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It was well past midday when Amber spotted the first burst of ice; shooting up like a bomb and sparkling with frost over the treetops. Someone’s in trouble! She thought as she rushed towards the lakeshore where the blast had originated.
It reminded her of the cryo attacks of her fellow Knight, Eula. Hopefully, the woman wasn’t in any trouble. But if she was, Amber was on her way to help! As she ran, she pulled out her bow, notching an arrow.
This area was inhabited by an unusual number of Hillicurls. She’d been on her way back from taking out a large camp of them when she saw the ice. Eula could be attacked while hanging around here. The Spindrift Knight liked to do her own thing and if she were overwhelmed by monsters she might not be able to fight them off.
That being said, Eula was one of the best fighters among the Knights, rivaling even Acting Grandmaster Jean. She was capable of defending herself.
Amber, her thoughts in a mess, didn’t remember this fact and so she ran on towards the danger.
When her feet hit the cold sand of the lakeshore, Amber slammed to a stop. While she had been correct; it was Eula on the beach, she fell short of what the ice attack was.
With the poise of a trained dancer, Eula leaped into the air and spun her sword in a graceful arc, ending the move with a soft landing. A gust of chilled air blew at Amber as Eula released another cryo attack.
Woah.
She twirled and slashed in an elegant dance, and Amber could do nothing but stare dumbfounded. She’d been prepared for a fight but this, this was the polar opposite!
The heavy impact of a weapon hitting the ground jolted Amber out of her shock. Her gaze darted up to meet the cold eyes of Eula, who was now striding towards her. Eula sheathed her claymore and Amber did the same, forgetting she was still holding her bow.
Eula stopped and rested her hand on her hip, “Are you here to spy on me?”
“Oh, no!” Amber shook her hands out in front of her, “I was worried you were in trouble. I was in the same area, so...”
“No trouble. Not yet,” Eula tilted her head.
“So what were you doing?” Amber couldn't help but be curious.
Eula stared at her for a few seconds before responding. “I was dancing, couldn’t you tell?” She shook her head, “It’s customary for those in my family to know how.”
“With your sword?”
Eula scoffed, “Why not? I needed to practice. All your questioning, it’s truly another reason for vengeance.”
Vengeance? Is she mad at me for spying?
“Oh, uh, you were- uh, you are a really good dancer. Much better than me. Like, one time-” Amber cut herself off, not wanting to ramble and give Eula another reason for her ‘vengeance’ .
“One time what?” Eula stepped closer. Standing a few feet away, Amber caught the sheen of sweat on her brow and ice crystals caught in her hair. She shimmered in the sunlight like a snow-queen descended from the peaks of Dragonspine.
“Oh, nothing it's- nothing. Ha, the moral of the story is that I can't dance.”
“Sure you can, everyone can dance.” Eula’s frigid smile softened. The sharp shift in tone caught Amber off guard.
“I assure you I cannot,” she shook her head, “my skills lie elsewhere.”
“Oh? I still don’t believe you.” Eula held out her arm towards Amber, “What do you say? It takes two to tango. Shall we?”
Amber’s heart raced, “Oh, uh, huh?” She took Eula’s offered hand. It was calloused from weapon use and cold.
The moment they touched, Eula pulled her into a spin, their bodies pressed close. Eula never faltered as she led Amber across the beach in a series of complex steps and turns. After the initial shock and the struggle to keep up, Amber relaxed. She laughed as they danced, full of the same freedom she felt while wind gliding.
Her untrained feet were a mess, but she hadn’t tripped yet and only stepped on Eula’s feet twice with a whispered sorry .
Eula pulled her close again, her frosty breath chilling Amber’s ear, before pushing her into a spin. She ended the dance by dipping Amber towards the ground, her hand against her lower back.
Eula panted, out of breath, as she pulled the grinning Amber back up and said, “See, not so hard.”
“That- that-” Amber caught her breath before squealing, “WAS SO FUN!”
Eula hmm- ed before reaching up to take her hair out of its low ponytail; the cool blue locks spilling over her shoulder. “It's late, I should get back.”
Amber glanced at the sky, it was nearing evening. Eula was right, she should check in with Jean soon and tell her she cleared out the Hillicurl camp. “You're right.”
Eula turned to leave.
“Wait! Eula.”
She paused, and Amber asked, “As I said, that was fun, can we do it again sometime?”
Eula’s eyes widened, “Uh...Sure I-”
A brilliant idea flashed through Amber's mind, “Can you teach me? To dance, I mean.”
