Chapter Text
Eula didn't take her decision lightly, this very one proved to be the most problematic and had a hundred different awful outcomes she can think of.
Though she had thoroughly reflected on what her future will hold in her current familial situation for as long she'd been entrusted with a sword. She knew whatever sword art she learned would be used against people, against an era of peace and freedom.
Eula laughs then, thinking of the word the god of wind himself had entrusted with his people. She thinks back on what her senior have told her as she polishes her great sword. Freedom, such an innocent and almost naïve concept for a revolutionary city. People had simply wished to be free. Free to sing, and dance to songs that flow out the winds of the dandelion city.
Free to fly.
She stops her subtle movements, looking away from the crest imbedded on her sword and out her closed windows, where the moon has but peeked on the right side of the window sill. Freedom, the idea that her family snarls at. For the rich can not be free either. Titles and names tie to the money the eldest of each noble family should focus their whole lives on keeping. For being less than rich meant being nothing but foot polish to the aristocrats.
Dandelion fuzz flies by her window, glowing luminously as it passes by the moon. Her face remains passive, hands slack as both grip loosely on the large weapon that held her families crest. She drops it on the ground gently, walking to her window with a coat hanging off her shoulders. Her lamplight glows amber, and she sees her reflection in the glass.
She finds herself smiling at her content expression, then moving gloved hands to swing open the iron windows in front of her. The night air felt welcoming, felt calming and she finds herself shutting the open glass windows tight and gets ready for bed.
She was sure of her decision, her stunt just needed a few readjustments for her refined tastes.
She never had any opinions on the existing knights of Favonius when she first came to the walled city, she knew long of her families eccentric descriptions of any modern citizen of Mondstadt. Though those don't compare on how much they loathe on the knights. Eula shakes her head on her reminiscing, it doesn't matter now. Especially when she can see for herself right here and form her own unblemished opinions on the knights of Favonius.
"Morning Eula! I got you the specialty of course!" The ribbon head knights quickly runs her way, as she was calmly enjoying tea outside headquarters.
One of her opinions right here are, unabashedly intrusive. She hmphed, uncrossing her legs and regarding her peer with a cold gaze. Amber just smiles, as if getting a warm greeting from a close friend. Eula then snaps from her lecturing thoughts, momentarily forgetting returning a graceless yet welcoming greeting.
"Good morning, Amber. What are you up to so bright and early?" She asks, turning back to her tea. The empty seat adjacent to her is taken by the knight, and the table is filled with all sorts of packed meals, still piping hot. The laid-back teen stretches' her tired muscles, Eula accidently taking a peak of the youngers stomach and v-line. She coughs, feeling awkward all the sudden. Amber remains dense and leans back on her chair.
"I had a run with Jean, since she reminds me that I promised every sunrise. Then, I picked up some grub for me and you!" She beams, adjusting the loose goggles on her head and unpacking the bags she put down. Eula finds herself amused, impressed that the girl she glances at continues to try and befriend her despite her status. She sips her tea, allowing the idle chatter she never could indulge in flow through the morning.
"You two really should admire the horizon at such time, not race after it. Having tea and a book by you is as you watch the simplest but most relaxing leisure." She sighs contently, relaxing before the day ahead requires all her strength and mind put into it. Amber hums, taking a look at the sky herself and hovering her arm over her eyes when the clouds give way to the early sun. She starts unboxing her breakfast, and helping herself the most of the food in the bag.
"You're not wrong, watching the sunrise can really put your mind at ease. But I really want to work hard for Master Jean! She already has so much on her shoulders but refuses to pile more work on us!" Eula hrmphs at the mention of her rivals name, the audacity of her to take most of the difficult and bothersome problems in Mondstadt!
"Are you suggesting my morning routine is me just dallying about as I please?" He crossed her arms, not actually angry but annoyed at the comment to her poise. Amber shakes her head frantically, straightening up and eating her meal as fast as she runs. How does she talk like that? Eula laughs, feeling guilty for the other. Her 'acting mad' is way too good sometimes. She waves a hand, her laugh heightening up in-between breaths.
"I jest, Outrider Amber. Apologies for the shake in your boots, I always admire your tenacity in helping others of course." She uncrosses her arms, but her brows furrow as she continues to speak. "Though I swear that I will have vengeance for all the times you've treated me. This being about the fifth time." She opens her palm, gesturing at the last box in the bag. Amber smiles sheepishly, but pushing the box to the woman despite the obvious reluctance.
