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If there’s one thing the Prinzessin der Veruteilung is sure of, it’s that her fri- her retinue in the Adventurers’ Guild are throwing her a surprise birthday.
The suspicion first reached Fischl’s ever-observant mind a week before the actual date of her birthday. As she and Oz returned from yet another successful reconnaissance mission, she noticed Royce making frantic motions at something hidden behind the wedged door leading to the Adventurers’ Guild.
“Fischl!” Royce says, leaning against the door trim, letting the door itself close. “I uhh… didn’t expect to see you so soon!”
The behavior is stranger than usual, but far be it from Fischl to judge. Truly, it isn’t until after she responds with her customary greeting and attempts to enter the guild that the Prinzessin even considers there may be something strange afoot.
Royce does not move out of her way as she approaches the guild.
“Oh- um- actually, can you help me with something real quick?” His words end with a strangled laugh, as if he were struggling with some great beast.
Fischl surveys Royce for a moment. “As is my duty, I must report my mission’s findings to Cyrus upon return to the guild-“
“Ah! Actually, Cyrus is super busy right now, so actually, you can’t talk to him anyway! And I really need help for this project.”
She narrows her eyes suspiciously at her fellow guildmate before trading a look with Oz. Her familiar just cocks his head at her.
With a shrug, she turns back to Royce and lets him lead her away from the guild entrance.
“My dear Oz, they’re up to something.”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions, mein Fraulein.”
“Oz. Royce’s special task was to help him fold laundry.”
“…you may have a point.”
The next clue was found in Cyrus himself.
Fischl hadn’t caught a glimpse of him the day she returned, so she made sure to seek him out upon awakening the next day.
But strangely enough, the brash man is nowhere to be found.
“Hark! My dear comrades, have any of you laid eyes upon our Branch Master of late?” Fischl asks a group of adventurers as she passes the guild’s dining hall for the third time in her search.
One of the adventurers, a small man she doesn’t recognize, says, “You mean Cyrus? I thought I just saw him pass by a minute or two ago. It looked like he was heading to- oof!” He cuts off with a grunt as one of his friends elbows him sharply.
“I’m so sorry, Fischl,” another adventurer says, with a pointed look at the first one to speak. “I don’t know what Felix here is talking about, none of us have seen Cyrus.” The girl doesn’t stop glaring at her friend as she speaks.
Fischl leaves them, feeling confused and even more suspicious. “Oz, could it perhaps be that Cyrus is… avoiding me?”
With a heavy sigh, the raven lands on her shoulder. “It appears that may be the case.”
She hums in response, a plan formulating in her mind. “Please go ahead, Oz, and search for Cyrus in the main areas. I will backtrack and attempt to find him as he flees from you.” Oz nods, taking off down the hall again. Fischl watches him go, waiting for him to fade from view before turning on her heel and moving in the opposite direction.
It takes very little time to find Cyrus after that.
Fischl hears the man’s loud voice from around a corner. “Oz! Just the raven I wanted to see, is your charge nearby? I must tell you of plans the guild has for-“ Cyrus freezes as Fischl turns the corner, a hasty look between the raven and girl he’s now cornered between. With a strained chuckle, Cyrus turns to Fischl. “Well! I’m glad to see you’ve returned from your mission, but I’m afraid I must leave.” Before Fischl can even open her mouth to respond, the Branch Master grabs the door handle behind him and sweeps into another room.
On instinct, Fischl moves to follow him until Oz blocks her way. “Mein Fraulein, this is the men’s restroom.” Fischl waits begrudgingly for a few minutes before stomping off with a frustrated noise.
But the final clue, the hint that truly solidified the Prinzessin der Veruteilung’s suspicion into fact, was the behavior of her dearest familiar, Oz.
Under normal circumstances, Oz would back Fischl up in any investigations motivated by proper suspicion. Yet, as Fischl attempts to sneak downstairs to catch her guildmates in whatever they were doing, the familiar suddenly decides to truly embody his form.
Fischl has barely placed her foot upon the top stair step when Oz lets out a screech. Immediately, the hushed chatter she’d been trying to listen to disappears and Jack pokes his head out of one of the common rooms.
“Oh hey Fischl!” he says, giving her an awkward smile. “Was that noise you? Do you need something?”