Eula contemplated the request for a moment and crossed her arms, “Do I get something in return?”
“Yeah, sure! Like what?”
Eula stared at Amber for a moment before shaking her head. “You know what, never mind. I'll meet you at Starfell lake in three days. But if you hinder me, don’t think I won't count it as another reason for vengeance.”
“It’s a date!” Amber cheered. “Eula’s dance school, open for business!”
Eula couldn’t figure out why she’d agreed to teach Amber. She shoved away the idea that it was because she was lonely. But in a secret truth, Eula enjoyed the idea of having someone to hang out with after being on her own for so long.
She enjoyed listening to Amber's mundane stories of what she did that day. She liked that Amber laughed at her jokes. The Knight brought warmth to her always cold life.
Two weeks into their ‘friendship’ ( Can I call it that? I'm not sure what constitutes a friendship), they’d had four dance lessons and were finishing up the fifth when a loud growling interrupted them.
Amber grimaced, “My stomach, sorry.”
Eula dropped Amber's hand from where she was adjusting the other woman’s posture and rested her own on her hip. “I thought I told you to be well fed before our lessons?”
“Sorry, I came straight from a commission. I forgot,” Amber looked away.
As her stomach growled again, Eula chuckled, “Fine, let's go get some lunch.” In all honesty, she was hungry as well.
Halfway to Mondstadt, Amber squealed from up ahead (she was a very fast walker). If Eula had to guess, it was a squeal of happiness rather than fear or pain, nevertheless, she hurried to find its origin.
Amber was crouched on the ground, holding a brown rabbit in her arms and coaxing a larger white one over to her. She was grinning like an idiot and talking to them like a two-year-old.
“Here bunny-bunny. Here, pretty girl, let Amber pet you.”
Eula watched from a ways away and when Amber had them both under her spell, Eula approached. She crouched next to Amber and pulled a carrot out of her bag, feeding it to the brown one, sitting in Amber's lap.
“Look how cute they are, Eula!” Amber picked up the white one; its tiny pink nose twitched as it stared at Eula with big, round eyes. “This bunny looks like you! We should call it Eula Jr.!”
Amber held it closer and Eula patted its head. Her gloves were off and the brush of the rabbit’s fur was soft. She wouldn’t deny how cute it was.
Eula pointed at the other rabbit, “Then that one is Amber Jr.?”
Amber giggled. She set the white one in her lap and it nuzzled the other one before trying to take its carrot.
“Aww, they’re friends, like us!” Amber smiled at her.
Eula glanced back at the rabbits. “Did you want to get food or not?”
“Oh, right!” Amber set the rabbits down, “Bye Eula Jr. bye Amber Jr. I'll miss you!”
They left once again for Mondstadt, Amber, glancing back at the rabbits and Eula pulling her ahead.
This was the first time the two had been together inside the Mondstadt gates. Eula preferred to practice outside of the city, choosing places that would be uninhabited. She hadn't wanted to bother Amber with her association. As soon as people saw them hanging out, they would pester Amber. Eula feared they might treat Amber the same way they treated her, and the woman didn’t deserve that.
She’d tried to explain it on the way here, but Amber was stubborn and wouldn't listen.
“They won't do that. And if they did, I can handle it! What makes you think I can't?”
As they walked down the main street, debating where to eat, Eula was cautious of all the eyes turning to them. She was used to being stared at in Mondstadt, but what if Amber wasn’t?
Amber gave no indication of noticing, and continued to smile. “You said you don’t care, so what about Good Hunter?”
“Sure.” Eula watched Amber’s unwavering smile and blocked out the world around her.
They ordered their meals and sat at a free table. It was busy today, maybe because the sun was out and it was a weekend.
Eula pointed around with her fork, “One day, I'll enact my glorious revenge on all of them. Just you wait, I will fulfill my destiny.”
“And how will you go about that?”
“...I'm still figuring it out”
Amber laughed.
Everything was well until some idiot at a nearby table raised his voice.
“You better not try anything Lawrence bitch!”
Eula rolled her eyes and ignored him but the idiot continued, “You're going to ignore me, brat?” The other people at his table looked torn between supporting him and fearing for their lives.
Eula looked over at Amber. She’d wanted to have a nice excursion, not get harassed again. Amber stared hard at the tabletop, brows knit together.
“Whatever,” Eula said, “as I said, I'll get my revenge soon enough.”
