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The Prinzessin der Verurteilung, Fischl von Luftschloss Narfidort, poured over tome after countless tome, eager to attain the hidden secrets of the world. Ancient texts descrying the arcane arts and valiant courages of a party of companions, snippets of dialogue from otherworldly travelers, and of course, the few snatches of Wahrheit aller Welten, the Truth of All Worlds.
Which is to say that Fischl was once again reading adventure novels in the Knights of Favonius Library. She would spend uncountable hours among the shelves, reading this and that, and rarely checking out whatever she couldn't finish for the day, certain to keep careful track of the return date. She made sure she wouldn't be banned from her small haven, doubly so now that she had begun to work her way into a new kind of story recently. The wonderful and mysterious world of-
"Oh, is that The Ardor of Roses and Dandelions?" A polite voice broke the images of meeting lips from Fischl's mind and spread her blush from her cheeks to her entire face.
"N-N-Noelle! What are you doing here!? I mean-" She coughed and scrambled for her eye patch, holding it to her left eye as she spun to face the armored maid. Of course she would arrive right at such a scene. "Ahem. I mean... What wicked fate brought you hence, Housemistress of Knighthood? Had thee arrived but a single moment earlier or later, one might have had the ill-starred doom of witnessing mine bared Auge der Verurteilung, the likes of which there is no mortal recovery." Fischl turned her blinded side to the maid. For her protection, of course, not because her gloved hand would hide her face.
"Oh my... That sounds terrible indeed! I think..." Noelle genuinely mulled over the words that had been said. There was no doubt that she believed what Fischl told her, even if she didn't understand it. "Forgive me, Princess Fischl, I only came to ask if you would care for tea. When I saw that you were reading that book, I allowed myself to slip."
"Think nothing of it, as member to my loyal retinue in name, thou can find my grace ever present." Fischl secured the eye patch and rubbed her arm. "Especially one such as thine own self, whose culinary prowess knows no bound or equal. Ever my gratitude is to you, as is the royal welcome of Immernachtreich." She motioned to the table.
Noelle smiled warmly, guessing that it was okay to put down tea and biscuits. Her gauntlets clinked lightly on the delicate china. It was no small feat that she could handle the finery so easily through them. When everything was set out a proper, perfect distance from the literature, she bowed lightly.
"I hope you enjoy your break, Princess Fischl, as well as that book. It is one of my favorites as well." She turned to leave but was stopped again.
"You... have read this tome through?" The Prinzessin's voice wavered just slightly.
"Yes, certainly. In fact, it even inspired me to make clothcraft roses, such as the one you see on my gauntlet. It is only fitting for a maid who keeps the secrets of those she serves, I think."
"Secrets... Tell me, Housemistress of Knighthood, would any secret of one you serve be subject to your iron tenure?"
"Of course."
"E-e-even mine own secrets, spoken only in my shadowy demesne?"
"While you are not a Knight of Favonius, I see no reason to not apply the same standard. Unless you mean to tell me you wish to destroy the Knights, in which case..." Noelle's grin grew to be malefic, a dangerous feeling poisoned the air around the two.
"No! N-no nothing like that!" Fischl adjusted her pose. "Ahem. I mean to ask you, as you are superior in this field than even mine and Oz's knowledge spanning worlds. The Prinzessin is searching now for the Warheit aller Welten, no one text could hold its breadth within. Now mine search takes me to these stories, containing the most universal emotion I've yet gleaned using mine Auge der Verurteilung, that of love. But alas, I lack knowledge of which tomes best illuminate this ultimate mystery, and require direction. Would you bless by presence with your own knowing?"
Noelle held her chin in one metal-clad hand, teasing apart the words. Clearly she was asking for something important, yet embarrassing about romance novels. She lightly slammed her fist into her upturned palm when she arrived at the answer.
"Ah! You want my recommendations for romance novels?"
"Shhh! Not so loud!"
"Oh! Pardon me. Of course then, Princess Fischl. I will have a list compiled for you tomorrow afternoon, in time for your arrival."
"You... seem quite certain of the future whereabouts of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung. Do you yet bear more powers, perhaps that of seeing beyond the temporal curtain, into the mists of what lies ahead mortal fate?"
"I am a maid, it is my business to ever be of use. Ah, speaking of, there is a matter with Miss Klee, I believe. May I be excused?"
"Certainly, royalty shall always allow you to attend your most sacred of duties. Be free, with fate's dark shadow scattering all opposition!"
"Thank you." Noelle made a polite curtsy and turned heel, out of the library. Fischl held her pose until she was out of sight, then released all her tension at once, letting her head fall to the desk, and becoming the brightest shade of red. She had really finally done it and talked to her! It only cost half of her lifespan, by the feel of it.
"How good, mein Fraulein! It is certainly a treat to be able to have a guide on these matters." A raven sparked into being from a shadowy corner.
"Ozzie..."
"Ozzie? Mein Fraulein?"
"Pray unfurl your wings and grant me your umbral embrace. Your Prinzessin wishes her malady to not be seen by any other."
