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Angel’s Share was relatively quiet and Diluc was thankful. This was probably due to the fact it was Wednesday and the middle of the week, plus Kaeya’s normal band of knights were not here since their boss was away on a mission near the Brightcrown Mountains.
Knowing that idiot, he is going to come here as soon as he gets back and gets drunk off his ass. Won't even stop by his place to change or fill out his paperwork. God he can be so lazy.
Picking up a customer's discarded drink and pouring the excess wine down the sink before rinsing it with soap and water. He grabbed a clean towel when a small figure slumped onto the bar.
Diluc gives the figure once over. Taking in the dirt and patches of blood covering the boy's clothes. The way he hunched over the bar and how his head was buried in his arms. Did he overwork himself? Other than Jean, Traveler is the most overworked person I know.
He finishes drying the cup in his hands and places it next to the other clean cups and grabs another dirty glass, before turning back to face the Traveler and his flying companion.
“Traveler is there anything you would like to drink?” Nothing alcoholic of course, you're a bit too young for anything other than juice or water.
He nods, keeping his head buried in his arms. Diluc looked up at Paimon and raised his eyebrow. What's going on?
Paimon shrugs and turns to talk to Lynn who is on the bar seat next to them.
Diluc finishes drying the outside of the glass before grabbing some ice and filing it to the top with cold water. He looks like he could use some cold water, if he wants something else after this glass, maybe two, he can have it, but first he needs to hydrate.
He sets the glass in front of the Travelers crossed arms with an audible clink. The Traveler looks up from his arms and scoots the glass closer to him and takes small sips, looking around the tavern.
Diluc goes back to cleaning used glasses and taking the few orders coming in. Good he is almost done with the glass. He must have had a rough day with commissions today. Hopefully he gets some rest tonight.
He keeps an eye on the Traveler as he does his job. After a while the Traveler finishes his glass and lays his head back down on the bar, but doesn't hide his face. Just listening to what Lynn and Paimon were going on about.
Grabbing the two wine bottles that Lynn had ordered, Diluc turns back to hand them to her when he notices a knight approaching the Traveler. While this is a relatively normal sight, alarm bells rang in the back of Diluc’s mind.
He set the two wine bottles in front of Lynn and collected the mora she handed him, keeping an eye on the knight as he dragged the Traveler into conversation. He noticed how the Traveler's hands tighten into fists and how Paimon broke away from Lynn to speak to the knight in the Traveler’s stead.
What in the world is going on? I know the knights are useless but what is he saying to the Traveler that is causing such a reaction?
Diluc moves into earshot just in time to hear the knight say, “Oh come now buddy. There is no need to be so rude, you wouldn't want me to go to Master Jean and say you aren't helping poor Mondstadt knights politely asking for help.”
The knight clasped a hand down between the Travelers shoulder blades and had a wicked grin on his face, acting like he just won.
Diluc felt anger flare up as his hand tightened on the bag of mora in his hand. Who the fuck does this knight think he is threatening the Traveler? He is clearly tired and if he refused to do this guy's work for him then he refused, no ifs or buts.
He rounded the bar and ripped the knight's hand off of the Traveler and stepped between them. Diluc’s hand tightened around the knight's wrist. “What the fuck do you think you are doing?”
The knight tried to jerk his wrist from Diluc’s grip, but he was well and truly stuck. “Hey! Attacking a knight is a crime! Unhand me!”
“Oh so now you talk about crimes, like coercion and manipulation? Like those crimes?” His grip tightens and he pushes the knight further away from the Traveler. “I should drag you to Acting Grand Master Jean by your hair.”
The knight goes to retort when there is a loud thud from behind Diluc and a panicked cry, “Aether!”
Diluc quickly spins around and releases the knight, who scurries away. His eyes trail down to see the Traveler hunched over on his knees gasping for breath. Body tense and trembling with terror.
Most of the tavern's patrons were staring at the scene with interest and worry for the Honorary Knight. I wouldn’t want people to see me if I was having what looks like a panic attack.
“Excuse me, the tavern is now closed, please leave immediately. You will be refunded for unfinished drinks, I apologize for the inconvenience.”
