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“Get lost.”
“No one wants you here.”
“We don’t want you to be part of our team.”
“You only bring misfortune and harm to your surroundings.”
Were sentences the unlucky boy heard on a daily basis. It wasn’t something new, something he couldn’t handle. But it hurt nonetheless.
With a still optimistic smile put on his lips, the adventurer left Mondstadt through its gates and onto the bridge. By accident he shooed away all of the doves and the small boy, everyone knew named Timmie, glared back at him with anger in his eyes.
Though the boy apologized, the child only told him to leave him alone.
This was a punch to his already beaten soul.
Walking further off the bridge, he shook his head as if he was trying to shake away the pessimistic thoughts about himself.
While he did so, unlucky as he is, he stumbled over a rock and fell face first into the ground.
The first thing he felt when he recovered from the shock was that his chin hurt awfully.
He quickly sat up and touched it to check if his lower teeth would be alright.
His teeth were, but when he brought his hand back into his view, he found blood sticking to his fingers. The boy must have burst open the skin under his chin. Further he slowly felt how his jaw started hurting.
Emerald eyes kept staring at the red colour on his gloves.
“We’ll just my luck.” He chuckled quietly.
Back on his feet, he brushed the dirt from his clothes and continued to walk into the direction of Wolfenstone. He found some sweet flowers and picked them. His idea was to later give them to Fischl as a present. Bennett once received a windwheel aster from her for reasons he couldn’t understand.
She says something along the lines:
“Behold this offering your Prinzessin is handing you. For that you are the loyal knight of the Immernacht Reich, you shall be rewarded with this gift.”
He thanked her of course, even if he didn’t quite understand the message. Though when he looked at Oz, who would normally explain the words of his Fräulein, he stayed silent. Looking very pleased.
That time, and even now, he doesn’t care what it meant. He was so happy. So happy that he even started smiling while he picked the sweet flowers.
Now being the first time on the day that he truthfully smiled and felt happy.
It was noon when he explored the area for a while, picking flowers and eventually settling down beneath a tree to eat a sunsettina that he found underneath.
It was strange, the boy called it just lucky that he found it, but a voice from the back of his mind whispered annoying questions like:
“Isn’t it normal to find a sunsettina beneath a sunsettina tree?”
“Is it lucky to find a fruit in nature-.. should be common right?”
He ignored it though, it was just some upsetting part of him that he couldn’t let go off. Just like his misfortune.
How could a cursed one better deal with his curse than to ignore it?
There was no cure to this, his chin might heal, but how long will it take to be injured anew?
Better not think about that too much and get used to it. When it comes to his opinion he would call himself lucky as he is only getting injured and that none ever died yet because of him.
Of course he felt sorry whenever someone got hurt because of him. He would always apologise no matter if the people already got sick of hearing it or tried to deny that it was his misfortune causing it.
Thinking about his misfortune. His whole day was a disaster. In the morning he fell out of bed and hit his head, now he had a bulge on the back of his head. When he went out, he fell down the stairs and got himself some new blue-purple spots on his elbows and legs.
One of his dads came over to check on him, to see if he was alright. It was very appreciated by the child. He knew when it came to family he could always rely on all the older adventurers in the guild that he’d view as his dads. But when it comes to all the younger adventurers or those who do not know Bennett personally well enough, he had quite some struggles dealing with them. They avoided him and despised his company, as his misfortune would only ruin everything or harm them.
Thus he had a pretty bad encounter with some of them after he entered the common room of the guild. At first it was just nasty looks.
Followed by very uncomfortable stares and whispering.
He felt awkward. So he started rubbing the back of his head, only reminding him of the bulge there and sending new waves of pain to his head. Normally he’d try to cheer out an invitation of who would want to join his adventure team today, but strangely he didn’t feel like it today.
He left the common room pretty fast after that and it felt incredibly good to escape the staring and whispering.