"I know, I know. You don't have to tell me all about your dislike on gifts," She comments lightly. Before Eula could reiterate her beliefs on one-sided gift giving, Amber cuts her off with a light hearted tone to her voice.
"But I'm giving this to you as a friend. It's pay back enough to see you enjoying one of Mondstats' specialties!" She smiles as if she had a plan, Eula narrows her eyes as she inspected the bag.
Her eyes widened,
"...Moon pie? How did you-" Amber straightened up again, midbite into a leg of a sweet madame chicken. She almost seemed embarrassed, with the smile that creeped its way to her face.
"The infamous Knights of Favonius have their ways!" She says proud, Eula found herself chuckling again. The nerve of finding information that even her family didn't bother to learn, and to boisterously use it against her!
Though she did find the gesture charming, from a first friend in Mondstadt. And wasn't that such an achievement for her? Eula sighs and shakes her head fondly, giving the other a smile.
"Perhaps I can let this slide. Though don't forget, you'll be the first in my venture of vengeance when the time comes, Outrider."
"Haha! I'll be sure to catch you off guard again then, Captain." Amber winked, then immediately turned as red as her headband. She digs into her food again, as if unbothered.
Eula blinks as her pink eyes widen for a moment. Well, that was a friendly threat of there ever was one. Eula never was one with bodily gestures and what they mean, so she blows off to cool her already cold tea as she ponders.
What an odd enigma her friendly peer proved to be.
Festivities for Eula were few and far in-between, and when they did come, they were aggravating business meetings in secret instead of innocent get togethers. Even children such as her would be given fixed greetings and conversations to branch out their status and power. Connections, her parents would always tut, connections are what family is all about. Was life all about politics and useless strategies through life? She stopped taking them so seriously, but the word had a baggage of negativity to it.
The Windblume festival had a whole different atmosphere and meaning to it in comparison. Everyone was shaking in excitement, many adventures set aside for a few days of celebration. The citizens were more breezy than usual, being in sync as many hang lamps, silk robes, and all kinds of flowers. Eula experienced the ecstatic ambience of the city she continues to live in, feeling less discriminated as everyone becomes busy with preparations.
She isn't allowed to let herself be absorbed by the rare occurrence of a walk without any stares or nearby whispers of course, she is a knight. The festival carried with it people around Teyvat, unfortunately. Many have trouble going inside the city, being ambushed by all kinds of monsters they've never encountered before.
Eula would scorn the naïve way Mondstadt welcomes foreigners, but she then would become a hypocrite. Well, then again, she wasn't fully welcomed in the city. She shakes her head at that particular thought, not prepared to open that box of familial angst. The young Lawrence skipped the stair steps as she headed for headquarters, reportedly asking for her orders in the morning.
She's about to greet the knights guarding the establishment when a scream of 'Watch out!' and a flash of red breezes by her, just landing to her left. She hears a familiar awkward chuckle, sounding way out of breath. Eula moves a hand to grab her hip, turning to Amber with a tilted head.
"Well if it isn't the Outrider, having so much trouble with her glider again, I see." She teased at her companion, crossing her arms and letting the grin reach her cheeks. The Outrider sheepishly grins as she turned to her friend, scratching behind her head in a nervous manner. She manages to let out an apology, before Eula decided to continue her knightly duties as the sun shined bright above her.
"Apologies, though I'd love to catch up, I have a report to inquire." She says, without the sound of her disappointment seeping through her tone. Eula could rarely step foot in Mondstadt, her duties as the Renaissance Captain keeping her from relaxing. Though the Windblume Fest does relieve her of duties for the sake of a moment of relief, she can't help but feel uneasy to all the dozens of strange travelers coming in and out of the city.
"Oh! If you're asking about all the carts and travelers this morning, I'm your knight!" Amber perks up from behind her, Eula turns to her with a critical eye. Were the deliveries and visitors this morning that few? She was suspicious, but gestured for the other to lead the way into the Knights of Favonius headquarters. Amber practically skipped as they found a proper place to exchange information.
"I managed to run by the guards when I finished skirting outside of Mond, they said every cart has been accounted for. Though I'm afraid to say Huffman's reported your uncle spitting out some... comments to all the locals." Her smile dropped, as if just remembering that piece of information. Eula remained passive, unsurprised of the attitude her family continues to display towards the knights and locals, despite her being one of them.