With Diluc’s words, patrons stumble out of the tavern, some supported by the friends and coworkers who accompanied them there. Soon the tavern was completely empty save Diluc, Paimon and the shaking Traveler.
Paimon hovered in front of Traveler, “Aether? Aether can you hear Paimon?” Her voice was high pitched and cracking with worry.
Diluc turned and kneeled in front of the Traveler. He took in the sight, trying to figure out the best course of action. He is shaking quite hard, and his eyes are glazed over and flitting across the room. More of a flashback than a panic attack. He probably doesn't know who we are right now or where he is. Seeing as I don't know what set him off, we should not touch him right now. It could make things worse.
“Traveler, can you hear me?” Diluc looks into Aether's eyes looking for any recognition. Nothing.
“You are in Angels Share, you are safe. You are here with Paimon and Diluc.”
Nothing is getting through to him. Do I risk touching him? I definitely could make this worse, but at this point it's been what 16 minutes since this started and he hasn't given us any sign he knows where he is or who we are.
Kaeya always needed physical touch to ground him. Could Traveler be the same? At this point it may be worth the risk to try. Okay we will start easy and test how he reacts.
Diluc takes his eyes off of Traveler and looks up at the panicked pixie. “I am going to try and ground him with physical contact since our voices aren't getting through to him. He may lash out, so back up a bit.”
Paimon's eyes widen, but quickly follows what Diluc says and flies back behind him, watching as he slowly raises his hand and sets it on the Traveler's upper arm.
Traveler’s body stiffened with the contact and for the first time since he fell to the ground his eyes focused. Terrified golden eyes lock with concerned red.
“Traveler?”
His eyes widen when the Traveler gasped and jerks himself away from Diluc as if he hurt him. Traveler scrambles to his legs, wobbling as he backs away from Paimon and Diluc, eyes staying firmly locked on Diluc. Shit! Okay so touch is not okay.
Diluc put his hands up in palms flat, trying to show that he meant no harm. “It’s okay Traveler, I won't touch you again, you're in Angles Share, you are safe here.”
The tavern falls silent except for the Traveler's harsh breathing, when Paimon's eyes widen. “Wait, Aether don't!” The traveler disappears in a burst of blue stars.
They both stand shocked at where the Traveler just disappeared from. I was not aware that the Traveler could teleport. Though that does make sense given how fast he gets around.
“Paimon needs to go find him!” Paimon goes to zip out the door and then teleport to where her friend was, when Diluc helps up a hand.
“I think we should let him calm himself down first. He was scared of us, wherever his mind went, other people are not friends right now.” He probably went to wherever his and Paimon’s home is. Someplace safe and familiar.
“So Paimon is just supposed to let him be wherever he is without any protection! What if something attacks him!?”
Diluc shakes his head. “He probably went somewhere he felt safe. Us being near him will do him no favors. We should deal with the knight that caused this, then after we take him to Jean, we will go find him.”
Remembering the offended knight Paimon glowers. “Fine, but if Paimon feels for one second that Aether is in danger, Paimon will leave you behind and find him.”
Diluc nods and the two walk out of Angle Share to go and find the knight and take him to Jean. Diluc locks the tavern's doors and the two walk, or one walks and the other floats, towards the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
It’s most likely where he went, either to fulfil his threat against the traveler or to make it seem like he wasn't at the tavern in the first place. Or he may believe we won't come find him if he is surrounded by other law enforcement.
“Paimon is so mad! That- That dumb knight! He deserves an ugly nickname, Paimon should have given him one a long time ago!” Paimon's fists clench at her sides.
Diluc looks over at the fairy. I only heard the last part of what the knight was saying, and based on what Paimon is saying they have encountered this knight before. Has he done something similar in the past?
“Have you encountered this knight in the past?”
Paimon groans and scowls. “Yes, Paimon first met the knight when he approached Aether for help for his missions about two months ago. Only for him to screw us over, take all the money and rewards and leave us to do all of the work! Paimon hates him! Paimon tells Aether not to take the the missions, but the stupid knight will threaten him!! Paimon doesn't want Aether to get hurt anymore!” Angry tears fill the fairies eyes thinking about the missions the knight has abandoned them in.
