strange look, "Why in the world are you standing up during your tea time?"
He had remarkably steady hands, but it was a bit amusing to see him quietly juggling the teacup and plates as he indulged himself.
"Er…" Cyril hadn't wanted to walk the distance from Lisa's desk to the nearest table, not to mention the fact that the library's tables weren't intended to be dining tables in the first place. So he did the first thing that came to mind, which was sit down on the soft carpet near her desk.
"..." Lisa stared at him for several moments, before shaking her head with a sigh, "Well, as long as you're comfortable…"
Cyril simply returned her exasperation with a smile, "This carpet is quite soft. Much more pleasant than an average seat of rest back in Lordran."
"Don't they have tables in Lordran?" Lisa huffed lightly.
"Unfortunately, functional ones can be hard to come by." Cyril replied, injecting a hint of cheekiness into his tone.
The librarian just shook her head good-naturedly in response. She seemed to have finished her work, and after a brief moment of hesitation joined him in sitting on the carpet.
"I feel like this is poor manners...but you're right, it's not a bad place to sit," Lisa ran her fingers across the fine hairs of the carpet.
"Indeed," Cyril set his now empty plate and cup to the side.
"Was it good?" Lisa asked.
"Your tea was as impeccable as always. And the cookies were delicious as well." Cyril answered honestly.
Lisa seemed happy at his praise. He had no way of knowing at the time, but Lisa actually enjoyed baking snacks for herself whenever she had spare time, and the batch of cookies he'd just consumed were one such batch.
"You seem to be feeling better." Lisa suddenly commented.
"Is that so?" Cyril tilted his head questioningly, "I suppose things have been rather hectic recently."
"I wasn't talking about your workload…" Lisa met his gaze with an appraising eye, "Be honest, sweetie, you feel better now that your secret's out."
Cyril pondered her words, "I suppose that may be true. I'm not one to mull over such things, but in Lordran the assumption was that everyone you met was Undead. The fact that no one here knew the truth may have weighed on my mind more than I thought."
"Hmm…well, I don't think anyone you've informed is suddenly afraid you'll eat our souls or something." Lisa smiled, "If people were afraid of everything someone is capable of, Vision users would be the most feared individuals in the world."
"Haha, Miss Mona told me something similar. Though aren't vision users considered some of the most formidable?" Cyril smiled back, "Though I suppose it is somewhat counteracted by the sheer diversity of elemental powers here."
"You could say that," Lisa conceded, "But respect and appreciation are just as common as well."
"Fair enough." Cyril nodded, "Though being granted powers by the gods and being cursed to be a soul-consuming undead are very different things, I would say."
Lisa fell into silent agreement at that, unsure of what else to say. Instead, she opted to mention something else, "I overheard from one of the maids that your bed is hardly used. Don't you like to sleep here and there?"
"Ah…" Cyril looked a bit embarrassed, "I must admit, I find it more comfortable to rest in a sitting position. It was my preferred posture of rest all throughout my travels, even more so with the warm flames of a bonfire nearby."
"Surely lying down properly would still be better for sleeping?" Lisa raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't tried to do that often," Cyril shrugged, "The only times I find myself splayed out in such a position are after...well, I wake up from a different kind of sleep."
Lisa winced at that, making Cyril feel a bit awkward, before a mischievous light appeared in her eyes, "Okay, I have an idea. I'm sure you'll find it fun."
"I see…" Cyril wasn't sure if he liked the look on her face, but saw no reason to reject whatever proposal she had in mind, "What did you have in mind?"
A few moments later, Cyril was no longer sure if he was fully cognizant anymore. It would serve to explain how he found himself lying on the carpet he'd been sitting on just now, with his head in Lisa's lap.
He believed this was called a lap pillow.
"How is it?" Lisa's voice had an undeniable tinge of mischievous smugness.
"...Comfortable." Cyril avoided looking directly up at her, given what would be in his field of view if he did.
"Really?" She hummed mirthfully, "You don't look relaxed. In fact, I would say you're pretty tense."
"...I can't fathom why that's the case…" He muttered in response. The sarcasm in his tone only served to make Lisa's amused smile wider.
After a brief silence, she began to idly play with Cyril's hair, making him straighten in surprise. She wasn't doing anything particularly intrusive, just twirling a strand or two around with her fingers, but he had to wonder what prompted this course of action.