Amber spoke in a low voice, “No. It’s. Not.” She looked up at Eula, “They know nothing about you! Why are random strangers allowed to say stuff like that? Calling you a bitch!?” Amber turned around until she faced that table, “If your problem is with her ancestors or with other Lawrence’s, why are you taking it out on her? Eula does nothing but protect you guys every day as a Knight of Favonius! Why don't you show some respect for someone who keeps your asses safe!'' Amber humphed and sat back down.
The eyes of neighboring tables returned to their food and the man shut up.
Eula gaped at Amber. Never had anyone ever stood up for her like, that . Right, she needed to say thanks. “I- I, uh- thank you.”
“No need,” Amber said, aggression still simmering in her eyes, “I was saying what I felt. Friends stand up for friends, right?” She reached out and grabbed Eula’s hand where it clenched the table.
“...Right,” Eula said. Amber grinned again, back to her usual self.
Friends stand up for friends , hung in Eula’s mind as she watched Amber. Her chest was warm in a way it had never been before; like it was the only thing she’d need to stay alive amid a snowstorm.
Friends. I guess we’re friends.
Scare away the Hillichurls. That was all Amber had wanted to do. Not light a poor merchant’s cart on fire! What was wrong with her? She couldn't even fight off three Mitachurls without ruining someone’s life.
It happened after sunset, on her way back to Mondstadt. Amber had been gliding over the hills when someone screamed. An investigation led her to a merchant family of four being attacked. They huddled around their covered wagon with nothing but a torch, attempting to protect it.
Amber sprang into the fight, launching an arrow and hitting the nearest Hilichurl.
She put herself in front of the family and glimpsed inside the wagon. It was piled from top to bottom in exquisite wooden carvings. It must be their trade.
Amber killed all of the Hilichurls, flying across the ground with steps made more nimble from dancing. She spun and leaped as she shot the monsters with unwavering aim.
The family approached her and fell on their knees in thanks. One of them, the mother, thanked her, “You kind knight. Thank you, thank you so much. I thought- I thought we might not make it.” She took Amber’s hands in her shaking ones and lowered her head.
“Not a problem, miss. It is my job after all!” Amber smiled.
Their daughter approached and handed Amber a wooden carving of a bird in flight. It was painted in the colors of a dove. I should give this to Eula, as a thank-you for the lessons.
“It’s beautiful! Thank you! Say, would you like an escort to the Mondstadt gates?”
“Oh, we wouldn't keep a young Knight like you,” the mother said.
Amber shook her head, falling into step alongside the family, “Nonsense, it would be my pleasure.”
They started for the city. Halfway there, something snarled in the distance. Three mitachurls approached the group, shields and axes raised. What do the monsters have against this family!?
Amber handed the dove carving back to the daughter and pulled out her bow again. It was harder this time, Mitachurls were smarter than Hilichurls. They’d alternate their attacks; one would spin with its ax and when it finished and she’d attempt to shoot it, the other would charge with its shield and she’d have to leap away. At this point, Baron Bunny was doing more damage than her arrows, and even that wasn’t much.
She dedicated her complete focus to notching arrows and hitting the Mitachurls’ weak spots, letting her feet flow like an instinctual dance. So this is why Eula was dancing with her sword. There existed an art to her fighting that she’d never felt before.
Amber released an arrow and it hit a Mitachurl in the eye. It howled and collapsed onto the ground, defeated. One down, two to go. She killed the second one and was close to finishing off the third. It was ignoring her and heading towards the family. She readied another flaming arrow as she ran towards them.
She released the arrow and her vision became ground as she tripped. Her head hit the dirt and blossomed with pain.
Someone screamed and she forced herself up. Across the road, the Mitachurl reached the family. Her flaming arrow had embedded in its back, catching its ragged fur on fire. This Mitachurl didn't care one bit and continued to advance towards the innocent people.
“Run!” She screamed but the family was frozen in fear. The mother held the torch in front of her, thrusting it forward in an attempt to keep the monster back. It ignored her as it did Amber’s arrows, allowing its shield to catch fire.
Distracted by the family, Amber took the opportunity to launch the killing blow, embedding an arrow into its head. As it fell, the fire across its body continued to grow, spreading to the surrounding grass, and soon enough, the wheels of the wagon.
The wood lit up into a bonfire, warming the cold night.
Amber’s heart dropped. Oh no. They all rushed forward and attempted to put it out but it was too late. All of the carvings had burnt beyond repair, including the dove.
Amber whispered, “I'm so sorry,” shoulders slumping.
“It’s alright dear, it's not your fault.” The mother said. Her tone was kind but there was pain behind her eyes.
