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Chapter Text

Mondstadt, the city of freedom, was enjoying yet another peaceful morning. Its citizens were beginning to rise from their slumbers, ready to tackle yet another day. Adults woke up to go to their jobs, while their children got to sleep in a little while longer before heading off to school. Nuns at the Church of Favonius arose from their cots to prepare for their morning mass. The Knights of Favonius underwent a shifting of the guard, allowing the tired night shift to retire and allow the others to greet the day anew. This was especially true for one particularly Knight, who rushed out of the Knight’s headquarters without a care.

It was the start of another fun day for Klee!

Master Jean let her out of solitary confinement for being on her best behavior. That meant she could go fish blasting at Starfell Lake! Grabbing her backpack and Dodoco, Klee set off for another day of adventure. 

Running out the gates of Mondstadt City, Klee waved her goodbyes to Swan and Lawrence. Crossing the city bridge, the little girl startled the flock of pigeons that were usually gathered, angering Timmie once again. Klee didn’t like Timmie. He was always mad at her for scaring away his pigeons. She didn’t mean to scare them away, but it’s not her fault that she needs to cross the bridge to leave the city. 

Making her way through the Whispering Woods, Klee began humming a tune her mom always sang to her. Mom was the best! Big Brother Albedo was also the best for letting her leave early today too! She’ll be able to catch way more fish this time. 

So engaged was she  in her own thoughts, Klee almost didn’t notice some shouting ahead. It looks like a group of meanie Hillichurls ganging up on somebody! 

That won’t do, Dodoco hates bullies and so does Klee! As a Knight of Favonius, it is up to Klee to save the day! Readying her bombs, the brave Spark Knight charged forward to rain explosive justice upon these meanies.

~

Back in the city of Mondstadt, the Acting Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius was on her fourth cup of coffee for the day. Large stacks of papers cluttered her pristine desk, with the piles seeming to grow bigger every time she looked away. Jean was currently reading a report from Amber about a group of Fatui soldiers crossing their territory from Dragonspine almost leading to an exchange of blows between them and the Knights. A headache already began to form in her head. The Snezhnayan military force has been growing more bold ever since they retrieved the Gnosis from the Anemo Archon. News of them entering Mondstadt’s borders could only spell trouble, and she knew their diplomats would deny any involvement. Luckily, they have been put on the backfoot once news of their various mishaps in the other nations of Teyvat become more well known in the public eye.

Just as she was about to formulate a response to this report, a distant explosion resounded in the air. Sighing deeply, Jean had her suspicions of who the culprit was. She had known that it wouldn’t have been long for Klee to start causing chaos the moment she was let out of time-out. Jean adored the girl of course, she was a capable Knight who served her nation and constantly carries a smile that brightens the day of any citizen of Mondstadt. Yet her pyromaniac tendencies encouraged by her mother Alice was a headache to deal with at times, especially when she goes “fish blasting.” 

Fortunately, based on the rising pillar of smoke originating in the Whispering Woods, Klee didn’t get too far. Standing from her desk, Jean winced at the aching muscles in her body. Have I really been working this long? 

Exiting her office, Jean met two of her subordinates, who also happened to be her best friends. The Calvary Kaeya was leaving the library with the Chief Librarian Lisa in tow, the latter of which seemed to be shaking off the cobwebs of sleep from her eyes. Kaeya, seeing the Acting Grandmaster, adopted his trademark smirk. 

“My my, what could our dear Grandmaster be off to in such a hurry?” he asked, his uncovered eye gleaming with mischief. 

“Perhaps she’s finally decided to take a break like we’ve been telling her the past week, right?” Lisa cooed. “You’ve been cooped up for quite some time, even Master Diluc has been asking about you.”

Jean sighed. It really must have been that bad if Diluc was asking about her, even with his dislike of the Knights of Favonius. She knew her friends had good intentions and were looking out for her, but as the head of Mondstadt’s military as well as the de-facto leader of Mondstadt itself, more was required from her. It was her duty to her people to give her all at  any task, whether it is in the thick of the battlefield or at the desk filing reports. She owed it to her people not just as the Dandelion Knight, but as the bearer of the Gunnhildr legacy.

