Chapter Text
Liyue was a nation of commerce and contracts. Gilded with stone forests and steep mountains that transitioned into dotted hills across its land, it was only natural for you to spend your miraculously acquired Mora and the next three days looking for the whereabouts of the game's protagonist. Since recognizing where you were when you first woke up at the foot of the Tree of Vennessa in Windrise, you knew it was your utmost priority to look for the only person to understand your predicament and possibly help you through it well.
(There were the first 10 minutes of freaking out and trying to see if you were dreaming, but you were a little bit too quick to accept your circumstance.)
First of all, you trekked all the way to Mondstat City, careful not to aggro any Hilichurls scattered throughout the paths to the city (whose camps you've memorized already from hours of gameplay despite the dizzying surrealism of actually walking through the paths yourself). Coming up on the city bridge, you can’t deny that the Mondstat you’ve seen through a screen was absolutely beautiful. With fresh air, soothing yet powerful breezes, and mystical music resounding from bards' vocals that drifted through the wind, the accompanying architectural structures of its gates, bridges, cathedral, stalls, boutiques, and generally every single building within this nation were breathtaking.
You chided yourself to focus on your goal, and you made a beeline back to the Adventurer's Guild booth where Katheryne was standing, posture straight as a pole. And once again, you decided not to gawk too much at how realistic she looked. Not the time, not the time.
"Ad astra abyssosque. Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild." Katheryne muttered out this same greeting you'd heard over and over again, but this time, you can't really skip it. (You feel bad now, but again, not the time.)
"Ah, hello. Um, is someone that has blonde hair and exotic-looking clothes registered here in the guild? They have a floating companion as well." You cringe a little at your question. You seemed like a stalker, perhaps someone creepy, but you were sure it was no problem. Katheryne glanced at something on the table hidden by the bar of the counter and smiled at you.
"Yes. We have a registered adventurer at rank 32 named Aether. Would you like to commission him?"
At that answer, you let out a big sigh of relief. Above Rank 30... That means he's most likely done with the main Archon Quests in this city and the first Archon Quest, as well as transitioning to being accustomed to the geography and world quests in Liyue.
"Well no, but is it possible to ask where he is? A general location is fine, really." You fiddle with your thumbs as you nervously wait for an answer. After a few minutes, Katheryne looks up from her table and smiles again.
"He is currently undergoing his daily commissions in Liyue. If you'd like an exact location, please inquire with the Adventurer's Guild booth stationed in Liyue Harbor."
You nod vigorously, and thank her as you start to plan for your next move. You can walk to Liyue, that much is possible. By estimation, it takes about a day and a half to get through the valley that connects the two cities. If you also remember correctly, there are some Hilichurl camps scattered throughout. Sure, it was easy because you played the game with vision bearers, but this, your situation, doesn't guarantee food buffs or respawns. Heck, you don't even have one fried egg on your person.
...do you even have an inventory?
Mulling this over while walking around once again, you see the famous Angel's Share tavern nestled between the buildings in the back area near the gates. Well... You are a little hungry and by technicality, you're of legal age to drink by Germany's standards, so you square your shoulders and walk into the tavern.
As you open the door, the smell of booze and quick, warm meals hit your nostrils, somehow the feeling of coziness in this establishment brings out the inner song of your stomach in an attempt to siren in some food.
A blush creeps up your cheeks as you look up, meeting the eyes of the barkeep, Charles. You sheepishly grin at him as he smiles at you, and you take a seat on the bar.
"Well, that sounds like some mora in exchange for a good meal," Charles jokes as he sets down the glass under the shelving. "If you're so hungry I heard your stomach rumble, I'd recommend getting the marinated T-bone Steak with a side of mashed potatoes."
Ah, the sound of that combination makes your mouth water like it's the streams of Luhua Pool.
"Um, yes that, and uh..? Is there any like beer or- um? Do you serve Fruits of the Festival? Wait, no-" Your eyes scan the top of the shelving behind Charles, but alas, there's no menu to look over. "Just any fruity and if possible, a lightly alcoholic drink."
"Gotcha. Be back in 10." Charles nods at your request and leaves a plate of nuts to stoke your appetite a little. You pick at the mixed nuts, inspecting one of them and popping them into your mouth as you let the ambiance of the tavern float around you.
True to his word, Charles comes back in 10 minutes, carrying a plate of the brisket and a bowl of mashed potatoes and- just how you like it, a gratuitous amount of gravy in a little porcelain boat. And beside it, Charles sets down a mug with a blue-colored liquid inside, topped with a lemon slice on the rim.
"Marinated T-bone Steak and mashed potatoes with Mint Jelly Lemonade. Enjoy." Charles announces, and you smile.
"Waah! This looks so good!" You cut into the tender meat and you almost gasp at how smooth it is. You take a spoonful of both the meat and the mashed potatoes and eat it, tasting the burst of the garlic mixed with soy sauce marinade and the juiciness of the steak on your tongue, relishing in how the milky creaminess of the mashed potatoes softened the taste. You close your eyes and almost melt into the chair, savoring the delicious food you've just been blessed with.