Diluc feels his anger rise, Traveler is such a kind person, he shouldn't be taken advantage of like that. Jean better dish out a good punishment or this knight may have to be visited by the dark knight hero.
“Do you know the knight's name? And what happened earlier, what did the knight say to cause that flashback?”
“Paimon thinks the knight's name is Hermann Southers or something like that. Paimon doesn't know what caused Aether to panic like that, but he has been down all day. The knight came up to Aether and wanted him to do his route again, but Paimon didn't want him to say he would do it, so Paimon came over and told him that we were done adventuring for the day.”
Paimon huffed, “then the knight was so rude to Paimon! He said he was talking to Aether not Paimon! Everyone knows Paimon speaks for Aether all the time!”
Diluc nodded along. It is common knowledge that Paimon is more often than not the Traveler's voice. He doesn't talk very much, the most I have heard from him at once is maybe one complete sentence. “Knight Southers most likely knew that you would push against him and wave the Traveler from ‘helping’ him.”
“Hmm, maybe, but then Aether told the knight no! That he wouldn't do the route, Aether looked mad at the knight. Paimon was so proud of Aether!” Paimon had a wide smile on her face, but it dropped remembering how the rest of the story goes.
“Then the stupid knight threatened Aether! But Paimon isn't sure if that is what made him panic. He seemed more upset over the knight touching him.”
It might have been the touch that caused him to tip over the edge. It would make sense when I look at what happened with me in the tavern. Touch made him panic more. I do hope he is alright, but let's focus on getting Knight Southers the punishment for his actions.
“It seems likely that Knight Southers touching him was the last straw. The Traveler did seem exhausted today.”
Diluc looks at the stairs in front of them, almost there. It has been quite a while since I have been in the headquarters.
“Yeah, Aether and Paimon did a lot of commissions today! Aether was probably tired, we did a lot yesterday too.”
Does the Traveler chronically overwork himself? I should probably bring that up with Jean as well. It's not only unhealthy but dangerous with the level of commissions he is taking on. He could get seriously injured.
The two approach the door of the Knight’s of Favonius Headquarters. The two knights on guard look at Diluc with wide eyes. It was a rare sight to see Master Diluc anywhere near the knights willingly, and when they do see him he is usually being bothered by Kaeya out in town.
Otto glanced at Logan before speaking to the two guests. “Master Diluc, Paimon, what can I do for you today?”
“I need to speak to Acting Grand Master Jean.”
The two knights were startled, “You wish for an attendance with Acting Grand Master Jean?”
Paimon huffed and crossed her arms, “Yes! It's important.”
Diluc takes in the hesitant faces of the two knights. They are going to tell us she is busy and we need to make an appointment. Time to channel my inner Kaeya… I am never thinking that bastardous thought again.... For the greater good, anything for retribution I guess.
“As my companion said, it is important that we meet with her as soon as we can. Unless of course you would like us to come back tomorrow and tell her why we had to delay giving her important information?” Diluc raised an eyebrow. “We wouldn't want that now would we?”
The two knights' eyes widen and gesture to the door. “No no of course not, Acting Grand Master Jean is in her office, third door to the right.”
The two step inside the now open doors. Diluc takes in the foyer of the headquarters. Nothing much has changed. Other than that chair, Didn't Kaeya, Jean, and I break the other one after a mission?
“How did you do that? Paimon thought for sure they would turn us away!”
Diluc sighed, “I grew up with Kaeya, I picked up some things.”
“Ah that makes sense, now that Paimon thinks about it you did sound a lot like him.”
Diluc hummed and knocked on the door in front of the two. There was a shuffling of paper and a voice from within told them to come in. Diluc opened the heavy wooden door and held it open for Paimon to float in before he slid in after her and shut the door behind him.
The last threads of daylight spill through the window, illuminating the large desk at the center of the room. The desk piled high with paperwork. Sitting among this paperwork was Acting Grand Master Jean.