"Malady? Are you quite well? Perhaps we should attend to the alche-" He was cut off as Fischl looked up, showing her ruby countenance to her retainer. "As you wish, mein Fraulein." Oz put a comforting wing over the young woman.
---
The next several weeks went smoothly for Fischl's new interest. Noelle, as promised, had a list ready. Not just of titles, but with listed authors, brief summaries, their precise locations on the shelves, and even an exacting word count.
A foreboding document, to say the least, but also a very useful one.
Also, the gateway to Noelle's first real teatime. Every afternoon that Fischl was off, Noelle would join her at one o'clock sharp, and the two would discuss the current novel that the wayward princess had in front of her. Noelle was always a pleasant conversationalist on the matter, never talking about events past the violet feather bookmark that the reader employed, and often showing her appreciation and pointing out foreshadowing in finished books.
Aside from the general scholarly discussions about the universal magic of love and romance, snippets of life itself began to slip in. Fischl's duties and her histories of Immernachtreich met with Noelle's nigh-fantastical shopping trips. These were joined by favorites foods, hobbies, and everything else she would want to know about the maid.
She always came to appreciate that Noelle would see her for who she was, who she had made herself to be. It was small thoughts like this that sometimes brought to mind more heart-fluttering images of princesses and their personal maids. Of course Noelle wasn't hers but a girl could certainly dream.
The daydream was broken in this case by Noelle.
"Princess Fischl, here is my next recommendation. We can have you check it out and discuss it tomorrow."
"Alas, on the morrow I will find myself departed to that land, the spires of which hath been shaped by karmic devastation, that I may add to mine own wisdom the movements of the foul and cruel." The Prinzessin left the message for her teatime partner to decipher.
"...You are investigating Stormterror's Lair? Isn't it quite dangerous, Princess Fischl?"
"Ha! For royalty such as myself? Think naught of it, whatever challenges exist can hardly be called such before the tri-fold might of the Night-Severing Raven, Oz, my Edelstein der Dunkelheit, and the royal powers of my birthright as heir to the throne of Immernachtreich." She showed a violet gleam over one eye as she posed, apparently to display her might.
"Very well. I look forward to your return, Princess Fischl." Noelle answered with a curtsy.
"A-actually..." Fischl began to twirl one of her side tails. "I w-was wondering If I might ask for you companionship in procuring supplies to keep this mortal form sustained upon my sojourn."
"If you want me to help you with shopping, I would be glad to assist you later in the afternoon. I will meet you on the main street at four, is that acceptable?"
"Most agreeable, I shall be expecting you at the requested hour, pray do not keep me waiting overlong, most noble and loyal of my retinue." Fischl made a smug, self-assured grin before leaving. Noelle would set herself to replacing the books to their proper positions. Usually, Fischl would bring them back to the front desk, but seeing as the maid was already there and knew where everything was...
"My, my... I was wondering when that girl would finally ask you on a date."
Noelle looked away from the shelf to see a witch hanging from the upper balcony, all dressed in violet and with the hat completing her look. She had a cat's grin plastered on her face.
"A date, Miss Lisa?" Noelle asked in her usual blank, polite manner.
"Oh, darling, don't tell me you haven't noticed."
"Noticed what, Miss Lisa?" Noelle's head quickly began to swim with what she might have missed in her usual provisions of service. The thought that she was less than immaculate in her capacity as a maid was, well, unthinkable.
"She's only been inviting you to sit with her every day since you first brought her tea. That's what the royal welcome of Immernachtreich was."
Noelle, for perhaps the first time, flushed a bright red.
"Oh goodness! I... I've been so rude then, turning down an invite from royalty. I must apologize immediately. A full letter made in triplicate and-"
"Noelle."
"I'll of course have to bow before the court and-"
"Noelle."
"Do you think the wearing of armor is proper or should I-?"
"Noelle!" The last shout from the Rose Witch snapped the maid from her stupor.
"Ah... I am terribly sorry, Miss Lisa. Please forgive me, there is a time and a place for these discussions, I'm sure."
"I don't think you have to worry yourself too much over it, dear."
"But she is a princess! I may have caused an international incident."
At this, Lisa let herself grin again.
"She really is a princess in your eyes, isn't she?"
"Of course. There are books written about her and everything."
"Hehe, I hope she always stays one to you then, even if she's away from her kingdom. I'll clean up these books, you wouldn't want to be late for royalty, would you?"
"Ah! Of course not! Will you please excuse me, Miss Lisa?"
"Go on and have fun~!" Lisa gave a languid wave as Noelle politely took off. She sighed lightly to herself and went downstairs, only to find a bewildered Jean entering the library.
"Lisa. Was that Noelle that just ran by? She nearly forgot her salute. She never forgets to do it."
"I must have flustered her more than I thought then."
"What have you done?" Jean said warily, crossing her arms.
"I'll never tell," She flashed the rose at her hip. "My lips are sealed." she finished with a wink.
"Lisa..."