"Err...Lisa, what are you doing?" He asked, still frozen on the spot.
"Oh, sorry," Her tone was sheepish, "I was just thinking about everything you've been working on…"
"Is there something specific that troubles you?" Cyril moved to sit up to be in a better position to converse properly, but was promptly blocked by Lisa's hand pushing down on his chest. A quick glance revealed that she was pondering how to respond, so he obediently returned to his previous position.
"I suppose it just feels like after all the things you've told me...certain things I have on the mind feel inconsequential when you compare them." She sighed.
"..." He frowned thoughtfully, before replying, "I don't know what troubles you, but for us, we have to remember not to let the curse of the Undead overshadow other parts of our identities as well. Down that path is the cruel fate of hollowing. As such, we make sure not to forget the little things, so to speak."
"Hmm…what kind of little things?" Lisa asked.
"I once lost my sword in a nearby lake during an intense battle," Cyril cracked a reminiscent smile, "Ask any of my companions how much I complained about it after that. But losing a simple sword is but a minor inconvenience when compared against being afflicted by the Darksign, right? Being able to joke or become frustrated about these smaller problems is a sign of strength or confidence. In a way, I suppose. I believe the specific methods vary from person to person."
"I see…" Lisa continued to stroke his hair thoughtfully, seemingly gathering her thoughts, "...The truth is, for a long time, I've had a certain opinion about the Archons and Visions. I...don't like the idea that the gods or archons are watching or judging us very much. I respect them for their power and knowledge, but I can't help but think that there might be some deep, hidden catch or cost to granting us Visions."
"A sensible suspicion, if you ask me," Cyril replied. Gods were fickle beings, after all.
"But in the end, it feels pointless. Humans cause more harm to each other with or without visions…" LIsa trailed off, "So I worry that my thoughts are...petty."
"Hm." Cyril paused to ponder her words, "I am probably not the best person for advice, but I advocate vigilance over laxity. I don't think there's anything wrong with having these suspicions, so long as you don't let them rule you. As for whether such ideas are petty or not...well, the fact that you're worried about it so much means they have weight in your eyes. Rather, it would be petty for myself or others to dismiss your concerns without a second thought."
Lisa's eyes widened in surprise, before she giggled, "Look at you~, you ended up comforting me rather than the other way around. Aren't you smooth?"
In truth, she was hiding her embarrassment. Given how mature she normally acted it wasn't common for others to give her advice or comfort her.
"Err…I had no untoward intentions…" Cyril scratched his cheek sheepishly, eliciting another round of giggles from the amused witch.
Before she could think of how to tease him more, the door to the library opened and Kaeya walked in.
"Hey Lisa, I was- whoa, when did you two get so close?" Kaeya reacted with mild surprise at the sight before him.
"Oh? We've always been very...good...friends, haven't we, Cyril?" Lisa replied, an unmistakable gleam of mischievousness in her eyes.
"Yes," Cyril didn't rise to the bait, but at the same time, made no move to stand up, "Lisa has expressed concern over the amount of work I've been doing, and so offered to let me rest. I'm grateful to her."
"..." Lisa looked away at that, whether to pout at his lack of humor or for another reason he did not know.
"Huh. Imagine that." Kaeya's expression changed to that of his characteristic cross between a grin and smirk, "I was thinking the same thing to be honest. About how busy you've been making yourself, I mean. How do you feel about grabbing some drinks this evening?"
"The Angel's Share?" Cyril asked.
"Of course." Kaeya nodded.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt…" Cyril thought about the progress he'd made, "Yes, I'll take better care not to become too absorbed in my work. A night of drinking sounds like a pleasant excursion."
"Great! I'll drop by later and we can head over together. I have a friend who'll be joining us too. I'm sure you'll get along swimmingly," Kaeya nodded.
With that, the cavalry captain left the library as quickly as he'd arrived.
"I suppose I should try to get some more work done before tonight's activities," Cyril moved to sit up, this time Lisa making no motion to stop him.
"Aw. I guess that's fine…" Lisa pursed her lips cutely, before giving him a sly smile, "So? How was it?"
"How was what?" He titled his head in response.
"My lap pillow."
"Eh?" He froze, "It was...comfortable."
"Heehee. You already said that." Lisa pointed out.
"Then…" Cyril racked his brain frantically, "It was somewhat embarrassing. However, it was also very pleasant, so you have my thanks."