“I’m heading out to get Klee,” Jean deflected, “I’m fairly certain she’s planning on fishing in Starfell Lake. I need to make sure she doesn’t depopulate the local ecosystem again.”

“Don’t forget, rearranging the landscape,” Kaeya pointed out. “Poor Mika almost looked like he was going to faint seeing all the craters she left in Dragonspine. We should come with just to be sure.” Lisa lazily nodded her head in agreement.

Jean narrowed her eyes. She suspected that the two were trying to get out of doing their jobs, but decided it was too early in the morning to reprimand them.

“Fine, you can come along. This shouldn’t take long enough for Klee to get into too much trouble.”

~

While the Acting Grandmaster was preparing to leave, the massive detonations continued to resound throughout the air. Multiple columns of smoke began to rise, with the smell of gunpowder being detected on the wind, to the dismay of the wildlife in Wolvendom.

Klee was having so much fun! The meanie Hillichurls were exploding left and right as she threw more bombs and Jumpy Dumptys around. Mitachurl shields and Samachurl magic crumpled under the weight of heavy fire. For they faced the might of the Spark Knight Klee, protector of Mondstadt!

“Kyahahaha!! I’m having so much fun Dodoco!” she called her best friend. The stuffed rabbit dangled in response. Or maybe it was from all the chaos happening. Not that Klee seemed to care, as she continued to rain pandemonium on the poor Hillichurl group. If Dodoco could think, he would worry that Klee forgot her original purpose for coming here. When it comes to the rambunctious child, it was better to let her get it out of her system.

Lo and behold, there were no more enemies left and Klee eventually got tired of her mass arson party. The forest, or what used to be it, was littered with craters and smoke trails leading up to the sky. The charred husks of trees and burnt grass surrounded the area, littered by the still flaming corpses of whatever Hillichurls weren’t turned to ash.

“Awww… is it over already?” Klee pouted. “I wanted to play a little longer.” Luckily, nothing could keep the girl down for long. In moments, Klee remembered why she started her bomb throwing escapades and attempted to look for the hopefully unburnt victim.

“Hello~ is anyone there? Spark Knight Klee is here to save you,” she announced. There was probably more to her introduction, but she always forgot. Looking around the ruined landscape, Klee could only see more burnt woodlands. 

Oh no… did Klee blow up the person she was supposed to rescue? That isn’t what a good Knight does. Big Brother Albedo is gonna be so mad at her; she promised to be on her best behavior today. Master Jean’s gonna put her back into solitary confinement again! 

Sniff…

What if she doesn’t let her out again for this? She won’t get to play with her Jumpy Dumptys. She might even take away Dodoco. Or worse, she could tell her mom and say she was a bad girl! Klee’s not a bad girl!

“Hic…wah… what do I do Dodoco?” Klee was distraught, gripping her plush friend with tears welling in her eyes. The girl was close to bawling her eyes out for what’s left of the forest to hear. If only she wasn’t interrupted by a peculiar sound behind her.

Wooosh~

Turning around, Klee saw a… well she didn’t know what she was looking at. A light green ball bobbed in the air, struggling to stay afloat. Bruises covered it as it sputtered from the injuries it must have sustained from its Hillichurls attackers. 

Klee at first thought it was an Anemo slime due to their similar floating properties. Yet on closer inspection, she noticed the elemental life form only has a singular eye taking up the majority of its “face.” What looked to be strands of hair or leaves adorned the top of it, while a small green crystal floated separately underneath it. An experienced adventurer would recognize this creature as an Anemo Specter. 

The floating ball stared warily at the young girl, uncertain of whether she is also an enemy but unwilling to risk another bombing run. It did not expect her to run towards it at full sprint. Bracing for another attack and too weak to retaliate, it closed its eyes and prepared for a fiery demise.

…

“Wow~ you look like a Bloatty Floatty!”

Klee was clearly not an experienced adventurer.

?!?!

Why wasn’t it dead? Did its would be attacker wish to toy with it before finishing the job?! This thing must be more sadistic than was realized. Oh what cruel fate did she plan on doing to—

“Mr. Bloatty Floatty, were those meanie Hillichurls bothering you? Don’t worry, Spark Knight Klee is here to save the day! I mean— I already did but you are safe now!” Puffing her chest out, Klee was beaming not only with pride, but also relief that she didn’t accidentally kill her rescuee. She wouldn’t be in trouble after all!