"Well I suppose I could let you of all people try to part them." Lisa held her arms wide. The universal sign that the library would be mysteriously closed for the remainder of the day.
---
"Thine assistance with this wearisome task is most welcome, as are your insights to nutrition and well-being in this strange world." Fischl marveled at a jar of clotting herbs that she had never seen before. Noelle had attained them from the Angel's Share, much to her surprise.
"Mein Fraulein thanks you for your assistance in shopping."
Oz and Fischl always seemed to be together outside the library, which Noelle was all at once grateful and concerned over. On the one hand, Oz always translated his Lady's mysterious speech, but on the other, Noelle felt strange about apologizing to Fischl in the presence of another, as though it were something shameful.
"Ah, of course, Princess Fischl. I highly recommend setting these ingredients to prepare each night, you can use this mix of herbs in order to cover the smell of your cooking." The maid handed the Prinzessin a list of how to discretely prepare bacon, sausages, jam, and the like.
"What genius! Your wisdom surely matches or meets with even my own, are you sure that you have not your own Auge der Verurteilung with which to pry the most devious of secrets from the world?" Fischl's single eye was wide with awe.
"Mein Fraulein is grateful to receive this. Your help is most welcome, Miss Noelle."
"Think nothing of it. It's only knowledge from the Knights of Favonius handbook."
A gurgle was heard.
"Wh-what vicious monstrosity seeks to undo the peaceful times of this free land of the winds? Reveal thyself, for there is no hiding from the Thundering Retribution of Ozvaldo von Hrafnavines, the Night-Severing Raven!"
"Prinzessin, I believe that was your stomach."
"O-of course! I should have yet known, alas, this corporeal vessel is still alien to me."
"Shall we have a meal? The Good Hunter has quite a few things to eat." Noelle offered.
"Lead the way for mein Fraulein, if you would be so kind." It seemed Oz had translated early in this case. He clearly wanted a piece of fisherman's toast.
When the pair were seated with toast, salad, and pancakes and had politely gone through half of their plates, Noelle looked from Oz to Fischl, wondering over the last things she had heard in the Library. She would eventually have to formally apologize, perhaps with some of the lamp grass tea she had learned a recipe for recently. Fresh would be best, which would lead her into her first question.
"Princess Fischl, how long will you be away on your investigation?"
"Mmnnnph?" Fischl swallowed a particularly large bite of pancake, nearly choking on it.
"Mein Fraulein will return to Mondstadt four days from now, after which she will report to the Guild and rest for a day while they make commissions based on the results."
"So if I may, might I invite you to try a new flavor of tea I have been practicing? Five days from now? I would like to make amends for not noticing your royal invitation sooner."
"My royal invitation?" Fischl asked.
"Ah! Mein Fraulein! Surely she means your invitations to sit alongside your highness and partake in refreshments, as you have suggested so many times."
"Ah! B-but of course! Why, it was so small a slight as to pass through my infinite grace! After all, you are a maiden of this world and must surely have duties to attend to. Why, being alongside an outworlder such as the Prinzessin der Verurteilung might have upset the earthly balance of this plane."
Oz was about to interpret, but Noelle took the initiative instead.
"If a princess asks for it, it would be most rude not to attend to her for a few minutes. So please, if I may fully apologize for my error?"
"V-very well. I will partake in teatime with you in the great halls of literature whence fate first brought us together. 'Ere long my presence will grace this land once again."
"I look forward to your return then, Princess Fischl." Noelle wasn't sure why, but she felt a little better knowing that the Prinzessin would accept her more formal apology of rare tea.
---
It was now five days past the day they had all eaten together and several hours later than Noelle and Fischl had agreed to meet. Perhaps the Prinzessin had taken offense after all, or had some important business, or was simply kept overlong in the area due to the strange winds. Those must surely be reasons why she hadn't arrived yet.
So then why was she so uneasy?
That sense of unrest immediately resolved when she hear the library doors open.
"Princess Fischl, welcome! You may have a-"
It all returned again when she saw who had entered. A boy with white hair who was covered in scars.
"Princess Fischl? So she hasn't been here either huh? Dang, just my luck..." Bennett rubbed the back of his head and entered, staying a healthy distance away from any bookshelves.
"Either? What do you mean?" Noelle delicately replaced the teapot and turned back to the adventurer.
"She was due back sometime yesterday, but no one's seen her. Pallad, Dandy, and Simon all say they haven't even seen Oz, much less Princess Fischl. Furthermore-!" Bennett stopped and his eyes went wide as he felt a chill up his spine.
"Oh dear... Haven't we had enough... disasters in here?"
"L-L-Lisa! What a pleasant surprise!" Bennett whipped around and rubbed his hands together nervously. "Who would have thought you would be here? Haha!" Bennett took a single disastrous step backwards, near enough for a high book to tip from its resting place and fall towards his head. This one, however, was in Noelle's domain, causing her to catch it without turning from her perfect polite greeting to Lisa.