"..." Lisa looked like she hadn't expected him to say something like that, "I-It's no fun if you just say it like that…"
"My…apologies?" Cyril didn't seem to understand what he was apologizing for exactly, but figured it was the right thing to say.
"Never mind," Lisa sighed, "Let's get back to work then, shall we? I'll look over the writing you did last night."
"Ah, of course. Thank you again for your efforts." Cyril nodded, taking a moment to stretch before going back to his desk.
Kaeya's disposition wasn't a common one in places like Lordran, but Cyril found him to be quite agreeable. The type of person appears lackadaisical, but who is dangerous to his enemies. And quite witty and cordial with his friends.
Perhaps that's why along with Venti, Kaeya was one of Cyril's most common drinking companions. Neither of them were as close with Cyril as someone like Amber, but the Outrider didn't indulge in alcohol anywhere near as much as those two.
The streets of Mondstadt were still busy even at sunset, a sign of the prosperity the city was currently enjoying. Cyril still found it interesting to watch merchants peddle their wares, comparing the more lively and diverse methods employed over the few merchants he'd met during his travels across Lordran.
He turned to the icy cavalry captain accompanying him, "So, I have yet to meet this friend of yours?"
"Nope, she's a pretty reclusive person by nature. And she's pretty busy." Kaeya explained, "But she enjoys a good evening drink here and there, so I thought today would be a good chance to introduce you."
"I see," Cyril nodded, "I look forward to it. "
The two of them entered the Angel's Share, which was surprisingly pretty empty.
"A sparse crowd today, isn't it?" Cyril commented.
"Ah, Diona's place is running a special today, much to her own displeasure," Kaeya chuckled, "Most of the drinkers will be over there tonight, so we have a bit of privacy."
Cyril nodded in understanding, before finding a most oddly-dressed nun sitting at the bar. She had remarkably pale skin and deep red hair the color of wine. Her vestments were a bit revealing and somewhat spiky too. And she was glaring fierce daggers at the cavalry captain beside him.
"Ah, there she is!" Kaeya shot the nun a wide grin, her glare doing little to daunt him.
Unsure if he should say anything, Cyril simply followed Kaeya to the bar.
"Kaeya, you…" The nun growled, trailing off menacingly.
"Now, now, let's get introduced, shall we?" Kaeya gestured towards her, "Meet Sister Rosaria, of the Favonius Church. Rosaria, meet Cyril, our resident knight from another land."
Rosaria sighed in defeat, "Like this dolt said, I'm Rosaria. Nice to meet you, I guess."
"Ah, yes," Cyril quickly nodded, "I'm Cyril, of Astora. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. Pardon me, but have we met before?"
Kaeya suddenly burst in a short fit of laughter, leaving Cyril confused and Rosaria glaring at him once more.
"This is the first time we've met in person," Rosaria answered after a moment.
"What she means is that she's been spying on you plenty, Cyril," Kaeya supplied instantly.
"O-Oh, I see…" Cyril blinked.
"Don't worry, I keep an eye on anyone or anything that's a potential threat," Rosaria admitted, "I also didn't intend for us to meet face to face so soon…"
"But didn't you tell me he's pretty much safe in your eyes by this point?" Kaeya seemed to get a rise out of acting all innocent while spilling all kinds of information.
"You'll stop speaking if you know what's good for you," Rosaria's glare intensified, if such a thing was even possible.
Deciding to intervene before Kaeya went too far, Cyril interjected, "Wariness is both understandable and commendable. Though I'm glad to hear that you no longer view me as a threat."
"Oh no, you're still plenty of a threat," Rosaria turned to him, "Just not a threat to Mondstadt, and that's what matters to me."
"Ah…" He made a noise of understanding.
"She was also there when you told us about your past," Kaeya added.
"She was? I suppose we did not check for eavesdroppers," the Undead mused, not particularly bothered as she seemed to be quite trusted by Kaeya, "I'm surprised I'm still in your good graces after that."
"Actions speak louder than words. If anything, I can't really reconcile the image of a 'soul-eating monster' with a guy that takes more quaint afternoon strolls than any grandma or grandpa in town." Rosaria shook her head, "To me, you're pretty much at the same level as someone like Jean in terms of behavior."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that." Cyril smiled appreciatively.
"...Hm," Rosaria stared at him for another moment, before turning away, "Let's get to drinking already."