Each morning he would also drop by good hunger to eat some fisherman’s toast, but he didn’t feel hungry so he went to see Katheryne straight away. It was just his luck that all commissions were taken or already done by some others. The white haired boy thanked her and went on an adventure on his own.
From there on he recalls the latest events.
He sighs.
Sitting crisscrossed under the sunsettina tree he stared at the grass in front of him.
He was sad today.
“Bennett…” he heard a hoarse voice from his right.
When he looked up he looked into red eyes just inches away from his face.
“W-Woaa!” The boy fell to his left as he was startled by his friend.
Next to him sat Razor, staring at him like a puppy who just found his owner.
Bennett held a hand to his chest and exhaled, calming himself.
“I am sorry Razor, I was lost in my thoughts. I didn’t hear you coming.” He explained.
Razor went from his crouching position into sitting and tilted his head. Blinking at him with expectations.
Bennett wasn’t sure what it was that made Razor look at him like that. Did he do something wrong yet again? Did he forget about something important? He was unsure. When he was about to ask Razore spoke up first.
“My Lupical…. Unhappy..” he stated.
Now it was Bennett’s turn to tilt his head.
Lupical? Ah right, razor used that term for those he considered family.
Well, he wasn't at his best today, but he’d always give his best for his friends, so he dug out his optimism again to be able to share it with his friend.
„Oh, if that’s the case we could try to cheer them up! Do you know what made them unhappy?“
Razor only shook his head.
Bennett humed a little as he went into his thinking position. By doing that he held a hand to his chin and felt the wound there. It stung.
„Ouch.“ he whined to himself.
Razor took notice of this and crawled a little closer. He took his hand away from his chin and fixated his eyes onto the wound.
„Bennett hurt.“ he stated as plain as always.
„It’s ok I fell-WhAt ArE yOu DoiNg?!“ the boy shuddered and half screamed when the wolf started to lick at his wound.
Razor retreated and looked at him with hurt puppy-like eyes.
„Razor sorry.“ he apologised.
„It’s ok! It’s ok! Uhm ehhh I just wasn’t expecting this!“ he tried to wave it off, literally waving with one hand and staring away with a blushed, embarrassed face.
After a very long and awkward minute of silence, Bennett changed the topic.
„So, I think we could cheer them up by bringing them something they like, if we don’t know why they are upset.“ the white haired explained.
Razor nodded in agreement.
Looking a bit excited to go look for something that would help his Lupical.
They crawled around smaller cliffs in Wolfenstone, and to Bennett’s luck, he only fell six times. He collected a few scratches and more bruises. But other than that, no broken bones and only two fractured ribs!
They collected some wolfhooks, berries and mint. At some point the sun slowly disappeared behind the stormbearer mountain and the night sky hovered above them.
The Mondstadt region was just too beautiful. The land of freedom wasn’t as bright as Liyue that shines like the sun even at night. This region was calm and peaceful. Ruled by nature, humans came to settle down here with the agreement to live with it together. As a thank you for not destroying the green lands, the winds promised to show the most beautiful sea of stars.
Sometimes Bennett would find himself at the ost tower of Mondstadts wall to see how the Cider lake would try and imitate the sky above.
It was magnificent. The world before him, down the walls and across the land below him, as well as up the endless horizon, he was looking at a sea of darkness, lit up by many tiny, white lights.
Tonight it was the same sky, with chilly yet comfortable winds. The wind reminded him of the time he visited the tower.
He just wanted to take a quick look at the stars before heading to Barbara, who he had promised to visit in the evening for a check up. He hurt himself especially badly that day and she didn’t let go of him just yet. Barbara really was a great nun and healer. She cared so much for others, and that was something Bennett could really appreciate. Though when he walked up the tower, his attention was caught not by the stars but by someone else.
There stood albedo with an easel, drawing the sea of stars before them.
The alchemist felt his presence and turned around.
“I’ll be done in a minute.” He spoke with an emotionless mimic.
Bennett didn’t react at first, he just kept staring at the sea of stars and the drawing of the blond.