"Bennett. I truly don't know how you do it, but haven't we discussed your being here?"
"Ah but I do have an escort, Noelle is here! And I'm just here to see if Princess Fischl came by."
Lisa rubbed her brow before noticing the last words. "I'm sorry, did you say you were looking for Fischl?"
"Yeah, she's late so my dads asked me to look around."
"Hmmm..." Lisa assumed a thoughtful pose and took a long look at Noelle, as though she were one of the books in the library. "Well this won't do. The Guild will be empty of commissions without her. Perhaps we should go have a look. I'll prepare a few potions and..." She trailed off as she eyed Bennett. "Actually, may I ask you two to wait for me by the front gate of Mondstadt? I'll be with you shortly."
"Me as well, Miss Lisa?" Noelle cocked her head to one side.
"Especially you. She is your very special friend, is she not?"
"Very well, I will fetch my new claymore." Noelle politely bowed as always, leaving a nervous Bennett to scurry (and slip) after.
---
"So... This is... Kinda exciting, isn't it?" Bennett's ability to hide his enthusiasm had been slowly coming undone up until this point, now completely gone.
"I do not see what is exciting about a missing princess."
"Well, no, I don't mean that, that's pretty bad. But look, you and me against the wilds, it's like you're a part of the Adventurer's Guild! Now you can see how good you'd be over there!"
"No thank you." She curtly replied. "My dream is to become a Knight of Favonius, I will not give it up for anything."
"An inspiring answer, Noelle." A woman with grey-blue eyes walked alongside Lisa, towards the pair.
"Master Jean!" Noelle snapped to a perfect salute. Jean returned the selfsame salute, which Lisa rolled her eyes and giggled slightly at.
"I hope you don't mind my assistance. I was told about the situation already."
"Of course not, Master Jean!"
Jean offered a warm smile before turning to Bennett. "You as well, will you join in the search?"
The boy sniffed and rubbed his nose. "Yeah! Princess Fischl's part of the Guild, and no one gets left behind! Don't worry, it'll all be just fine!" He finished the words just as a piece of masonry freed itself from the wall, hitting him squarely in the head.
"....I thought I ordered the wall repairs two weeks ago."
---
It was the day of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung's return, only one area of Stormterror's lair remained to be surveyed.
She always loved being out here, even if only secretly. It reminded her of her beloved adventure books and grand stories of lost kingdoms. She had to be sure to thank the traveler from another world for helping to solve the incident and break the barrier of winds.
"Mein Fraulein!" Oz's voice seemed to sound around her. Her job, right. She covered her right eye with a hand and had her left open beneath its covering, and suddenly she was seeing the world from high above. The broken spires and crumbling pathways told tales of years of passed history, and also made for plenty of hideouts for clusters of slimes and camps of hilichurls. Now though, it seemed an archway she had noticed last time had crumbled, which would have been a sad enough example of entropy without the new discovery alongside it.
A ruin hunter.
Fischl had only heard of these monstrosities existing in Liyue's oldest ruins, seeing one here was next to unthinkable. If any unaware adventurers showed up, they would be sliced to bits in no time at all, perhaps this one would be better served by the Knights of Favonius. Of course, it might also move away on its own, it's best to take accurate readings of its normal route.
Her first mistake, as the hunter shifted and whirred, before turning its great body up to the sky, single glowing eye locked on Oz's. By extension, her own. How had it known? Was Oz flying too low or did it have some strange sense to it?
Too late to think of it, missiles blazed and bloomed into fire all around the raven.
"Oz! Return to mine side at once! We shall take refuge within the cleaved stones of eld!"
"You don't need to tell me twice!!" Oz flapped his wings to gain height and dive freely past the onslaught, weaving through a rain of lethal projectiles. This wasn't like the slow, dopey ruin guards she sometimes ran afoul here, this was a true murder machine.
"Keep true to your return unto my side, you are nearly there!"
Her second mistake. Oz was making a beeline for his mistress. This led the hunter to the same line of sight as Fischl's hideout, giving away her position. It seemed content to continuously bombard the area to attempt to eliminate the familiar first, though. It was only a matter of time before Oz would get struck by one.
Which led to the third mistake. Fischl nocked her bow and let loose an arrow guided by her own sight. It flew true through the firestorm, sinking into the singular eye, knocking the creature from the sky, and allowing retainer and Prinzessin to reunite safely.
"F-fantastic w-work mein Fraulein. That rude chap would have me turned into an entree!"
Fischl surveyed the dust cloud before giving her signature self-assured smile. "But of course, the powers of Immernachtreich run rife in my veins, no mere material strength can ever stand against the kingdom of entropy! It is simplicity itself! Come, Oz, let us away and mark the passing of such a rare sight into the void with that sweet nec-"
Her final mistake was turning her back on the scene with Oz at her shoulder. A yellow-orange beam burned by her right shoulder, dyeing the ground the same color. Fischl's eye grew wide and she tucked Oz into her grip as she made to roll away. She half-made it out, blown away by the force of an explosion and coming to a rolling stop some distance away. She called up her bow to hand as the shadow of the ruin hunter loomed closer, one of its four hands was now a drill-like lance.