Jean looked up from her desk and looked shocked at the arrival of Diluc and Paimon in her office, but the shocked look was quickly swapped to a soft smile. “Master Diluc, Paimon, what can I do for you two today?”
Diluc sat in the chair directly across from the desk. “One of the knights has been threatening the Honorary Knight to do his work and caused quite a stir at Angles Share this afternoon.”
Jean sets down her pen and gives Diluc her full attention. “Tell me everything.”
Over the next 20 minutes, Diluc, with the occasional pip from Paimon, explained what happened in the tavern. Every extra detail given caused Jean’s scowl to grow larger and deeper.
“I see. What was the knight's name again?” She reached into her desk and pulled out a large binder.
“Hermann Southers.”
Jean nods and flips through the binder before stopping near the middle, under an ice blue tab. “Ah it seems Knight Southers is a part of Sir Kaeya's team but has been barred from doing any field work due to disciplinary actions. I am quite curious on where he is getting these commissions from, that Paimon is describing, since he has been on stable duty for the past two months.”
“Master Jean, it was two months ago that the knight came to Paimon and Aether for help! That's suspicious!” Paimon flies around to the other side of the desk to read off the knight's file over Jean's shoulder.
Diluc hums. “It is quite possible that Knight Southers picked up commissions from the Adventures Guild or another organization in Mondstadt and passed them off to the Traveler for easy money. The harder commissions that Paimon says the two have been doing are the ones that pay quite well.”
Jean nods. “That does seem likely. Either way, I will not stand to have someone like this in the knights. Usually I would give the pleasure of firing the knight to their respective captain, but seeing as Sir Kaeya is away on a mission, I do believe he won't mind if I do it for him.”
Diluc scoffs, oh he most certainly would mind. Especially if the knight is under his command and has had several complaints against him. I bet he was waiting for the day he could fire him. God I can feel the pout from here.
A wicked smirk appears on Jean's face as she stands and gestures for the two to follow her. “At this time most of the knights are either in the barracks or their respective homes with family. Seeing as he doesn't have an alternate address listed, he is most likely in his barrack.”
The journey to the barracks was made in silence as the three imagined all they could do to the knight if not for the fact they were all bound by the law. Well two of them are, Paimon just doesn't want to cause any trouble that could fall onto the Traveler when he feels better.
Jean stops in front of the Lion Barrack’s door. “Now do I have to remind you two that we cannot cause Knight Southers any bodily harm on Knight property?”
Diluc smirks, “Of course not Grandmaster Jean, only knight property?”
Jean gives an aborted laugh, “Well it wouldn't be on my shoulders if this knight jumped while off the clock or ran into a particularly nasty pyro slime while on patrol, now would it?”
“My my, what would the other knights say if they heard you, Grandmaster Jean?”
“Well Master Diluc, I do believe they would agree with me, wouldn't you say so Paimon?”
Paimon giggled at the two's antics and nodded. “Paimon doesn't hear anything wrong.”
Jean smiles at the two before putting on a serious face, “On a serious note, do not attack the knight or say anything. I will just be informing him that he is no longer a knight and has to be gone by morning and that his supervising officer will be informed when he returns. When the Honorary Knight feels up for a chat, I will discuss the possibility of criminal charges with him, but until then the knight is only stripped of rank. Understood?”
Paimon and Diluc nod. Jean opens the door and steps into the loud barracks. Many knights were chatting and lounging in their beds, winding down for the knight. At the door opening they look over and eyes widen when they see the Grandmaster walk in.
Everyone scrambles to come to attention, but Jean raises her hand and smiles gently at them. “There is no need to stand at attention, I just need to talk to Knight Southers.”
There is shuffling near the back edge of the room as a knight steps forward. It is Knight Southers. “Is something the matter, Acting Grandmaster Jean?”
The smile drops off of Jean's face, “Hallway now, Knight Southers.”