Silence followed them into Mondstadt and Amber could sense the panic rising off the family. They reached the gates and she handed the mother what little coins she had on her, “This should be enough for a hotel tonight.” Then she handed her a baron bunny toy and said, “Tomorrow take this to the Knights of Favonius headquarters and tell them what happened. Ask for the things you lost to be repaid in mora.” She paused, “I'm so sorry I can't do more.”
They bid farewell and Amber headed towards Angel’s Share.
The tavern was packed when Amber took a seat at the counter and ordered a Death After Noon. Not long after Amber began drowning her regrets in alcohol did she hear a familiar voice, “Amber! Amber, come drink with us.”
Amber turned to find Eula waving at her from a table, sitting with the Cavalry Captain, Kaeya. She must be drunk.
Eula patted the chair next to her and Amber slumped into the empty seat. “What’s,” Eula hiccuped, “what’s wrong, Bunny?”
“ Bunny ?” Kaeya glanced between them with raised brows.
“Bunny,” Eula said to him before turning back to Amber, tilting her head to listen.
“I messed up and ruined some innocent people’s lives,” Amber chugged her drink and set it down.
“How can you mess up? You’re Amber,” Eula poked her shoulder.
Amber explained what happened with a lump in her throat.
When she finished, Eula was quiet but Kaeya burst out laughing. “Here,” he pushed his unfinished drink towards Amber. “That does suck.”
“Don't laugh!” Eula scolded Kaeya, kicking him under the table.
“Ow!”
Amber lowered her head into her arms; It was so loud in the tavern, louder than her thoughts. She looked over and saw the bard Venti climb onto the stage and sing drunkenly.
“Don’t cry.” Eula patted her shoulder.
“I'm not.”
“You look sad.”
“Because I am,” Amber mumbled. “I think I’m going to go. Goodnight, Eula, Kaeya.”
As she walked away, a cold hand grabbed her wrist. Eula held Amber back and stood, “I’m going with you.”
“Why?”
“I wanna show you something.”
“Have fun, I guess,” Kaeya said, turning to start a conversation with someone else.
Eula dragged Amber out of the tavern into the rain. There was an entrance in the wall nearby, and they slipped out beyond. Eula led her to an oak tree in the shadow of the walls; she didn't drop Amber's hand.
Venti’s drunken songs carried out of the tavern, intermingling with the rain.
“Eula, I had a present for you but I burned that too,” Amber said, miserable.
“Was it not,” Eula hiccuped, “an accident?”
“But I could have done better, tried harder or something and maybe it wouldn’t have happened. I know it wouldn’t have happened with you there, or Kaeya, or Jean.” She stared at the ground, guilt bringing tears to her eyes.
Eula pulled her in, “C’mere Amber, let’s dance.”
“Wha-?” Like that first time on the lake, Eula drew Amber into a spin.
This time, however, Amber was better, quicker on her feet, and much more sober than Eula. They both stumbled around in circles to the beat of the music, nothing elegant about it. Amber laughed, forgetting her worries for a heartbeat as she brushed the tears off her face.
The two of them danced under the oak tree until the song ended and the next began, and the next, and the next.
It's hard to tell who tripped first, but one moment they were both laughing, spinning in the moonlight, and the next they were falling into a heap on the ground. Amber landed on top of Eula and rolled off into the grass next to her. Eula sat up and looked around, “Dizzy,” she mumbled, shaking her head. She leaned down over Amber, blocking out the moon with her head.
Amber brushed some grass and dead leaves out of Eula’s hair. She pulled yellow dandelion out of nowhere and tucked it behind Amber’s ear.
“Pretty,” she said before lying back down.
Amber’s heart raced and a blush crawled up her cheeks. She tucked her head against Eula’s chest, near her heart, letting the steady pounding of it ground her.
Eula reached up and patted Amber on the back, “It’s ok,” she said. “It’s ok. It wasn't your fault.”
It wasn’t your fault.
By the next day, the merchant family was compensated by the Knights, and Jean let Amber take the next two days off. Eula didn't tell Amber, but she was the one who had asked Jean to let Amber take a break.
On her second day off, Amber agreed to meet Eula at Starsnatch cliff for a dance lesson. Over a month had passed since they’d started, and Eula could say with confidence, Amber had improved. A bit . That woman was still clumsy as all hell and had two left feet, but the number of stumbles and mishaps had lessened.
Today, Amber was, like always, late. So Eula passed the time, crouched behind a rock, fiddling with the grass and waiting for familiar footsteps.
When Amber finally approached, Eula shouted, boo, and jumped up.
