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The red Outrider noticed the rose-adorn maid down the hallway of the knight's headquarters, and with a spring to her step and a smile on her face she walked over to the young girl who only had cleaning on her mind.
"Hey there, Noelle!" Amber cried out, startling the girl who gripped onto her broom, which let the chestnut hair girl chuckle though waving her hand to calm the other, "Sorry, sorry, I just got back from gliding through Monstadt,"
Noelle's shoulder loosened as she recognized her energetic senior, and gave her ever most welcoming smile, "Oh, how did it go, Miss Amber? Is there anything you would like me to do for you?"
Amber shook her head as she pointed towards the other, "Actually, I saw you at the training grounds while I was observing," she held a cheeky grin.
"Y-You did?" Now it's time for Noelle to flush, growing shy for being caught.
"Yep!" Amber stood proudly, straightening up with her hands on her hips, "Honestly, the way you demolished the dummies and the wooden sword itself, I was more than amaze at your strength."
The silver hair girl lowered her head, "I'm sorry," quick to issue an apology, "if I caused you or any of the knight's trouble then I will make sure to not repeat it-" pausing as she felt a light tap on her shoulder where Amber rested her hand atop her shoulder, looking up to see the Outrider with an awkward smile.
"Hey, hey, chin up, will you? I'm not here to reprimand you," Amber finally calmed Noelle enough, continuing where she left off, "Anyway, seeing that you're such a diligent maid and also hard at work when it comes to training, I don't understand why Jean hasn't made you a knight yet," she hummed to herself, scratching her head as she thought about the Dandelion Knight's words.
"Well, there could be multiple reasons," Noelle raised her hand and began to count with her fingers, "I'm not strong enough or that my fighting style isn't suited for the Knights of Favonius," she seemed down as she recalls the reasons, "or that I am not following the Knight's rule book to the T, or even that Master Jean knows that I'm just not ready yet," she sighed, but quickly straightened up with a smile, though Amber can see hurt in it instead, "However, I trust Master Jean, which is why I'll keep doing my best no matter how minuscule the task is."
Amber nodded, listening carefully before shaking her head to object, "I also trust Jean but I feel like only doing all these small tasks causes her to look over your hard work instead!" Noelle eyed her, visibly confused at what her senior is saying, "I mean, if Klee can have a title as a knight, I think you're plenty qualified as it is!"
"I-" Noelle thought about it, before chuckling to herself at the silly comparison, "Don't you think Klee is a different situation altogether?"
Amber paused, flailing her hands as she tried to think of something else to say instead, "I mean, you're plenty reliable as it is! I'm pretty sure a lot of people will put in a good word for you, like Ellin and Swan for example," Amber pointed out, pacing in her step as she thinks thoroughly, "and as much as Jean is busy, I'm pretty sure she can spare a few minutes and watch how you train, and from experience, the paperwork to register isn't that lengthy either!"
"I don't mean to poke holes," Noelle was chuckling again, Amber pausing in her steps as she looks at the other, "but I feel that the paperwork for an outrider and a knight are quite different,"
"Gah!" Amber jumped, but let out an embarrassed laugh too, "I guess that's true... but really, what I'm getting at is that you really would be a great asset, I mean, you already contribute a lot to the Monstadt citizens too."
Noelle stayed quiet for a moment, but this time her smile seems more gentle as she looked up to her senior, "Do you really think I can become a knight eventually?"
"I know so!" Amber didn't hesitate, hopping close towards Noelle to share that bit of excitement.
Noelle let out another laugh, but this time warm and with newfound hope, Amber listened to it and couldn't help but feel a sense of pride towards the young girl's future.
The Knights returned from their excursions, some a bit battered than others, but one thing that Amber noticed quickly as they entered the gate was this: Noelle didn't return.
Amber jumped past the steps and landed heavily, sprinting towards the knights as worry filled her pace. "Where's Noelle?" She asked one of the knights calmly, but even they didn't know. "Are you ok? Do you know where Noelle is?" Amber kept asking one after another, as the sisters of the Cathedral also rush by to help aide them, but they couldn't give any proper replies save for explanations that nearly went out the other ear.
