Work Text:
(Fischl's POV)
“Oz, I summon thee!” I yell to call Oz back to my side.
“Have you collected sufficient information, mein Fräulein?”
“It should be...” I mutter as I look over my notes on Dragonspine one more time, making sure that I didn’t leave out any significant risk factors. In an effort to ensure every adventurer’s safety, I was sent to survey Dragonspine (much to my dismay) so the guild can better prepare for any contingencies for their upcoming expedition here at the end of the year. According to Cyrus, I’ll need to pair up with and guide a junior adventurer in said expedition, too…
All of a sudden, an uncomfortable, familiar feeling tickles my nose, and before I know it, I sneeze into my hand. Again. “Such cursed weather...”
“I did advise you to wear pants instead of solely relying on your jacket,” says Oz. I huff while rubbing my nose, refusing to grace him with any sort of reply.
***
With my reconnaissance assignment finally done, I make my way back to the city, speeding up the process by flying as Oz. When the city’s entrance is in sight, I start to walk instead, and let Oz flying by my side. Perhaps the high speed earlier is to blame, but it is only now that I notice someone is sitting near the edge of a small cliff, their legs outstretched and hands planted on the grass behind them. The closer I look, though, the more familiar the silhouette seems—a huge mage hat atop their head, hair tied in twin tails… Is that Mona? Quickly, I make my way up, wanting to join her.
“Greetings, astral emissary!” I call out to her.
“Huh?” Mona sits up and faces me. “Oh, it’s you and Oz.”
“Pray tell, what is it that begets thy presence here, beyond the region where much mundane hustle and bustle takes place? Was it the voice of fate whose call you heed, or dost thou simply find thyself… stifled by the world’s confines?”
She frowns, bewildered. “I’m sorry, what?” Ah, of course.
“Mein Fräulein means to ask why you’re sitting here and outside the city.”
“Just stargazing. What about you? I didn’t expect to see you at this time of the day.”
“Oho, you inquire about mine circumstances? Oz and I were simply engaged in our royal duties—”
“We just completed an assignment from the Guild,” Oz interjects rather rudely. I glare at him, hands on my hips. “Mein Fräulein spotted you, and decided to come by and say hello.” Then he turns to me and simply stares back, seemingly challenging me despite his neutral expression. When Mona acknowledges his reply, I begrudgingly relent, huffing.
“Do you want to stargaze with me?” Mona asks with a surprisingly hopeful expression. Doesn’t she usually do that alone? “Sounds like you had a long day.”
“Oh? Worry not, astral emissary. The mundane chores in this world demands far less of mine power, especially compared to the obstacles I once faced day after day to uphold mine rightful rule.”
“Mein Fräulein means—”
“Oz!” I hiss quietly. Mona raises her eyebrows, but makes no remark at my reaction.
“So… is that a yes or a no?” she questions instead.
Did I forget to answer that? “Ahem… Seeing that thou hast so humbly extended an invitation, I shall accept thy offer.”
Mona smiles before turning back to the stars and patting the grass to her left. Promptly, I sit down at that spot, crossing my legs while Oz perches on the grass in front of me. Nothing is out of the ordinary tonight, but even the mundane scenery has its own charm; amidst the dark backdrop brought about by nightfall, the trees and stars have always been a calming sight whenever I had the time to appreciate them.
For a while, I simply listen to the various sounds of nature, silently glad for the opportunity to quietly unwind.
“Fischl.”
“Hm?”
“Do you believe in fate?”
Huh? That was sudden… “Why, yes! Whether it be in this world or in the Immernachtreich, the voice of fate speaks to me and guides mine treacherous journey.”
“Mein Fräulein simply means she does believe in fate.”
Mona hums in response, seemingly pleased. “Astrologers believe that constellations are inherently tied to fate. They map out the destinies of Vision bearers, like you and I—past, present, and future, everything is written in the stars.” Times like this remind me of the many reasons why I find her a delight to listen to: her subtle enthusiasm about this world’s wonders, her pride in her knowledge, that soothing voice of hers—
“…lein, mein Fräulein,” Oz whispers, his tone urgent, interrupting my train of thought. I look at him, confused, and he simply gestures towards Mona with his head. Oh my god, I just left her hanging!