“ Ahh!! ” Amber shrieked, flinching so hard she tripped backward. She fell and lay in the grass, laughing, hands on her stomach.
Eula laughed, “Every time! You're so skittish.”
“That’s why I want to scare you for once!” Amber said.
“Dream on.” She reached out her hand to help Amber up but got pulled down instead. Eula caught herself before crushing Amber. She looked down, “What was that for?”
“I don't feel like dancing today. How about we go gliding?” Amber asked.
Eula stared into her eyes, their faces mere inches away. Amber blinked up at Eula and she flushed, pushing herself up. She sat, straddling Amber’s body. “Gliding?”
Amber grinned, “Yeah! I can’t believe the two of us have still never gone gliding together. It’s like, my favorite thing in the world !”
Eula melted at once and gave in to the request, “‘Kay. But don’t think I won’t get vengeance for changing plans like this.”
They climbed the cliff until they reached the edge. Mondstadt met the sparkling ocean below them, calm from the warm day.
Eula pulled out her wind glider, preparing for takeoff when Amber gripped her wrist. “What are you doing? You can’t glide with such improper form!”
Eula gritted her teeth, “Is there such a thing as a proper form?”
“Of course!” Amber set about, adjusting Eula’s form, straightening her arms, and tightening the straps on her glider. Amber bent to fix a strap around her torso, mumbling about no one adhering to safety precautions, but all Eula could hear was the pounding of her heart. Amber’s hand brushed Eula’s hip and her stomach flipped, filling with butterflies.
It wasn't like this had never happened before, Eula had just chosen to ignore it.
She reached her last straw when Amber mentioned something about the glider not being high enough on her back. Amber stood and pulled Eula’s hair out of the way to get a better view. She reached her arms around Eula’s neck like a hug to try and adjust it, drawing their bodies closer.
Before she could do so, however, Eula spun around, closing her glider with a snap . A flush grew over her fair face. Amber stared at her, confusion in her eyes.
Eula tried to say something but she couldn’t, the words trapped in her throat. A cloud that had been blocking the sun blew away, bathing them in golden light. Amber’s chocolate-colored hair glistened with undertones of red in the sunlight.
Eula had to look away. Unfortunately, (or maybe fortunately) her eyes caught on the exposed skin in the window between Amber’s shirts. It hit her then, what she was experiencing.
Oh wow.
How had she been so oblivious to her own feelings? Maybe it was because she’d never had a crush before, or maybe she didn’t want to admit how she felt towards Amber. But it was certain she’d never be able to go back to this friendship without wanting something more.
Eula took a step closer to Amber. She was tired of pretending she didn’t feel like this and maybe that meant she’d fuck it up, but maybe not. Was it a risk worth taking?
“Eula?” Amber whispered.
“Yes?” Eula’s voice cracked, like a stupid teenage boy. Meanwhile, her heart threatened to break free of her chest and beat itself to death on the ground.
Now was her chance to say something. She had to say something. Ok, I’m gonna say something-
“You have really pretty lips, have I ever told you that?” Amber said.
Her heart stopped.
“This might be kind of random but, uh, can I... kiss you?” Amber asked.
“Uh-” Her brain short-circuited.
“Oh, oh-oh-oh sorry,” Amber panicked, flushing red and backing up. “You don't have to say yes if you don't want to.”
Eula closed the two-step gap between them with one and leaned down towards Amber. Their lips met and the last snow of winter melted. Fire burned through Eula as she pulled Amber closer, a hand in her hair.
Eula drowned in the honey-sweet taste of Amber, the softness of her skin, the smooth press of her fingertips against her back.
She pulled back to catch her breath and when she opened her eyes, Amber smiled, leaning up to kiss her nose.
Warmth bloomed in her frosty heart.
“Was that alright?” Eula asked, feigning confidence, forcing her voice to be steady.
Amber nodded.
“Want to do it again?”
“Hmmm, only , if you agree to be my girlfriend?” Amber said.
Girlfriend.
“Agreed,” Eula said, resting her arms around Amber’s neck.
“Ok, girlfriend!” Amber grinned, doing nothing to conceal her happiness.
Eula smiled back, “Ok, bunny.”
Amber pulled Eula into a hug and for the first time in a long time, Eula returned it, holding Amber tight.
This is nice.
It settled in. The idea that Eula could now do this, whenever she wanted. Hug, kiss, dance, talk. She was allowed to have this one nice thing. She was allowed to have someone care about her.
“Remind me to take your name off of my revenge list.”
Amber laughed into her chest, joy resounding through her body.
There was nothing wrong with the cold, but right now she was so warm.