Amber entered the Captain's Headquarters, trying to keep a level head as she tries to think of what to explain to Jean, taking a deep breath as she knocked on the door.
"Come in," a voice gave permission, but as Amber opened the door what's there is a dishevelled Jean amongst a pile of paperwork.
"The Knights that were sent out had returned," Her eyes fixed on the messy desk, shuffling her feet awkwardly, "but it seems to have been something strong-"
"Abyss Mages," Jean sighed, clasping her hands together with agitation, "Sister Rosaria relayed what the knights have seen just earlier," she stood up, walking towards one of the shelves as she pulled a few documents, quickly skimming through them, "Diluc has been keeping tabs on these beasts, but they shouldn't have attacked the knights where I've sent them!" she was growing infuriated, tossing the documents atop her desk as she peered them over once again, "How did I overlook this?! Even with Stormterror and the Fatui raging over Monstadt, I should have been more careful with where I sent the knights--!"
"Master Jean!" Amber cried out, now growing a bit panic from seeing how the Acting Grand Master is, well, acting a bit out of it.
Jean snapped out of her frantic daze, taking a breath as she calmly sank back into her seat, "Sorry, sorry," she murmured to herself, "these last few days have been something else... was there something you wanted to add to the report?" she quirked up, her exhausted blue eyes only prove the lack of sleep she's getting.
Amber nodded, though unsure how to go about it, "Actually, one of the people that went on the excursion hasn't come back yet." she flinched as Jean jumped up once more.
"Who is missing?!" Jean closed her hands into worried fists, "Should I go ahead and form a search party immediately? Do we even have enough people to watch over the city by then?" She rapidly mumbled questions to herself, trying to come up with a painless solution.
"It's Noelle," Amber lowered her head, "she's the one that didn't come back."
There was silence for a few odd moments, causing the Outrider to look back up towards the master who seems like her blood ran cold from hearing the news.
"Ah, not this again," Jean accidentally let out her anxiety, causing Amber to worry more.
24 hours.
There aren't any knights available to make a search party, causing Jean to mentally curse to herself for the real Grand Master to take so many of the original knights.
Amber on the other hand was gliding throughout Monstadt, trying to find any traces of where these Abyss Mages were and what may have happened to Noelle, but the further she flew the more disoriented her emotions got.
As she stumbled to the ground, recognizing the tree of Windrise and just how far she's flown out, unsure where to look from here or if those monsters had lingered further.
What caught her eye were a few rose petals, causing Amber's spine to seize up.
36 hours.
Night began to fall, and Amber is beginning to have doubts. "What if she lost her way? She's never been this far from Monstadt, I presume." Her thoughts continued to race, her pacing nearly carving onto the cobble road, "Did I tell her to do something she shouldn't..? She didn't have to go this far!"
Her ears twitched as she heard footsteps behind her, whirling around to see the azure hair and crystal eyes of the Calvary Captain, as he gave his calm smile, "Amber, as far as I'm concerned you don't get paid overtime," he tried to make a joke, but Amber didn't have the heart to laugh, shaking his head as he decides to get to the point, "you still worried about that girl?"
"Of course," Amber jumped, surprised that it was even a question, though glanced around to make sure no one is lingering, "I won't say what Jean told me in case of eavesdroppers, but if what Rosaria relayed is true, then yes! I am worried sick!" her hazel eyes glanced back through the gate, hoping that Noelle would appear here and there.
"Worrying so much will give you grey hair," Kaeya also looked past the gate, seeming thoughtful for just a moment, "but it's not to say that your worry isn't founded, after all. Having something like this happen again is bound to make you worked up."
"What do you-" Amber looked at the taller, until registering what was said, "n-no! This situation is different to my grandfather's! Noelle will turn up eventually, I'm sure of it!" her fist was trembling by her side, refusing to accept what's been pointed out.
Kaeya noticing that it's still a sore topic rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, before putting a hand atop Amber's shoulder to steady the wrecked girl, "I don't know how much of this will quell your fear," his words returning to his smooth-talking tone, "but knowing Noelle, she's more resilient and has a level head, so I too have hope that she'll make it back in one piece."