"I... see that this machinery yet defies the will of rightful royalty... To mine side, Oz! Unfurl thy wings and ready your Thundering Retribution!"
"A-at once, mein Fraulein!" Oz flew off to one side while Fischl let loose several arrows with dancing strikes to gain the hunter's attention. It answered in turn with another searing laser. This one was well-anticipated, however, even making a smokescreen to buy her time to empower her shot with electricity, and fire it squarely at Oz.
The raven took up the energy of Fischl's Vision, unleashing a storm of electricity upon the hunter. It turned, then turned back at the Prinzessin's own hail. She would win, with Oz at her side, she would win!
The hunter assumed its bombarding stance, sending Oz to fly and Fischl to leap back. She let loose another well-trained arrow, hoping it would knock it from the sky once more. This time, however, it only sank in the air slightly and immediately let loose a beam for the archer to dodge, she knew that she needed to regain her footing.
That chance wouldn't come. The hunter closed all distance in a flash, lance-first. Fischl felt a heavy thud into her body. Her first thought was that the elbow of the metal titan had collided with her. Her second was the knowledge the lance tip had found its mark. The side of her stomach felt wet, then it became wracked with tearing, stabbing, throbbing pain. She dropped to one knee as the hunter reset its stance for another stab. This one surely wouldn't miss.
Why did she think she could beat one of these things? Something that even the Knights would have a difficult time fighting. Certainly it was to save Oz in the moment but afterwards? She should have run. Instead she got caught up in that stupid story again.
"Mein Fraulein!!"
Fischl was startled, and teetered over slightly, seeing the tip of the lance go through the space her head had been in moments before. The hunter rose into the air as she clutched her bleeding side. It was preparing another barrage.
"Mein Fraulein, this is our chance, we must leave immediately!"
Fischl drew her bow, and leveled another arrow for the eye, stumbling out of the way of the first poorly-aimed explosives, then letting loose.
One miss.
Two misses.
Then finally, a strike. The machine fell to earth.
She ran for a near canyon. The girl in her parents' library ran. She ran to where she knew a small hideout would be, leaving a hot trail all the while through passages too tight for the monster to follow. To a small hollow where she could lay out, clutching hand to side.
"Mein Fraulein, you're bleeding! Allow me go and get help for you!" Oz was at her side.
"..."
"Mein Fraulein?"
"...Forget it, Oz."
"...Fischl?"
"It's over. You can't get past the ruin hunter, and no one will come searching for me. I can't believe I was so stupid."
"Someone will surely notice your missing presence soon and rescue will be sent. Do not worry, let us tend to your wounds."
She ripped the patch from her eye, revealing a verdant twin to her right. Tears gathered in both as she looked to the small ray of light that pierced the sanctum. "Princess Fischl is going to miss having tea."
---
"Lisa, is that a ruin hunter?" Jean asked.
"I've never seen one this far north... It must have been recently reawakened." She surveyed the scene. "And I think I can guess who's responsible. I didn't think she would be back up here without visiting Klee."
Noelle was very distant from the conversation about who was due for a scolding, observing the hunter instead. It was clearly active as it was floating, but it just stayed in one place, single eye glued on a small canyon.
"Whatcha lookin' at, Noelle?" Bennett asked. He still had twigs in his hair from a stray tree branch earlier.
"Hm? Oh, I'm terribly sorry. It's that ruin hunter. It seems to be stuck in place."
"Right you are, dear." Lisa confirmed.
"I should have more knights called in so that it can be safely destroyed."
"Come on, now! We're four adventurers! Nothing can stand in our way, this is just another commission!" Bennett pumped his fist.
"Our purpose is to find Fischl first and foremost. We don't know if we need to battle yet." Jean chided him. Of course she was right. There was no Oz overhead, and the idea of a ruin hunter was alone enough to make them want to explore the area last. But it was definitely suspect, to say the very least.
"Look, it's a threat and it's acting weird! Right in the area Princess Fischl was supposed to examine yesterday!" Bennett argued.
"And any of you all could come to serious harm with nothing to show for it."
"Darling you say that as if you wouldn't. You're human too." Lisa had a way of putting dents into the shield that was Jean's attitude.
Noelle's eyes were still firmly glued on the area, however. Something was very wrong, that much was apparent. But there was something more, some dread, some story that was just beginning to hint at itself. When the last shadows of the day finally fully fell over the area, it was apparent what.
"Master Jean, permission to speak?"
"You don't need to be so formal out here, but granted."
"There. Princess Fischl always said her true powers came out at night, and I believe that light to be one manifestation. Amid the rubble, north by northwest." Indeed, there was a small, barely-there glow of violet. Anyone possessed of Elemental Sight would have seen a stream of Electro energy leaking from it.
Bennett interrupted with a cry, "That's gotta be her, right? Come on, let's get out there!"