“Mr. Bloatty Floatty” was perplexed. It wasn’t going to die? It didn’t quite get what the girl was saying, but if she wasn’t attacking, then maybe she wasn’t a threat after all.

“Okay Mr. Bloatty Floatty, I’m off to do some fish blasting!” Klee began to make her way towards Starfell Lake. The floating ball began to panic. What if it was attacked again?! As destructive as she is, this child was its best chance of survival in… wherever this place was.

Hurrying after her, they came upon a pristine lake surrounded by birch trees. A statue of Barbatos, the God of Freedom, stood in the middle of the lake. Klee’s smile grew wider at the sight, there was so much fish for her to catch! Preparing Jumpy Dumpty for fish blasting, Klee noticed a floating figure behind her. It was Mr. Bloatty Floatty!

“AH! Didja follow me Mr. Bloatty Floatty?”

One bob.

“Does that mean yes?”

One bob.

“Do you wanna help me with fish blasting?” 

It didn’t understand what that meant, but it saw that Klee’s eyes were beaming with expectation. If it needed to survive then it would do whatever was necessary. It bobbed once.

Klee was ecstatic. Jumping up and down she squealed, “Yay! We’re gonna have so much fun Mr. Bloatty Floatty.” Grabbing one of her bombs, the young girl began running towards the lake. “Come on,” she laughed, “I bet I can catch more fish than you!”

The specter sweatdropped. Will it really be safe around this girl?

Meanwhile, the Acting Grandmaster and her retinue came upon the devastation left behind by the Spark Knight. Jean could feel a migraine coming on. Not even an hour and Klee already caused so much damage; at least it wasn’t near any populated villages. Looking around, Jean could only see the charred bodies of Hillichurls and the craters of various sizes left behind by Klee’s idea of playtime. 

“Heh, looks like Klee didn’t waste any time,” Kaeya chuckled. He strolled around the remains of the Hillichurl camp, looking more like he was enjoying a stroll rather than investigating. “So where do you think she went?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be helping me figure that out?” Jean didn’t have time to deal with Kaeya’s nonsense and decided to trudge forward, using elemental sight to find Klee’s trail. That was easier said than done, whatever pyro energy that blanketed the area had been blown in all directions by the wind. 

“Jean… I found something,” Lisa called out.

Going over to the librarian, Jean saw her kneeling over a patch of slightly less burnt grass. Following her line of sight, Jean noticed a trail of footprints. Still fresh from the looks of them; Klee must be close. But that wasn’t what caught the attention of the purple witch.

Next to the set of footprints was a strong trail of Anemo energy. An unfamiliar one at that. Such potent energies could not be produced by simple slimes, no the only thing that could potentially produce this amount of Anemo energy was an Eye of the Storm. Such elemental lifeforms were rare and poorly understood, but what is known is that they are hostile to all life. If one of them managed to catch Klee unaware…

“We need to move.”

Drawing her sword, Jean called out to her companions and began to follow the trail. Lisa and Kaeya followed behind her, serious expressions etched on their faces. One of their fellow Knights was in potential danger. Making their way towards Starfell Lake, the trio could only hope no harm befell the young Knight, as the sounds of explosions grew closer.

~

Starfell Lake was peaceful during this time of day. The wind carried a gentle breeze, the trees swaying along their path, and the wildlife frolicked along this idyllic landscape. The fish swimming in the lake were minding their business as usual, dashing to and fro within their aquatic home, not a care in the world. The Statue of Barbatos stood in the center of this lake, overlooking the landscape and any travelers that might make their way here. As with all of Mondstadt, this place was a testament to the beauty of freedom. That is until the water began to ripple and the wind began to pick up speed. 

The once peaceful air took on a howling tone, as the birds flew away in fright. The fish, now beginning to panic, splashed around as they and the water they were swimming in began to rise into the air. Unable to gain purchase, the now flailing fish could do nothing as they were vacuumed into the air. The corralled fish, now compacted in somewhat spherical shape, floated in the air for a few seconds. Suddenly, a small object was hurled into the center of the fish ball. With a brilliant flash of light, a loud explosion erupted, blasting cooked fish in every direction. The origin of this pandemonium, a giggling child and her floating partner in crime.