"Oh! Is that so?” I say, noting that Mona’s gaze is still focused on the starry sky and that she (hopefully) paid no mind to my blunder. “Will thou, then, demonstrate by unveiling to me the secrets hidden in these starry skies?"
She looks at me with a small smile, a glint in her eyes almost akin to the distinct glow of each star in the clear sky above. "Was my scrying to learn about your past not demonstrative enough?"
“Mein Fräulein has no intention of undermining your abilities,” Oz replies in my stead. “In fact, she rather admires that about you.” Wait, why is he saying it like that?!
“Oz!”
“Oh, really?” asks Mona with an overt, much prouder grin.
“Are you trying to— attempting to elicit mine praise?”
“Just verifying what Oz said. If you do have more compliments, however,” she says with an all too enchanting smirk and a slight tilt of her head, “do keep them coming.”
I tear my gaze away from her, much too aware of the irritating, tell-tale heat rising to my cheeks. “Ha, ‘more compliments’?” I question, doing my utmost to put on a scornful air. “Dost thou truly believe someone of mine stature can be that easily impressed?”
“But you’re already impressed by what I have done, no?” Mona retorts with a confident lilt, and part of me curses at Oz again for carelessly divulging my high regard of her (and her astrology prowess). “That being said… I can’t really tell why you’re blushing.”
“‘Blushing’?! Hmph, thine eyes must be deceiving thee—”
“I can confirm that you are indeed blushing, mein Fräulein.”
I know that! “Silence, Oz!”
The final insult to injury comes from none other than Mona herself, the root of my embarrassment; she starts to laugh, the sound especially clear in the otherwise silent night.
I glare at her. “Why are you— The Prinzessin demands to know exactly what you find so humorous!”
“It’s, it’s just—” Then she covers her mouth as she breaks into another laugh, her eyes forming crescents. Maybe this should grate on my pride more, but traitorous warmth has already begun to envelope my heart, enamoured by how happy she sounds and looks, and whispers in my ears to ask later, to just treasure this moment. With a sigh, I give in to that whisper, unable to bring myself to interrupt this joyous sound anymore.
A few moments pass before she finally speaks again, with traces of mirth still present in her voice, “Ah, I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. Thanks.” She pauses, clearing her throat. “Anyway, about your question… well… would you mind if I said your reaction was funny?”
“…hmph.” I cross my arms. "You ought to count your blessings, astral emissary. Had you not been a trusted ally from my retinue, you would have been punished dearly for such a transgression.”
“Hm… So… you’re saying I’m lucky I’m your friend, is that right? I take that to mean you don’t mind, then.”
“Mein Fräulein was actually quite flustered when you laughed—”
“Oz, can you not?!”
“—but you have indeed grasped the meaning behind her words.”
At that, Mona smiles, self-satisfied and achingly alluring just like before, but something about it also seems different, somehow…
“Seems I’m improving on this front,” she says.
She’s happy because… she can understand me better? “Huh?”
“What?” she asks, sounding just as confused as I am. “I mean, I used to take longer to understand you without Oz’s translation.” Logically, I shouldn’t be so touched over such a thing when we’ve already been friends for a year, but my heart doesn’t listen.
“Your efforts are commendable, Ms. Mona. I am sure mein Fräulein appreciates it.”
It never does when it comes to Mona.
“Do you, Fischl?” she asks; quiet, as if she were shy; quiet, like the affectionate whispers that occasionally haunt my dreams.
“Yes,” I mutter, staring at the sky instead.
“I’ll keep learning, then,” she replies, still quiet, seemingly implying unspoken words that are too good to be true: “for you”. I should ask— I want to ask, but to ask also means to risk shattering the hope that my feelings could be reciprocated. So I simply continue looking at the stars Mona loves, hoping that someday, those same stars will lead me to her.