"Calm down, Bennett. This will require foreplanning. Noelle, will you inform Bennet of the Lion's Maw maneuver?" The maid nodded. "Then Lisa, if you would help me with a few things first, we can begin swiftly."
---
Each took up their positions. Well, Bennett had more fallen into it than taken it up, but he assured the others that everything was good to go.
The first glow of the attack was violet, Lisa's lantern raising into the air, and unleashing a wicked bolt to the hunter.
That had gotten its attention. The ruin hunter turned, its single eye searching and finding the Rose Witch, who was swiftly covered by the rushing form of Jean. Missiles were fired, and the Dandelion Knight firmed her stance and gathered wind around her blade, lashing out when she felt them near. Explosions blossomed, all far from their mark.
"Now!"
"Take cover!" Bennett's voice called out as he dove at the beast with his blazing blade, striking it squarely in the back. The electricity crackling along its hull met with is blaze, blowing him backwards and showering the machine in embers. The harsh flinch it created was followed by another vicious shock that combined with the remaining Pyro energy, and sparked another explosion. Noelle now leapt into action, levying a harsh strike with her claymore and tearing a hole into the robot.
"Wow... Noelle I knew you were strong but-" Bennett's praise fell on deaf ears. Noelle was standing opposite the Acting Grandmaster. They were working together, in a real maneuver. Her heart was soaring in its chest. She would carefully show her movements. She wouldn't let Jean down now.
The ruin hunter let loose a beam to Lisa's position, the explosions scattering rubble in every direction. Jean threw off the aim of another beam with a gusting stab, showering her with rubble instead. The opening was enough for a brutal smash that Noelle could feel shake her blade down to the hilt. She would have to be careful or she would break this one too.
Thunder and fire blazed amidst the double-ended assault, the hunter was clearly outmatched, and was incapable of escaping the bladework leveraged against it. It would be over soon.
If not for a freak accident, that is. Bennett dove headlong through several swipes, finding the hole that Noelle had tore. He had just thanked the stars for his lucky break when the circuitry blew up in his face, launching him far off the the side of the pincer formation, and nearer the small hutch of ruins that they suspected held Fischl. The Hunter wasted little time, dropping a barrage of projectiles over the area and then morphing a deadly lance, pointed were the young adventurer lay.
Noelle saw it all in slow motion.
Jean called out a command to swing right.
Bennett seemed to have a difficult time moving.
Fischl... was in that hovel. She had to be. If Bennett managed to dodge, the spear would find itself in the wall on momentum alone. The choice made itself, it was something only she was capable of.
Noelle swung left and rushed ahead, slamming her feet into the earth as she cloaked herself in Geo energy. She stood wide in front of Bennett and focused the barrier around her hands. The hunter rushed her.
She waited, the perfect moment would be here. There was no rush. The lance would draw nearer and nearer.
Not yet.
Not yet...
Not yet..!
She would make sure to protect Mondstadt's people, just one more moment..!
Now! Noelle's hand's found the lance, she could feel it grind and slip against her shielding. But she would not yield. The tremendous force didn't knock her from her feet, and her arms held the point safely from her neck. She twisted her grip properly and with a shout, hefted it to the side, then another side, then finally snapped it into the earth with a mighty heave. The machine shuddered, Noelle readied herself to strike again when a bolt from the blue collided with a great smashing sound.
Jean stood triumphantly over the wreckage, flicking a few of Lisa's errant sparks from her blade. Noelle would never forget the look in the Acting Grandmaster's eyes in that moment. Concern, and a whisper of disappointment.
Bennett was the one to break the gaze.
"Wow! That was incredible Noelle! I've never seen anyone swing around something so large before! And the way you stood your ground? That's the real adventurer's spirit right there! I knew you'd make a great one!"
His misfortune seemed to guide him right to the words that would hurt the most, as well.
"Noelle, dear." Lisa drew near, taking one of the maid's mitted hands and looking them over. There was minimal damage. The witch was near to congratulating Noelle when she noticed the unspoken conversation that had taken place between her and Jean. Lisa allowed herself to sigh deeply before loosening a satchel filled with potions, handing it to the maid.
"Worry about everything else later, don't you have to find your princess first?"
Realization dawned and Noelle took up the satchel, bowing for less than the perfect amount of time before sliding into the small canyon that would lead to the rubble cave. That was right. There was a life on the line. All of this could have been for a clue, or even an Electro slime, and she would have to fully apologize and put herself before the mercy of Jean, but for right now, something deep within told her that her hopes and fears were right, and Fischl would be in here. That she had diverted one disaster at the very least, and that she would find the Prinzessin, smirk on her face and a coy word about how she foresaw disaster and avoided it with one of her many mystical powers.
What she saw, instead, was a very pale girl, laying alongside some rubble. Blood had seeped through bandages wrapped around her waist, and her chest was raising shakily. A dark, shimmering raven stood watch over her.
"Princess Fischl!"
"Miss Noelle!" Oz cried out in return. The Prinzessin was silent.