Klee was having the time of her life!

Usually when she went fish blasting, she would only manage to get a couple dozen fishes. With the specter’s help she got close to a hundred, maybe even a thousand! He would use his wind powers to suck up all the fishies into one spot, then Klee would throw a Jumpy Dumpty and Boom! It was raining fish. Eventually, when the steaming lake eventually ran out of fish to catch, Klee decided to lay on some grass. She was, what was it Albedo said, tuckered out from fish blasting. Mr. Bloatty Floatty drifted close by.

“Mr. Bloatty Floatty, can we take a break? We can take the fishies back later. I’m not sure how we can carry them all though; I never get to catch this many.” Sensing the girl’s fatigue, Mr. Bloatty Floatty decided to cut her some slack. Gathering its Anemo energy, it gently lifted Klee in the air, rocking her back and forth. Klee giggled as she floated in the air, her drowsiness gaining control over her. Finally, she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.

Still rocking the girl held aloft in the air, the Anemo specter was allowed to think on its situation. It was separated from its kin, in an unfamiliar land, and playing babysitter to a random girl with the destructive power to level mountains. Suffice to say, it was starting to think it was safer being attacked by the Hillichurls. The sleeping girl in the air was chaos-incarnate, prone to sudden bursts of energy. Despite this, the specter couldn’t bring itself to leave her alone. Whether they liked it or not, someone had to watch over the little girl, if only to protect the rest of the wildlife from her. First it should probably bring her down fir-

“Klee!”

 Startled, the specter turned to see a trio of adult humans running towards them, brandishing weapons. A brunette woman dressed in a purple dress with a similarly colored witch hat atop her head. A tall, dark-skinned man with long, blue hair and an eyepatch wielded a sword. He took a quick glance towards Klee, before facing the shocked specter, his face serious. Yet it was the leading figure which drew the specter’s fear. Another woman with blonde hair in a ponytail glared at the poor specter. Like the man, she also wielded a sword, though this one had an eagle’s head carved onto the handle and swirled with Anemo energy. 

Both parties stared at each other for a moment.

Then the Knights charged.

~

One couldn’t blame the Knights of Favonius for reacting the way they did. Under the assumption of Klee being in danger, they rushed off to save Mondstadt’s beloved Spark Knight. Getting closer to the explosions, Jean could sense great Anemo energy as well. When they arrived at Starfell Lake, they did not see an Eye of the Storm like they expected, but an Anemo Specter glowing with energy. 

That’s odd, Specters aren’t native to Mondstadt. Why is one here?

Jean’s train of thought was interrupted when she saw the Specter staring at something. Following its gaze, Jean froze when she saw what it was looking at. It was Klee, her eyes closed and suspended in the air with Anemo energy. The Anemo energy that was originating from the Specter in question.

“Klee!

Drawing her sword she rushed in to confront the monster and save Klee, Kaeya and Lisa doing the same. Lisa threw an orb of electricity towards the specter, but it managed to dodge and drop Klee. The girl was about to plunge into the water.

“Kaeya!” Jean called out.

“On it!” The Cavalry Captain immediately ran towards Klee. Using his Cryo powers, he created an ice bridge over the water and was able to safely catch the young girl. The startling impact woke the girl up from her nap.

“Kaeya…?” Klee rubbed her bleary eyes in confusion. What was going on? Why was Kaeya here? Where’s Mr. Bloatty Floatty?

“Easy Klee,” the dark-skinned man smiled, his one eye showing his relief that the girl was safe. “You just had a little nap. Don’t worry, Jean and Lisa are taking care of it.” Carrying the girl, Kaeya turned his attention towards his fellow Knights, who were engaged with the Anemo Specter.

Lisa threw an arc of violet lightning at the specter, managing to singe one of its petal-like wings. The Specter retaliated by shooting missiles of Anemo energy towards her, but was intercepted by Jean. The Lionfang Knight tried to swing at the Specter, but came up short as it floated away in a panic. Her vision won’t be much help in this fight, so she’ll have to resort to physical attacks. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have some tricks up her sleeves.

Gathering her energy, Jean tried to suck in the Specter towards her. Despite its immunity to Anemo energy, the Specter couldn’t resist the vacuum created by the Acting Grandmaster. Once the monster was in range, Jean thrust her sword, hurtling it towards Lisa.