Knight Southers eyes widen at the change of expression then sees Diluc and Paimon accompany her and his face pales, understanding what is happening. “M-ma’am-”
“Now, Knight Southers, unless you wish for us to have this conversion in front of the entire barrack.” Jeans voice cold as ice. The other knights in the room shudder, wondering what the hell Southers could have done to warrant the fury of the Acting Grand Master.
He quickly shook his head and walked over to the trio before the four stepped through the door, letting it shut behind them.
Jean turned to the pale knight with a glare. “I assume you know why I have called you out here?”
The knight sweats, “Umm I can't say I do ma’am. I have been here all afternoon after finishing my stable duties.”
Jean frowns and raises an eyebrow. “So you're telling me that you didn't go to Angels Share tonight and threaten the Honorary Knight to do duties you don't have, and for me to find that this has been going on for months?”
Southers’ mouth opens and closes trying to figure out what to say to get him out of this mess. “I- well you see-”
“Do I need to remind you that lying to a commanding officer is a punishable crime?”
The knight's mouth closes with an audible clink.
“Knight Southers, you are stripped of your rank and are no longer a part of the Knights of Favonius due to threatening another and countless other disciplinary worthy offenses. You have till tomorrow morning to collect your things and leave the headquarters.”
Knight Southers face lights up bright red in anger as he hears the news. “You can't do-”
Jean's sharp glare shuts him up. “I can do this, I am your commanding officer. For now your only punishment is loss of a job, be thankful Master Diluc isn't pressing charges for disorderly conduct in his Tavern. I cannot say if the Honorary Knight will or will not press charges, but in his situation I would. Please gather your things and leave by tomorrow morning or I will have you arrested for trespassing.”
Knight Southers turned and walked back into the barracks, but not before glaring at Diluc and Paimon. Stupid man, it was his own fault for getting fired. He shouldn't have done what he has.
Jean sighs at the loud bang of the door slamming close. “Now that that has been taken care of, should we go and look for the Honorary Knight? To make sure he is alright.”
Diluc nodded and the two moved to leave the headquarters when Paimon spoke up. “Paimon knows where Aether is. He is at the Statue of the Seven in Windrise. Paimon felt it while on the way here.”
“Then let's head there immediately, if we take the horses we could be there before the last of the light is gone.”
Paimon shakes her head, “No no, Paimon doesn’t think we should go! Aether is probably with the tone-deaf bard right now!”
The Traveler is with that drunkard? Are they close? Well now that I think about it, they will stop by Angels Share together quite a lot and that bard never drinks as much when Traveler is around. Plus, if that is where he chose to go when he felt unsafe then I have to put faith in him because he knows that Venti will take care of him.
“Oh well if Lord Barbados is caring for him, then I suppose we have nothing to worry about tonight. I will seek him out at a later date to see about criminal charges. He deserves some rest.” Jean smiles vindictively thinking about being able to arrest the knight.
“Speaking of rest, I do believe we should all retire for the knight. I have quite a bit more paperwork to complete. Paimon, do you have a place to stay tonight? If not I’m sure Klee would be very happy to see you.”
Paimon lights up at the idea of spending the night with her smaller partner in crime. “Paimon would love to have a sleepover with Klee!”
Jean smiles softly and turns to Diluc, “Good night Master Diluc.”
“Goodnight Grandmaster Jean.” Diluc turns and goes to leave the headquarters when Jean's voice rings out once more. “Just so you know, I will be telling Kaeya all about this when he returns tomorrow afternoon. I'm sure he will love telling you all about it over some wine.”
Diluc turns back and glares at the two who laugh at his expense. Whoever thinks you are kind and sweet are liars, you are petty as fuck. I never should have told you I wanted to fix my relationship with Kaeya.
Diluc steps out of the headquarters' large oak doors and takes a deep breath of the fresh air. The sky is a brilliant mix of oranges and pinks. One problem solved, at least somewhat. Many more to go. There has been some abyss activity around Springvale, I could probably take care of that and the treasure hoarders tonight.
Diluc makes his way to the stables to grab his personal horse, Calla Lily, and tacks her up, ready to make the ride out to Dawn Winery. This is the start to a very long knight.
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“Master Diluc!~”
Jean I am going to kill you one of these days.