Noelle took one of Fischl's chill hands in her own. She wouldn't let a princess die. Not on her watch.
---
The girl in the violet nightgown wandered among the endless shelves. She knew most all of these books. Well, all of the interesting ones, anyway. The stories and fantastic worlds that let her go on adventures, just like her mother and father. This library wasn't like the one that had first taken her to these faraway lands, though. This one grew and changed, it was foreign and, at times, scary. Sometimes she would find a beautiful kingdom under the sea, other times she would see crowds of faceless people flooding the halls, grasping at her.
Amy rubbed her left eye, it hurt all of a sudden. More and more, she closed her other eye and-
She was looking at a sliver-haired girl in a maid outfit. Blood covered her bare hands, but she didn't seem to mind, even wiping her forehead and not noticing the streak of red it left behind. Her sight didn't seem to be in her own control, however, it was flitting around, showing a beak or violet feather. Then it looked over the humanoid shadow that the maid tended to. It felt familiar, but distant. Why was Noelle so worried over this shadow?
Amy's eyes opened and she was in the library again. She was looking for something, she was sure of that much. Well, there was nothing to it except to continue forward, among the rays of sunset. Sunlight became moonlight, and she came upon a wide, arching path. The light inside was unnatural, golden and rosy all at once. This is where she had "found" that first of those novels. Romance and love, wonderful concepts such as these had made her recent ventures all the better, and even better than that was someone to talk to about them. Amy felt a pain in her left eye again and squinted her eyes shut. A smaller library, Noelle was dusting the shelves. She seemed distracted, something only Amy would know to look for, the maid was always a little close with her emotions. Not totally emotionless, far from it, but prone to hiding them as best she could.
When Amy opened her eyes Noelle was still there, now among the rose-tinted shelves, however. She made to run up to her, but was stopped when she noticed the shadow standing over the arch. It was the same that Noelle had been tending so fervently. A violet gleam from where her eye would be shone, and a pit of black opened before Amy. One mechanical arm thrust through, quickly followed by three more. A ruin hunter.
Amy couldn't possibly fight such a monster, she was only a girl in a library. So she did the only thing she could do, run. She heard the whirring and warped voice box echoing from the bookshelves behind her.
Noelle... the Noelle in that room must have noticed, right? Surely she would come to find her soon, and everything would be fine!
Amy felt another sting in her eye, and the hunter's cacophony was getting closer, she dove for a space between two shelves and hid herself. The hunter rushed past, knocking down novels and tomes the whole way down. As she remained curled up, she shut her eyes tight and-
Noelle was there, tending to the side of that shadow. Amy wanted to call out to her, but her tongue caught, nothing seemed to get through. Who was this shadow? What connection did she have to the girl that Amy felt so comfortable around?
Princess Fischl... I have brought tea once again. Please forgive me for not staying as long this time, Master Jean has summoned me. In return, I'll leave two of the books on my recommendation list for you, for if you wake.
Amy's eyes snapped open. That's right. Noelle's friend was Princess Fischl, she didn't know any Amy. She crawled from on nook to another on the other tome-laden wall, careful not to make any noise. She made to run even farther when the warbling of the machine grew to be far away, but nearly tumbled. Another pain, another stabbing feeling in her eye. She hid herself in a shelf and let the next scene take over.
She was outside of Jean's office, at a distance. She felt as though she could hear inside, all the same.
Do you understand why I have called you here?
Insubordination, Master Jean. I have no excuse for myself, and am ready for any punishment you deem appropriate.
Jean sighed and fixed the ribbon in her hair.
Insubordination isn't the reason. The Cavalry Captain should be a prime example of how often that particular stricture is enforced. No, Noelle, you put yourself in mortal danger. While the reasons are virtuous, you could have been seriously harmed. You are definitely powerful. Much more so than most people are, but you push yourself too hard. Do you recall the rescue operation on Dragonspine?
Yes, Master Jean.
You were sick for three days from weather that could just as easily have killed you. We, all of us, were very worried. You must learn to pace yourself, and rely on others to fulfill their own roles more. And my report will reflect as such.
I understand.
Jean fixed a vase of flowers, lingering on the arrangement of roses and dandelions awhile.
Then you are dismissed for now. Lisa requires your help moving a batch of potions to Fischl's room.
Master Jean, am I not to be punished?
As I've said, you weren't here for not following orders. Just promise you'll take what we talked about here to heart.
Amy's eyes snapped open again. The whirring was slowly drawing nearer, the ruin hunter was being thorough. She had to run, run back to the rosy arch, to the woman who had...
She stopped in front of the arch, Noelle was there with the shadow of Fischl. Fischl, the young woman who Noelle saved even at the cost of the Acting Grandmaster's opinion of her. That she had put her own life on the line for when she wasn't even sure if it would work.
Fischl was the one she cared about, even after the disasters she caused.
Standing there watching the pair soon became standing for too long, the ruin hunter screeched and scratched by the bookshelves, looming high overhead. The tip of its spear reared back and Amy fell over, scrambling backwards. She looked back to Fischl and Noelle, and shut her eyes tight.