“Now Lisa!”

“You got it,” the Witch of Purple Rose winked. Summoning elemental energy, Lisa summoned a lamp containing Electro energy that sparked in all directions. The Lightning Rose thrummed as it shot crackling electricity towards the Specter, striking true and electrocuting it in a violent burst.

Klee was horrified. Why were her friends attacking Mr. Bloatty Floatty? He was nice and helped her with fish-blasting. Mr. Bloatty Floatty wasn’t a bad guy! 

“Kaeya let go! Stop hurting Mr. Bloatty Floatty!” Struggling out of the man’s grip was tough given his strength, but her small size allowed her to wriggle free from his grasp. Now free, Klee dashed towards the fight, determined to make her friends stop fighting.

“Ah! Klee wait!” Kaeya rushed after the fleeing child. 

“Ms. Lisa, stop!” Klee was yelling at the witch, breaking her concentration.

“Klee?! What are you-” the purple woman started before she was blown away by a barrage of Anemo missiles. The purple dressed woman rolled on the ground for a few seconds before laying limp. 

“Lisa!” Jean called towards her friend’s crumpled form. Turning to glare at her attacker, Jean saw that the Anemo Specter was inflated in size, it’s singular ocular glaring at her in Fury at the pain with which it was dealt. 

Jean grimaced. This Specter was surprisingly tough for such a small thing. This was not good, she was against an enemy immune to her powers and too far for her to reach. Kaeya was keeping Klee safe, and Lisa was down for the count. Her options were limited. She could try to take out the Specter, but there was no guarantee she could do that and keep Lisa safe at the same time. She could also grab Lisa and try making a run for it, but that had the same risks of the first idea, with the added downside of leaving her unable to defend themselves. 

Unfortunately, the Specter decided to make the decision for her. Rearing up to prepare another storm of missiles, the air around it thrashed violently. Jean raised her sword, ready to lay down her life to protect her fellow Knights and Mondstadt. At the very least she could buy time for Kaeya to get Klee to safety and avenge them. 

“Stoooppp!!!!!”

The two combatants were shaken from their bout as a tiny red figure barrel led between them. Klee’s face was completely red, whether from exertion or the fat tears streaming down her face was anyone’s guess. Jean noticed that Kaeya arrived soon after, panting heavily. The Cavalry Captain looked between Klee and Jean, his concern over the situation overriding his embarrassment at letting Klee out of his sight. His gaze eventually fell on the still form of Lisa, causing him to rush to her side and apply medicinal aid. Jean decided she would scold him later, focusing on the weeping child between her and the Specter.

“Klee, what are you doing?”

“Master Jean, you can’t hurt Mr. Bloatty Floatty!”

She named it?!

Jean gawked as the little girl grabbed the slightly burnt Specter, now deflated to its original size, and started hugging it like one of her stuffed animals. Even Kaeya looked up from tending to Lisa at the incredulous statement.

“Klee,” Jean attempted to reason with the child. “That Specter is a monster. He hurt Lisa.”

“Mr. Bloatty Floatty’s my friend, not a bad guy!” Klee then turned to the Specter. “And you,” she said pointedly, causing the Specter to flinch, “hurting my friends is a big no-no! Bad Bloatty Floatty!”

The Anemo Specter’s wings wilted under the Spark Knight’s harsh discipline. It drooped in her arms, looking downcast. Jean almost felt sorry for the thing. Kaeya, sensing that hostilities have cooled, regained his signature smirk as he finished checking over Lisa. The Librarian was bruised, but nothing life threatening. Jean let out a sigh of relief before turning towards the mess she had to deal with.

Klee was still scolding the Anemo Specter in her arms, which was trying to avoid her gaze. Jean couldn’t help but smile at Klee’s attempt to look intimidating.

She reminds me of what I used to be like as a kid. I had to be the adult whenever Kaeya and Diluc got in a fight or made Barbara cry. Where did the time go?

Shaking herself out of her reminiscing, Jean focused on the problem at hand. Namely, what was she going to do about Klee’s attachment to this Anemo Specter. An abnormally powerful Specter that managed to give two skilled Knights trouble. As the Acting Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius, it was her duty to prevent threats from entering the city. Yet Klee was adamant in keeping it as a pet; she even named it for Barbatos’ sake!