It was already burned in her mind that her family treats her no differently than the dirt they polish off their shoes, but she finds herself still expecting change. She hoped. Dreamed, even. Maybe the city's naivety had started thawing her cold and realism-biased heart. She mentally shook away her dark thoughts and let her cold demeanor present itself through sunset tinted pupils.
"Well, if everything is under control in Mondstadt, I've got to reach out to the Reconnaissance group." She stands up, straightening her collar. She couldn't stand to listen to her uncle prattle on about archons knows what, and making a scene if they ever ran into each other. The city had been more gorgeous than she's ever seen. One could see and feel all the different flowers fluttering in the air as different arrays of windblumes are offered by hand and by letter.
The spindrift knight would hate to see a pierce through the carefree air because of her family's hatred towards her. So she can't allow herself to stay.
But a gloved hand reached out to grab hers, gently stopping her graceful tracks. Amber's hand lets go as quickly as it sprung out, then she clears her throat when she manages to stand properly after leaning far from her seat.
"Spindrift Knight, I'd like to reach out an invite." She starts sweating, despite the lobby being cold. Amber's hand curls into a tight fist as she inhales deeply. "I-I wish to spend this years Windblume Festival with you! Ah, if you want to that is." She quickly adds, her hand moving to nervously scratch the back of her head. Eula blinks, two times before she laughs out loud, holding her stomach.
"Eula? Oh, I knew I never should have trusted Kaeya!" The younger knight stomped like a child. Eula could swear the other turned red that she could clearly see tears forming in the corner of golden hues. She stopped laughing, immediately looking worried.
"I apologize if that offended you, I was just so surprised with how you spoke so formally all the sudden. Pray tell, what ever gave you so much fright that you would ask Kaeya of all people for advice?" She asks teasingly, unable to help herself. It was refreshing to see someone try so hard for her after all.
Amber rubs her eyes, embarrassed. She breaths deeply again, looking at a nearby window. Her lips pressed together in an grimace. She continues to have this passive display as she says her next words.
"I asked him how it would be best to ask you out. You're so busy... and a little dense that I thought I had to speak formally for you to understand me." Eula found herself mentally drooping as the other bright knight avoided her gaze. She put a hand on Amber's shoulder, a gesture she found the other was fond of. She soon found autumn eyes gazing towards her own. She tries for a smile.
"You don't have to go through such lengths for me, although I do appreciate the effort." Amber smiles softly at that, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"But I don't appreciate being called dense, I will add that to my long list of vengeance." Eula felt unsatisfied when her jest only made Amber chuckle weakly.
The other pushed Eula's hand away from her shoulder, and she looked down as she speaks.
"...You really don't want to go out with me?" The captain felt like striking herself for not properly answering the invitee her friend reached out towards her. Amber must have thought Eula was avoiding the question. No wonder she was so shy, It was such a huge and special festival to spend with someone.
Eula wanted to spare her first friend from the accusations her family members will no doubt have of seeing Eula with her. The older wanted to see her happy and smiling wide throughout the festival. Amber didn't need to be concerned for the other either, Eula would be happy just listening to her excitedly ranting about anything. She didn't need a festival, Amber was always enough.
"I'm afraid I can't Amber, but perha-" A gloved hand raises just in front of Eula's chest. Amber smiles again, easily cutting the other off.
"It's okay, you don't have to explain. I'll leave you to your duties." She walks out, her form saggy in comparison to how she skipped into the room just earlier. Eula couldn't get a word in, and something in her mind croaked to give chase to the other. To explain what? She didn't know, and didn't want to upset Amber further by chasing her without reason.
The Renaissance captain walked out anyway. She looked down the hallways through both ends. Everything was quiet, except for the scratching of a quill and the flip of paper that echoed lightly.
The younger woman was nowhere to be seen.
Eula put a hand to her chest, the burn she feels pushes her to find the other. She didn't like knowing that she made Amber frown, but she thought the other would be happier without her.
She would be, right? Spending time with Eula would expose her to frigid stares, and though Amber is well loved by the town, that doesn't stop the gossip.
Eula knew that, but something tugged inside her when the thought of Amber leaving crossed her mind.
She didn't want to let go.