Now she was alongside Noelle in the room where the sleeping Fischl lay. Noelle was administering a potion when a violet witch called for her attention.
Thank you, dear. It's been a great help to have you here. I am sorry about all the extra work, though.
Oh, think nothing of it, Miss Lisa. I'm surprised you would allow me to tend to royalty, though, considering how important she must be.
Lisa touched a finger to her chin.
Oh? Noelle, dear, would you still tend to Fischl even if she wasn't a princess?
Of course I would!
That's why I'd like you here now. You clearly care about her health regardless of her status. Or else you wouldn't be here every day giving her romance novels. Hehe, it makes me happy to see the lonely little girl have some company.
Lonely? But Princess Fischl is so kind and talented, she must have many admirers.
If that's the case then I'm sure you have them all beat out.
What do you mean, Miss Lisa?
You're the only one who had a date with her, aren't you?
I.... I..! It is only proper, after all. Noelle's cheeks flushed a light pink.
Amy's eyes opened again, finding the ruin hunter still in place. She used all of her force to tear herself away and run, but she wouldn't have enough time. She was being chased again she needed something, some intervention, from anyone.
A violet arrow streaked towards the robot, hitting it squarely in the eye.
"Oh? Don't tell me my mortal form finds this toy to be anything of terrifying opponent, especially in the presence of her friends and mind." Princess Fischl stood tall.
"Sh-shut up! You're the reason we're in this mess in the first place!"
"If you wish to pin every hardship to mine existence, I will hardly refuse. But think carefully, for why do we find ourselves in this morphic labyrinth? The infinite wisdom of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung tells me that there is more to the one before me yet."
"Infinite wisdom... If that's the case then what do you need me for..?"
"For one... The skill to put arrow to bow." The shadow vanished, bow clattering to the ground. Amy heard something from behind her, the ruin hunter was getting up. She ran to the only weapon, noticing she had lost the rosy arch to Noelle. Amy nocked an arrow and let fly, finding the joint of one arm. It sparked and crackled, going limp. A wicked beam shot for her, she had to run now. Down hall and tiled floor.
"You will get nowhere yet by fleeing."
"Then use your magic! You have plenty!"
"I am not the one with the Edelstein der Dunkelheit at her hip. Our bow may be of your body, but the recognization of an Archon is the domain of one's heart."
Amy touched the violet stone and whipped around, firing catastrophic lightning as though it were so many arrows, each stuttered and teetered the machine. Still it drew nearer, she couldn't quite see what she needed too. There was still something...
"You wish fate to cross your path with that maiden once more, do you not?"
"Not the time!"
"The most perfect of times, bare thine Auge der Verurteilung! The piercing eye that sees all!"
"That's yours, I'm just-"
"Someone who hath seen how far her dearest compatriot has gone to save her, who crosses the infinite sea of dreams to view that which concerns her most. You forever say that we are separate, is it not that we are the same coin, each the lesser without the other's face?"
Amy nocked an arrow. She had practiced every single day to be like her hero. She recalled the stories she had played out so many times in her parents' library. Even they recognized her as the one she so loved to be like once upon a time. Most of all, though, she thought on how the memories of Fischl...
Were not any different from her own.
She let electricity crackle freely. She remembered her excitement, and how natural it had felt to wield Electro for the first time.
Fischl looked for the weakness at hand, letting loose her bolt. The violet streak tore away everything around her. The library shared by the quiet, loving Amy and the brave, idealistic Fischl.
---
One thought was on the Prinzessin der Verurteilung's mind when she woke.
"N-Noelle..."
"Mein Fraulein!! Miss Noelle! She is awake!"
Fischl noticed a weight at the side of the bed release. Noelle was there, still fully in uniform and armor. She looked towards Fischl, blinked twice, and then a shocked look crept over her face.
"Princess Fischl! Are you okay? Can you hear me?"
"Y-Yeah... Noelle, is that really you?"
"Of course, Princess. Ah! Oh dear, I shall fetch your eye patch at once!"
"No..!"
"No? I would hate to be rude and avert my gaze, though, and as you said, your eye is quite magical."
"It... It won't hurt you, Noelle."
"It won't?"
"Ahem." Oz interrupted. "The Prinzessin has clearly recognized you as a great power capable of withstanding her might."
"Oh. I'm just an ordinary maid, are you sure?"
"You are the one who carried her from certain death, you have earned the royal welcome, as it were."
Noelle looked from the side to Fischl's twin green eyes. Being fair, she had expected one to be a different color, but the maid figured that maybe it looked normal to her because she had been "welcomed". Magic was very mysterious. As mysterious as the sudden feeling on her gauntlet. Noelle found Fischl's hand on it, lightly touching the cloth rose.
"Noelle... May I tell you a secret? And would you keep it?"
"Of course, Princess Fischl. Whatever it is, my lips are sealed."
The pair lingered awhile.
Fischl's face was quite close, Noelle thought.