As Jean was torn between risking Mondstadt’s safety or an explosive tantrum from Klee, Lisa began to stir.

“Ugh… I knew I should have just slept in today.” The witch’s hair was undone from its usually immaculate braid. Her dress was dirtied from being thrown in the grass and had a few tears from the Specter’s missiles. 

“Lisa!” Jean rushed to her friend’s side, assessing the damage. “How bad is it?”

The witch waved away her concern, “A little sore, but I’ve taken worse hits.”

Jean couldn’t help the smile forming on her lips. Even after being thrown in the air, the Librarian couldn’t help but crack a joke. Barring a potential concussion, Lisa seemed more or less unharmed. Yet Jean preferred to err on the side of caution. Summoning a Dandelion Breeze around them, Jean got to work mending their wounds. As she was focusing on her work, she glanced at Klee spinning with the Specter in her arms before turning to her fellow Knights. 

“So what do you think?” The meaning in her words needed no explanation.

Kaeya hummed. “Honestly, I think it should be fine. Specters are basically the same as slimes if my experience in Sumeru taught me anything. They can’t really cause too much havoc on their own and are treated more like pests if anything.” He crossed his arms, looking at the frolicking duo. “Besides, I don’t want to have to be the one to separate them. Do you?”

“He has a point,” Lisa concurred.

“You too, Lisa?” Jean was incredulous. Lisa should be against bringing this thing within their city gates. Maybe she really did have a concussion.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Lisa smiled, “it just seems like less work to let Klee keep her little friend. Plus it seems to me like the little thing is a pretty good babysitter.” 

The two were now playing catch with Klee’s bombs. Well Klee was playing; the Anemo Specter was throwing the bombs away from it in fear. Luckily they were only duds, so it just made the girl laugh at the Specter’s panic.

“Plus look on the bright side,” Kaeya added, “it managed to keep Klee from depopulating Starfell Lake. Again.”

Jean let out a deep sigh, before marching to Klee and her new friend. Klee stood at attention as best as she was able to while looking at the ground. She was afraid she was in trouble again for not listening to the Acting Grandmaster. 

“Um… Master Jean,” she fidgeted, “I know I’m not s’posed to bring Mr. Bloatty Floatty home, but I’ll take good care of him.” Klee’s eyes wavered as she saw the Acting Grandmaster’s hesitant expression. “I-I’ll even stop fish blasting if you let me keep him!” To sweeten the deal, she put on her biggest puppy eyes possible. Seeing Klee’s expression, the Anemo Specter also adopted a puppy eye.

Jean’s eyes softened at the display in front of her. No matter how frustrating Klee’s antics are, she could never stay mad at the Spark Knight. Kneeling down in front of the girl, Jean asked, “Do you really want to keep it— him with you?” Upon seeing the vigorous nodding of her head, the Acting Grandmaster and Lionfang Knight gave her verdict.

“Fine.” Klee’s eyes lit up as a smile burst on her face.

“But,” Jean interjected before the girl could scream, “he needs to have a Knight accompany him at all times. Albedo can watch over him when you’re not available. He also cannot leave the headquarters alone or he will go to ‘solitary confinement’.” 

Yet Klee didn’t pay attention to what Jean was saying. She was ecstatic, jumping up and down with her Specter in hand. “Didja hear that Mr. Bloatty Floatty? Master Jean says you can stay!” 

Facepalming, Jean could only groan as Kaeya supported Lisa in walking towards her. “I think that went well,” Lisa said. 

“This is a bad idea,” Jean bemoaned, already worrying about the potential consequences of her choice.

“Probably,” said Kaeya. Upon seeing the glare sent his way, the Cavalry Captain chuckled. “You worry too much Jean. This is Klee we’re talking about. Besides I’m certain Albedo would relish the opportunity to study a docile Specter.”

Albedo… If anything he wouldn’t let the thing out of his sight. Well that’s good news at least.

“Fine,” she conceded, “but don’t forget about the paperwork you need to fill out for this incident.”

“Me?” Kaeya blanched at the stacks of files that awaited him at his desk. 

“Yes, you. If I recall, this was your idea.”

Lisa giggled at the man’s downcast expression.