When the words finally processed in his brain, he started stuttering that he didn’t want to make him leave, he needed to go see the deaconess of the church anyways.
At that albedo humed. He looked the boy up and down and seemed to come to a conclusion.
The turned away as he wasn’t good with social interactions but he spoke nevertheless:
“Do you know what it is that makes a team work?” The alchemist asked.
For a while the only audible thing was the night wind that blew a bit too cold on the top of the tower.
Hesitantly the white haired boy responded:
“Trust..?”
As the ash blond was doing the last strokes of his painting, he closed his eyes as if he was thinking carefully about what to do next was best, he then asked as he continued painting:
“Was that a question or your answer?”
The boy rubbed the back of his head.
“My answer..” he said, a little confused, not knowing where this was going.
Albedo hummed in agreement.
Then he stared at his painting before continuing to add a few more little stars.
He continued:
“And what do you think makes people trust one another?”
Bennett now turned his full attention to the conversation and forgot about his uneasiness about the situation.
“Well…I think I cannot exactly pinpoint it but I’d say that when you go through good and bad times with a friend, it will build up on its own..”
“Correct.” The painter agreed and went on.
“But who’s the one who lets it happen?”
The adventurer stood there, not knowing what to say. “Who..?” He asked as if he didn’t understand the question. Wait, that was exactly the case. He didn’t understand the question.
Albedo finished the painting and slowly started to put together his equipment.
“Well, if there are two parties, and there is no trust built yet. One of them has to make the first step to prove his trustworthiness to the other. But if both of them cannot trust one another yet, how are they able to take the first step?”
Bennett was a little overwhelmed but took the questioning seriously.
“Uhm.. I think one of them just has to take the risk?”
“Exactly.” Albedo responded quickly.
He continued:
“Remember this. The one who is willing to take the risk will be the one to be the most trustworthy.
This requires a lot of courage though. However as I can see you don’t leak that.
Should there be a time where this courage leaves you. The others who learned to rely on you and put trust into you will be by your side.”
He smiled softly.
The alchemist finally finished packing up, took his equipment and was about to leave.
“Ah thank you Mister Albedo, though I don’t think a lot of people put trust in me with my luck.” The child said a bit hesitant, but smiled as he rubbed the back of his head.
When Albedo neared him to pass by, the adventurer could see a glint of something in the blond’s azure eyes.
The alchemist handed him the painting and smiled as he said:
“Only wrong assumption of today.”
And with that he left.
Bennett was too taken aback by this whole encounter that he needed some time to process what was talked about. Because of that he wasn’t able to thank Albedo for the drawing he gifted to him.
He recalled looking at the painting and then at the stars before him. Everything seemed so surreal, just as surreal as his misfortune.
Life was like two sides of a coin.
One being the side with the miracle of fortune that would bring joy, and the other with the miracle of misfortune that would bring pain.
Well one thing was for sure.
If he was to be on one side, the other side couldn’t be far. And right now he felt as if he held this other side in his very hands.
“OUCH!!” He hissed out.
Lost in his thoughts, daydreaming about that one time on the ost tower, Bennett ran into a tree and his nose started bleeding.
When he held his hand protectively over his nose he took a step back and felt how the ground gave up beneath him, and he slipped down a ditch.
He landed on a rock with his right shoulder blade and it hurt awfully. When the boy rolled himself over to his side, wheezing in pain, he felt a stinging sensation on his left ankle.
He flinched away and sat up. Bennett spotted a flaming flower, which burned his ankle just seconds ago.
“Just my luck…” he mumbled as he laid his head down on his arms, which rested on his knees.
He closed his eyes and tried to not think about anything at this time, but it was interrupted by the sound of someone sliding down into the ditch.
“Bennett!” Razor called out for him.
The wolf-like boy neared him and laid a hand on the scar covered shoulder of the other.
“Bennett alright?” He asked worriedly.
Bennett remained in his position.
It wasn’t his day. Not at all.