"She actually approves of you quite a bit," Kaeya leaned over and whispered, "She has a lot of respect for Jean so that's some high praise from her."
"Is that so?" Cyril whispered back in mild surprise.
He was actually somewhat gladdened to see there were forces within the shadows protecting Mondstadt alongside the very public Knights of Favonius. And competent forces at that, as he could tell Rosaria was no stranger to combat. He was distinctly reminded of the soft-spoken but deadly Ciaran, who served Gwyn. Speaking of the former knight-assassin…
Rosaria shot Kaeya a suspicious look as he whispered to Cyril, but didn't say anything aloud. The two of them took seats on either side of the nun and placed their orders.
"So you are proficient in the art of espionage, Sister Rosaria?" Cyril asked in a rather direct manner.
"Just call me Rosaria, I hardly deserve the title," Rosaria replied in an almost reflexive manner before giving him a strange look, "I've never had someone just ask me that straight up, but I'll humor you. I keep an eye on things from the shadows, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. But if you want someone actually skilled in subterfuge? Then you can ask Eyepatch over here."
"No comment," Kaeya shot them both a cheeky smile.
"I see…" Cyril rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "I once met someone of a similar countenance to yourself. She was quite a thoughtful individual, even if I feared she would gut me with her daggers every other moment."
"Sounds like a story there," Rosaria raised an eyebrow as she took a swig out of her drink, "I don't have any plans to stab you yet, if that's what you're asking."
"Not at all. I only feared such an outcome because I had slain a person most dear to her. Not out of malice, but because he was beyond saving." Cyril explained solemnly.
"...Definitely a story there," Rosaria shook her head, "Is there a point you're getting at? I don't think you brought that up just to tell a story over drinks."
"My apologies," Cyril paused, "You see, she did not have the same…affliction as myself. As such, despite her outward politeness, I could tell she viewed me with suspicion and disdain. It did lessen later, but that doesn't matter now."
"Yeah? You think I should act like her or something?" Rosaria set her mug down and eyed him curiously. To the side, Cyril could see Kaeya listening intently as well.
"I suppose the point I am attempting to reach is…to ask how I appear in your eyes." Cyril furrowed his brow, "I admit that despite the words of those around me, I am still somewhat bewildered at the acceptance I've received in response to my status as a bearer of the Darksign."
"..." Rosaria pursed her lips thoughtfully, "I've got my own skeletons to deal with, so I can sort of see where you're coming from. But personally I've got bigger things to worry about than what others think of me. Still, like I said before, actions speak louder than words. You're like a model knight or something. And if you were planning something crazy like eating all of our souls or whatever, why the hell would you tell us about yourself in such detail?"
"That's true…" Cyril conceded.
"Whatever the guys from your homeland put you through, it seems to me like you're fishing for a reason to get someone from Mondstadt to treat you that way and acting surprised when they don't," Rosaria continued, "Forget that and just take the goodwill for what it is. The archons know we need more of it."
"...You speak words of wisdom, Sister Rosaria." Cyril gave a wry smile, bowed his head in thanks, "I will take your advice to heart."
"Call me Rosaria, I said." Rosaria huffed, "Now drink something already. You're making me self-conscious here."
Cyril laughed lightly in response, before downing nearly half of his drink in good cheer. After that, the group's conversational topics lightened considerably, and the rest of the evening was passed in levity and boisterousness (much to the annoyance of a certain red-haired bartender).
The Knight of Astora couldn't see it, but to the side, Kaeya also had a satisfied smile on his face. He knew organizing this little evening drink would pay off. Hopefully it would get Cyril to relax a little more too.
As for Cyril himself, his conversation with Lisa in the morning and his conversation with Rosaria in the evening had done much to ease him into his "post-reveal" situation, building off of the foundation Amber and Mona had already established. Though he knew not everyone would be so accepting of his Undead nature, the words shared with him today did much to alleviate his concerns.
He couldn't help but wonder if the people of the other great cities were so accepting?
Crossposted Fun Fact: The scene of Kaeya walking in on the lap pillow is based off of a Majikoi (Visual Novel Series) scene where Benkei, who is best girl and best historical genderbend (looking at you Nasuverse), is lying on the protagonist's lap when their just-as-lazy teacher walks in and says the same thing Kaeya did: "Whoa, when did you two get so close?". Not much parallel other than that, but it's one of my favorite scenes so there it is, heh.