Amber hitched her breath and nodded, her chest welling up just by hearing someone, even if it's the shady Calvary Knight, that they won't give up on someone.
48 hours.
The knights that returned have been fully rested and returning back on duty as if nothing happened.
Master Jean finally coordinated a few members to go look for Noelle, Amber opting to join as well to make scouting quicker, much to Jean's approval she accepted the proposal.
Just as the others headed out to equip items for their investigation, Jean held Amber back to talk one on one. The Outrider noticed how Jean looked more collected than previously, which didn't sit well in her gut.
"Amber," Jean spoke up, Amber jerking to listen, "I wanted to let you know that it's not your fault for wanting to motivate Noelle."
Amber flushed in cold shock, unsure how Jean would know of that, "I- well, I did, but I didn't think she would do something this reckless,"
Jean nodded and sighed, "The thing is, that girl is also stubborn and has a strong moral compass. If she feels that it's her duty to do something, she will see it through," she smiled however, "she reminds me of a certain Outrider, I suppose."
This time Amber grew embarrassed for being compared to, shaking her head as she looked up, "Is... this the reason why you don't want to make Noelle a knight just yet?" she pressed, wanting to know from Master Jean sincerely.
She paused, turning her head away from Amber as she rubbed her earring to think, "Yes, but the other reason is its own headache."
The shorter is surprised to hear something like this coming from Jean, gulping as she wonders if it's ok to press further. Jean noticed the hesitation and just gave a weak smile instead.
"Master Varka entrusted me not to share, but I feel like there's no reason to keep you in the dark now," she sighed, her hands folding into each other, "there was an occurrence when Noelle left to Dragonspine on her own to help an adventurer..."
52 hours.
Amber and the other knights gathered and trek to find the maid, but with how slow the others are walking Amber decided to scout ahead, running with her glider as she picked up a current and floated off the direction of Stormterror's Lair.
What Jean said earlier still rattled in her head. "Dragonspine? Left without any equipment? Bedridden for three days???" Amber gulped, observing the ground below her and ignoring the slimes, "Just how reckless is this girl?!"
The Outrider began to notice some swords and bags belonging to the Favonus knights, battered of course, only allowing Amber to assume that the last set of knights were here before Noelle has gone missing. Once she found a flat patch, Amber slowed to a landing with her boots kicking the dirt.
She held her breath, noticing a campsite belonging to a group of hilichurls, as broken masks and clubs were strewn about. Amber heart twisted once she noticed shredded fabric, black, white, and red. Amber picked up her pace, believing that she found a lead and begged that Noelle is, in fact, in one piece.
Her nose began to pick up something, familiar with the scent of sweet flowers and others, Amber continued to sprint in high hopes that the missing maid id nearby. But as she crept closer to the smell, another smell caught her attention, something strong and iron... something like blood.
"Noelle!" Amber cried out, seeing smoke that could belong to a campfire, she followed like a hound, "Noelle, we're here to get you! Are you alright?!" her mind was running miles, her feet losing grip on the messy terrain, and just as she noticed someone by a campfire letting up her joy that the girl is alright, it immediately crashed once she noticed it wasn't in fact Noelle but some stranger.
"A-Are you here to help me?" the male stranger scrambled to his feet, "Th-Thank goodness! I was wondering when help would arrive, I thank Lord Barbatos for looking out for me," he clasped his hand and bowed towards Amber, not making any room to explain himself.
Amber paused, trying to access the situation, until she noticed the same red-white-black fabric wrapped around his forearm. Anger welling up, she readied a bow and arrow as she aimed the camper, "What are you doing on Stormterror's grounds?!" she yelled, her hazel eyes now burning in agitation.
"I-I accidentally wandered here while I was hunting," the stranger raised his arms, seeing how things have escalated, "Honest!"
"If you're fine then where did Noelle go-?!" Amber continued to yell before being yank by her hood, letting go of her arrow which charged straight towards the tent, tearing the fabric.
"Section Two of the Knights of Favonius handbook, do not exhibit suspicion or hostility towards outsiders!" a familiar voice yelled out, Amber collapsing atop them. Once she calmed down and looked up, there Noelle was looking worn and torn from head to toe, but most importantly she looks fine.