“Don’t think you’re off the hook either. When the medics are done fixing you up, you’re compiling a report on everything you know about Specters.”

The witch immediately shut up at the thought of extra work eating into her nap time. Jean smirked. For all their teasing, her colleagues hated desk work more than anything. The least she could do was take a little revenge for the day she’s had.

As the trio silently trudged back to the city of Mondstadt, Jean’s thoughts wandered back to the Anemo Specter. Allowing such a creature within the city was an unthinkable notion. A risk that could not only damage the city, but the people’s faith in her as the Acting Grandmaster. Yet despite this, Jean found the prospect of losing Klee’s faith in her worse. 

Raising her head, Jean saw the sun shining bright in the sky. She felt the wind gently blow through her hair. Thinking back on the tenants of Barbatos, she recalled that Mondstadt was a welcome to all travelers who sought refuge. The winds blew this Specter to their home for a reason, who was she to deny a lost soul their refuge?

Her resolve made up, Jean and her knights began to make their way home, with an extra soul accompanying them.

Chapter Text

To say the Knights of Favonius were thrown for a loop by the recent developments was an understatement. Klee bringing an Anemo Specter into the City of Freedom was a cause for alarm. What was even more shocking was the fact that the Acting Grandmaster came with her and not only knew of Klee’s new playmate, but she allowed it. News spread of the Acting Grandmaster’s decision, with many wondering what the reasoning behind it was.

Assembled in the Grandmaster’s office were the various captains and personnel of the Knights, barring a few exceptions. Those on patrol or guard duty were exempt from the meeting, as well as those off duty. Sucrose, Noelle, and Mika were busy babysitting Klee and her new playmate, the aptly named Mr. Bloatty Floatty. Said playmate is the reason for the meeting taking place, as well as the topic of a heated debate taking place.

“This is absurd,” Hertha exclaimed. The Logistics Captain was dumbfounded by the situation, indicated by the grimace she gave the Acting Grandmaster. “We can’t have a monster within walls. It’ll cause complete panic among the citizenry.”

“I must agree,” nodded Eula. “Damage done by Klee is one thing, but having a monster in the city, even a small one, can’t be a good look for the Knights.”

Albedo stepped forward. “I understand your concerns, but think about the scientific potential. Specters are not native to Mondstadt. To have one appear here, a docile one at that, is an opportunity we can’t miss studying.”

Eula glared at her fellow officer. The Chief Alchemist’s curiosity knew no bounds, which made him the perfect fit as Captain of the Investigations Company. Yet this curiosity also made him seem to have questionable priorities when it comes to a topic of interest. She swore she would one day have her vengeance on him.

“And what would happen if it managed to get into the city?”

“I have prepared contingencies preventing such a thing from happening,” Albedo said cryptically.

“May we get details into these ‘ contingencies?’” Hertha grimaced. The so-called Chalk Prince was difficult to get along with due to his stoic nature. His single-minded nature and disregard for things unrelated to his experiments didn’t endear him to her either.

“That is for the Acting Grandmaster to decide,” Albedo said, turning to Jean.

Jean maintained her professional demeanor behind her desk. The Dandelion Knight projected the image of confidence and strength, exactly what is expected of the Acting Grandmaster. Those who were close to her knew better. Kaeya saw how stiff and unnatural her posture was. Albedo noticed the bags under her eyes covered under makeup. If the rest of the assembled Knights noticed, they gave no hint of it. 

Standing up, Jean spoke, “I understand your concerns, I really do. This is a decision that I don’t make lightly. Rest assured, I have read through Albedo’s plans to prevent any disruption should the Specter get out of control.”

Out of the Knights assembled, Jean assumed Albedo would be the most vocal opposition to her decision. 

“And what about Klee?” Amber asked, shuffling her feet. Everyone knew that aside from the Specter, the Spark Knight was the other topic of this discussion. It was she who befriended and wanted to adopt the elemental lifeform in the first place. While the girl was a beloved member of the Knights of Favonius, she was also a constant source of trouble for Mondstadt, not that anyone would be heartless enough to dare place blame upon her.

Jean spoke up again, “Klee will be put in charge of the Specter. We can say it’s like a new assignment.” The fact that Klee and the Specter have been inseparable since they returned had not gone unnoticed. It’s not like anyone is willing to separate them, lest they face a literal explosive tantrum from Klee.