He felt how Razor leaned down to try seeing his face. The hand on his shoulder wandered to his back and the gray haired boy laid the other on top of Bennett’s hand.
They remained in silence for a while and razor waited like a patient, loyal dog for Bennett to recover. After some time Razor reminded:
“Lupical…so sad…”
Bennet inhaled and looked up.
“I know- I am sorry, just my luck I guess. Let’s go!”
And with that the white haired misfortune bringer was back on his feet.
He was not about to let his friends down!
Razor gave the boy a confused look and stood up as well. He wanted to say something but noticed some stuff falling from Bennett’s pocket.
A bunch of sweet flowers, now smashed from the fall, were crumbling out of his pocket.
Razor gazed at them and then back to the adventurer, who seemed to have noticed his friends staring and followed his gaze.
When Bennett saw the broken flowers he picked for Fischl he felt a shudder.
There was something dropping in his chest and he couldn’t tell what it was.
Something hot crawled across his face and when he touched his cheek, he saw that his fingertips were wet.
He whipped his face with one hand and then with his lower arm of the other. Trying to erase the tears as well as trying to hide his face from Razor.
To no use however, the gray haired caught his tears before even he noticed that he was crying.
The wolf froze on the spot. Giving the most empathetic and sad looking eyes one could give.
He then took Bennett's hands and forced them out of his face. Razor looked at him with soft yet serious eyes.
“Bennett… don’t cry…”
But Bennett just cried more while nodding his head.
Razor's expression just got more worried and he panicked a little.
Therefore he just started walking with his friend in tow, he held his hand tightly as he tried to look for something, anything. He just needed to make Bennett stop crying. It hurt Razor to see his Lupical so sad all day and now crying.
He stopped when he spotted something glowing.
It was small and had a bluish light coming from it.
Little lamp grass.
Perfect. Razor dragged Bennett over to the flower and crouched down with him.
“Razor.. found new plant. Pretty plant.”
He pointed at the little lamp grass.
Bennett sobbed a little before exhaling and going back to breath a bit more normally again.
He looked at it. Whipping away at his left eye, he looked at it for a few seconds before speaking with a broken voice:
“Thank you Razor. This truly is a flower for a princess.”
Razor blinked, then smiled. He didn’t know what a princess was but he also didn’t care. Now that Bennett calmed down again Razor was relieved.
The wolf gave the little lamp grass to Bennett and explained:
“Bennett right.. Razor found grass to make Lupical better.”
“Huh..?” Bennett looked at Razor with sore eyes as he carefully took the little lamp grass in his hands. “But…”
At that realization Bennett snapped back into Bennett. “I am Lupical?!”
Razor only nodded.
“W-whaaaat?! But I thought we were looking for something for someone else!!”
At that the white haired adventure started laughing at the irony of their journey.
He leaned back onto his palms, and whilst he could feel the uncomfortable sting of tiny rocks poke into his hands, and the unpleasant reminder of the fall onto his shoulder, he couldn’t care less.
Razor smiled and was happy like a dog who received a treat.
The boy’s laughter faded into a giggling until he stopped.
“Hey Razor, I know you don’t like humans all around, but let’s go to good hunter and eat a giant steak!”
Now Razor looked even more like a treated puppy as he almost started drooling at the thought of a giant steak. His eyes started sparkling and Bennett took that as a yes.
To Razor's luck, not many people were around even though Mondstadt was to be known for a celebrative folk in the evenings. Must be that most of them hang around Angles share to get drunk.
When they entered through the gates, they only saw a little barde puking in one of Flora’s flower pots and Donna was having a moment.
In the back on a bench was Sir Kaeya who was almost cry-laughing. Next to him was Rosaria who seemed to suppress a smile. Diluc, who just ended his shift at Angles Share, leaving the rest to Charles, was right behind Kaeya, looking as if he was about to slap the back of the Cavalry Captain's head. Also probably the reason why Rosaria suppressed her smile.