"N-Noelle!" Amber scrambled off the other as she frantically looked over the other for any physical harm, "Are you alright?! It's been nearly 3 days since you've been missing!"
"I should say the same for you," Noelle huffed, brushing the dirt off her already tattered uniform, "aiming your bow towards an innocent hunter who isn't wielding a weapon of their own, what has gotten into you?"
"I- but- huh?" Amber glanced back at the stranger, only to realize it's just a frail and exhausted young man that poses no threat to her at all, "O-Oh..."
54 hours.
The other knights found their way towards Amber as she shot the air multiple times to catch their attention, taking in the exhausted man and Noelle with them.
"I-I see," Amber held her chin as she listened in on what Noelle was saying, "so when the Abyss Mages arrived, the knights ran off, but they didn't stay for long either?"
Noelle nodded, "It seems like they wanted to give a scare is all,"
"As for the hilichurls?"
"Ah," Noelle looked forward, rubbing her arm, "I stayed back because I noticed the hunter there surrounded by those hilichurls, and before I knew it the knights had left," she sighed, recalling the situation, "the hunter is from Springvale, and from what he told me he was out hunting some boars and chased them all the way here by accident."
"He said the same thing to me," Amber couldn't believe what she was hearing, "why didn't you just come back?"
"Well," Noelle scratched the back of her hair, some sticks and leaves tangled in, Amber leaned in to pull a twig out, "oh, thank you," she coughed, "the thing is, I've never travelled towards this direction of Monstadt before, so I was afraid that I would get myself lost further."
"So you and that hunter decided to camp out here until we found you?" Amber sounded in disbelief.
"Yes," Noelle laughed this time, "to be precise, the hunter wasn't a fan of me staying around him either and decided to walk back to Springvale, but he kept walking into hilichurls and slimes that I couldn't just ignore him."
"Oh, so that's why you tore your maid outfit to try and bandage him up!" Amber pointed out, now sounding astonished by Noelle's intense care in uncalled situations.
"Mhm," her heels lacked against the rocky pavements as she listened to the soft footsteps of the knights, "and I knew that it would be best for me to stay put. Because the knights of Favonius would come and get me,"
"Of course we would!" Amber held her head high as she glanced at the other, "As I said before, you're important to us! There's no way we would abandon you just like that!"
Noelle giggled at Amber's explosive personality, "I know that, that's why I have great trust and loyalty towards the knights," she breathed out, seeming happy, "because they are here to help anyone and will see it through."
Amber paused a moment, remember what Jean has told her, and how Kaeya reacted, her pace began to slow down to which Noelle began to notice, stopping to look back at her senior. "Are you alright?" Noelle asked, Amber shaking her head as she hopped over to give Noelle a tight hug.
"I know you'll be a great knight one day," Amber mumbled, holding the other tightly as to not disappear again, "but... don't rush yourself and do something as dangerous again, alright? There's plenty of time for that kind of stuff," she sighed.
Noelle froze up, her arms awkwardly hovering over Amber's back as if trying to hug her too, but fell slack to her side instead, "Y-Yes," she nodded, leaning in close and able to smell the other's hair, "I'll be sure to remember that-"
Amber pulled away from the hug, her eyes hurting from the stingy feeling of tears, "Don't just remember, promise me that! You did a great thing trying to help someone but at the risk of your own life too!"
Noelle just nodded, as if understanding and giving that kind smile of hers, but Amber isn't sure that Noelle understood at all.
"I promise," she said it like that, her hand atop her chest as if to affirm it, "now let's hurry over to the knights before we get lost together, too." and just like that, Noelle turned around to follow the others, Amber nearly reaching out before stopping herself, knowing well that Noelle isn't someone that actually needs to be protected.
Now she realises why Jean is hesitant to allow Noelle to be a knight. She's resilient, strong, and have a strong moral compass, but most egregious of all, she will lay her life just to do what's right.
"W-Wait for me!" Amber called out, quickening her steps to follow the others, yet regret began to weigh her down as well.