She splutters out a response, too focused on her shock and outrage at Oz’s actions. They make a hasty retreat back to her room.
“What was that?” Fischl demands after slamming her door, rounding on Oz with an incredulous look.
“I apologize, mein Fraulein. I’m afraid I had something stuck in my throat,” Oz responds with a level voice.
She can hardly believe what she’s hearing. “I- you- that- you don’t even have a throat!”
The bird merely hums dismissively at the words, and Fischl flops onto her bed, defeated.
An hour later, her nose buried into a book, everything connects in Fischl’s head. If even Oz is involved in whatever scheming the guild is doing, then it must be about her. And considering her birthday is so soon, that is the most logical conclusion.
Satisfied with her discovery (and maybe a little pleased that her friends would do something like this for her), she continues her book with a small grin.
Three days later, Fischl wakes with more energy than usual.
“Happy birthday, mein Fraulein. Today will be a joyous day indeed,” Oz greets her as she gets up and ready for the day. For a brief second, the familiar greeting makes her falter. If Oz were truly involved, wouldn’t he say something to set the surprise in motion?
The thoughts are dismissed as she hears a knock at her door. She sprints to it, almost tripping in the process as she opens the door to see Bennett’s familiar lopsided grin.
Her friend looks sheepish as he says, “Hey Fischl… I know it’s your birthday and I’m… really sorry to ask this, but can you help me with a commission today?” He scratches the back of his head as Fischl’s face drops for a second. “I’ve already asked everyone else, but they all have something else to do today. I swear I wouldn’t ask for this on your birthday otherwise. Oh, and happy birthday.”
Immediately, Fischl loses confidence in her assessment of the situation. Because she’s known Bennett for years, and been friends for almost as long. She knows how he speaks, and most importantly, how awful he is at lying.
Yet every word he’d just said was so painfully earnest.
She tries to hide her disappointment as she agrees, waiting until Bennett has left with the agreement to meet at the main city gates before truly letting a frown color her expression.
“Mein Fraulein, are you alright?” Oz asks, landing on her shoulder. Fischl just sighs and nods, forcing herself to continue getting ready. It wasn’t anyone else’s fault that she made assumptions, so she wouldn’t burden them with her disappointment.
At least my closest companions will spend the day with me, she tries to console herself as she makes her way out of Mondstadt with Bennett and Oz.
In hindsight, Fischl really should have figured any commission with Bennett would take longer than expected. After a long day of poor luck, the two finally make it back to Mondstadt’s gate as the sky begins to turn gold.
Bennett is nothing but apologetic as they make their way to the guild. “I’m so, so, so, sorry for today. I really didn’t want to take up your whole birthday. I didn’t even know boars could do that-“
She cuts him off with a laugh. “It is no issue for the Prinzessin der Veruteilung to assist her retinue. It was most humorous to witness your demise at the hands of a singular boar.”
Bennett groans as they reach the entrance to the Adventurers’ Guild. Together they push open the door to see…
“Surprise!” The guild hall is filled to the brim with party tables and every adventurer Fischl has ever known. She stops in the doorway, a wide smile blooming on her face as she realizes that what lies before her is, in fact, a surprise birthday party.
“It is most impressive that you have managed to astound the Prinzessin,” she says when she gets over her surprise enough to get back in character. She glances at Bennett. “I am amazed at your clever trickery in order to distract me.”
Bennett shakes his head, his eyes wide. “I didn’t know!”
“Well of course!” For the first time that week, Cyrus approaches the pair, clapping Bennett on the back with a proud look. “We had to make sure no one spilled the beans, and everyone knows you two are close! If Fischl here had figured you out, all our plans would have been for naught. Come! Let us enjoy the party!”
Cyrus leads them further into the guild with a bounce in his stride, Bennett close behind. Oz quietly lands on Fischl’s shoulder.
“I must confess, I had suspicions of this days ago,” she whispers to her beloved companion.
Oz lets out a quiet laugh. “Frankly, mein Fraulein, I’d be more concerned if you hadn’t noticed anything amiss.” He pauses as Fischl reaches the crowd of her friends, all waiting to wish her a happy birthday. “Your friends care greatly for you. I am glad you have them.”