"Haha, I don't think I've seen anyone react like you in a long while to Charles' cooking."
You turn your head, cheeks still full of the steak as you chew. When you realize who it is, you almost choke on your food, coughing a gasp and hacking as you reach for the Lemonade and take a gulp to save yourself from choking to death.
"Oh my, did I startle you? I apologize for that. It seems my stealthiness has yet to wane."
You smile at him weakly, wiping the corners of your lips.
"A little. I didn't hear you come in."
You can't stop your heart from racing like it was a contender in F1, but then again you can't blame yourself. Long, dark blue hair, icy azure eyes, and perfect coffee brown skin encased in white-blue garments and that famous fur coat around his right shoulder, there was no mistaking it.
This was Kaeya.
And god, was he so much prettier in person.
"Perhaps it was because you were so immersed in your steak that the sound of my arrival never reached you." He smiled coyly, and even though it seems he was raring for a slight interrogation (you always had a knack for accurately guessing what would happen), you can't stop the pre-teen girlish giggle that escaped your lips.
You were such a simp.
"Although, I believe I've never seen you here before. Where are you from? Natlan, perhaps? Maybe Fontaine? That nation is always ahead of everyone else, which might explain your— and excuse my possible rudeness, —strange clothing." Kaeya rakes his eyes over your form, and you feel so self-conscious under his star-shaped pupils that you look down at yourself as well.
Right. So that's why people were staring at you. You were still in your joggers and your loose fandom shirt. Thankfully it's just a bunch of graphic art of the land of the show so there's not much to be curious about other than the structure of your sneakers, perhaps.
"Ah, that. I’m- I’m not. I mean-" You laugh nervously, opting to go back to eating your steak lest it turns cold. "I'm just not the type to go out much. My uh- my parents don't really let me go out here in Mondstat in overprotectiveness. You can see what that did to my-" you cough, taking a sip of your Lemonade "- my fashion choices. And...horrible social sk-skills, ahaha.."
Half-truths make the perfect lie, after all. True that your parents were overprotective, especially your mother, but it had nothing to do with your otherwise impeccable sense of fashion and slightly above-average social skills.
"And they allowed you out today? A momentous occasion indeed." He raised his own glass of what you assumed to be Death After Noon for a toast. You take your mug of lemonade and clink your glasses together.
"So, what do you plan to do now that you're free of parental confines?" Kaeya muses the question as he swirls his cup. "Adventure? Romance? A back-aching, boring 9-5?"
You laugh, nodding as you take another spoonful of the mashed potatoes. Somehow, even in his beautiful presence, his flirtatious tone and inquisitive gaze put you at ease. Somehow.
"Adventure. Um, I think? I.." you trail off as you scrape some of the meat onto the marinade spilled onto your plate. Wait. This is your chance. If you somehow convince Kaeya to at least escort you to the borders of Liyue, you might save some time. And yourself. From death.
"I want to go to Liyue. I heard there were a lot of things to see there."
Kaeya hums, bringing the cup to his lips to take a sip, and wOW , his side profile is so handsome.
"Why not stay in Mondstat? You said you don't go out much, so you might not have even been outside the city gates. There are plenty of sights to see. Like... The Tree of Venessa." Kaeya studies you from the corner of his eyes.
Tree..? The same place you woke up in?
“I heard there was an occurrence there recently. Surely something to appraise before leaving to a foreign nation.”
Oh.
Oh, that look. He's trying to pry something out of you. Thinking about it, you're the only one that stands out in this city. Someone he hasn’t seen before suddenly appearing out of nowhere claiming that they’ve lived here the whole time?
Being a Knight of Favonius in a city that’s closely knit together with everyone knowing who is who, it would be a surprise that he’s never once seen nor heard of you or your “parents”.
You guess it makes sense how dubious your situation was. It was impressive, actually. How clever he is to speak under the guise of a warm welcome just to creep in some iciness of interrogation as you expected.
Captain before Acquaintance, you suppose.
But you decide to let him think he's winning. You know he's suspicious of you, and that he thinks that you think you're weaseling out of this with your lies successfully, and you intend to keep it that way.
"Why? What's there?" You ask, putting up your own façade of innocence and ignorance. "Cool stuff?"
He nods with a smile when he faces you again.
"Plenty. Crystal flies, a Statue of the Seven, the lakes that connect to the Falcon Coast, not to mention the sights leading to the Tree itself. Quite the romantic walk, save for the Hilichurl camp here and there, especially at this time of day." He tilts his head at you a little as you finish your drink with a small smirk. "I'll come with you if you'd like. There’s something to be done there as well, I admit. Hm, hitting two birds with one stone."
You push the plate in Charles' direction lightly, and he takes the dish to clean in the back through a little window.
"Is it Knight stuff? Can I help?"
You look at him expectantly. You hope to gain an 'I help you, you help me' kind of deal. And as you reach into your pockets to pay for the meal, Kaeya beats you to it, settling the bill before you can even protest.
"Sure, little lady. Let's hope your deductive skills aren't stunted by your isolation."
The way the light glints in his eye, the subtle upturn of the corner of his lips.
It seems Kaeya thinks just like you.