Behind Diluc though, was a cat-like figure in the bushes, only grumbling and malicious mumbling was to be heard from within it.
Scary…
The boy’s passed by fast as Bennett was not in the mood to be involved in a sibling fight or whatever it was that was sitting in the bushes.
Nor did he want the barde to puke onto him.
Everything was possible at this rate…
They took a seat in the empty good Hunter and both ate a huge steak.
Razor was growling a little while eating and it made Bennett laugh.
Then someone spoke from behind Bennett:
“ Ah here you are flame full knight, a spark in this dark universe. You and your fellow shall be blessed with the presence of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung.” Fischl announced.
“Mein Fräulein, says she is happy to see you and wants to sit with you two.” Oz clarified.
Razor was busy stuffing his mouth full with sticky honey meat and didn’t pay much attention to the person that joined them. But he eyed them while he ate.
Bennett happily agreed to Fischl’s request.
“What was your whereabouts about today, loyal knight?
I kept looking throughout the whole Mondstadt, but not even the power of my eye was to find you anywhere. A feeling unwelcome by the Prinzessin was lingering whilst the sun was coming and going.” She started the conversation.
Bennett smiled at her. Then he gave the same smile to Oz. As if he was literally asking the raven “WhAt DiD sHe SaY?” With just his look.
Oz explained:
“Mein Fräulein, said that she was looking for you all day and got worried, because she couldn’t find you. I want to add that we accepted a commission from Katheryne this morning, and M’Lady wanted to invite you so we could go as a team.”
“What?!” Bennett's eyes started sparking.
“Ahhh just my luck again! I am sorry we missed it. I would have loved to join. However I did have a nice adventure with Razor in Wolfenstone, and I did bring something with me! Razor shower me, I want you to have it!”
Razor eyed the little lamp grass that was handed over to Fischl. He could clearly see her blush and mumble not so rich sounding stuff coming from her. Oz simply thanked Bennett for the little lamp grass and the boy smiled, then turned to Razor and smiled at him as if to thank him too.
Then the white haired boys smiled faded and he asked dead panned:
“But Princess Fischl- why would you want to team up with me?”
The girl blinked in confusion. She seemed to struggle finding a way to preach a novel for just “why shouldn’t I” as she was too taken aback by that question.
Razor lifted his head and then spoke to all of them, but directing it to Bennett:
“Bennett…trust Bennett.”
The boy seemed to struggle to understand his friend.
But Fischl who stared at Razor then nodded her head and turned to Bennett.
“All my trust is placed in you, follower of mine, there is no hesitation when it comes to place everything in the hands of my flame-full knight. As such he lits up the night sky brighter than the stars could ever try, even reaching down to make it day just once in my Immernacht Reich.”
Oz:”Mein Fräulein, said that she puts great trust into you, and that none should ever hesitate to put trust into you. Further you make M’Lady very happy in a way that none could do-‘djxjaekz”
The rest was squeaking as Fischl grappled Oz and held his beak closed, blushing into a deep shade of red.
“Very well said.” A calm voice interrupted from behind.
Albedo, who was holding hands with Klee, was right behind Bennett. Behind him was a Lady everyone knew as Mona.
Bennett was so confused at all the statements but he caught onto it.
“Albedo-.. last time we met on the ost tower!
I think I understand it now! The first to put trust into someone is me. And that is into myself. Is that right?”
The man nodded with a soft smile.
“That is correct. It seems you resolved your assumption and corrected it with the right answer.”
The adventurer smiled and his face took a pinkish colour of enthusiasm and joy.
“ I am sorry guys. I always am so worried about failing everyone because of my luck, that I was too busy trying to keep your trust that I didn’t even believe I had or deserved because I couldn’t trust myself.
But I know better now! Thank you all for believing in me! Bennett’s adventure time is not over!”
He cheered.
Mona:”How heartwarming, …can someone buy me food now?”
Klee:”Big Brother Albedo, can Klee have some slime jelly now?“
Albedo: …