“That’s not what she meant,” Eula hissed. Her icy gaze fell upon the Acting Grandmaster, waiting for an answer. Jean didn’t hold it against her. The Spindrift Knight was known for her harsh words and overbearing attitude towards ‘vengeance.’ The rest of the Knights knew she didn’t really mean it, and was as devoted to the defense of Mondstadt as the rest of them.

“Klee was informed of what would happen if she allowed the Specter to get loose.”

“It seems to be more afraid of her if you ask me,” Kaeya chuckled.

Hertha seemed unconvinced, but deigned to respect the Acting Grandmaster’s decision. With that, the discussion shifted towards other topics regarding the state of affairs in Mondstadt. 

~

In the next room over, Klee was sulking. After she brought back Mr. Bloatty Floatty to the gates, the guards started panicking. She didn’t know why; she wasn’t carrying any of her bombs with her. Why was everyone so scared of Mr. Bloatty Floatty?

Said Specter was also floating low to the ground next to Klee. Its eye was closed, so it was likely asleep. Klee wanted to play, but knew she was in trouble for fish blasting again and didn’t want to disturb her new friend. Instead, she focused on finishing her coloring book.

Mika was sitting next to Klee, forced to help the girl in her scribbling. Sheets of paper with a messy array of colors littered the floor around them. The blonde scout was so engrossed in his task that his drawings eventually developed into him making a detailed sketch of the mountains of Dragonspine. 

Noelle meanwhile, was busy sweeping the room and cleaning the furniture of any residues of gunpowder. Knowing Klee however, the maid’s efforts will prove fruitless within the next day at best. Not that it would stop her from trying again.

Sucrose was staring at the Anemo Specter. She was holding a notebook that she hastily scribbled into whenever the sleeping elemental made even the slightest twitch of its petals. In between such moments, the assistant alchemist barely moved from her spot. If it weren’t for the occasional twitch of her ears, Mika would have thought she was a statue. It was a little unnerving.

Suddenly, Mika heard a growling noise coming from Klee. It was loud enough to wake the Specter and distract Sucrose. The child dropped her crayons and looked down in embarrassment. 

“Are you hungry, Klee? Let me get you a snack,” Noelle said, exiting the room. The remaining trio watched as the Specter floated over to Klee, where it settled on the Spark Knights lap. Rubbing the top of the Specter, Klee’s sullen expression didn’t change.

“Um…Klee?” Sucrose started to ask. “Is something wrong?”

“Why can’t Klee come to the meeting? Did I do something wrong?”

“N-no!” Mika said, dreading another tantrum from the girl. “Master Jean just wanted to have a talk with everyone.”

“About Mr. Bloatty Floatty?”

We really need to give that thing a better name. 

Mika kept that thought to himself as he tried to console his charge. “W-well yes, but—“

Tears began to well up in Klee’s eyes. “A-are they gonna take him from me?”

Mika began to panic. Turning to his fellow introvert for aid, he saw that Sucrose was just as if not more distressed than he was. She wouldn’t be able to help. Wracking his brain for an excuse to give Klee, he blurted out the first thing that came to him.

“They’re planning on making Mr. Bloatty Floatty a Knight!”

Klee looked up at Mika, eyes wide. Sucrose was also looking at him, flabbergasted at what he just said.

“Really?” Klee sniffed.

“Y-yep! In fact Master Jean was so impressed by M-Mr Bloatty Floatty’s fish blasting that he—uh is g-gonna be an H-Honarary Knight. Right Sucrose?”

The assistant alchemist yelped when Klee’s attention fell on her. Mika could only give an apologetic look as the bespectacled young woman was bombarded by a now ecstatic Klee.

“Sucrose didja hear that?! Mr. Bloatty Floatty’s gonna be an Honorary Knight just like the Traveler!”

“E-eh?! U-um congratulations…?”

As Klee continued to ramble to the poor green-haired woman, who was trying and failing to explain that that wasn’t how being knighted works, Mika let out a sigh in relief. He managed to avert a Klee meltdown, but had to throw Sucrose under the bus. 

The door opened as Noelle brought a cart with trays of food on it. “Sorry for the wait, everyone. Since the meeting is still going I decided to bring a few extra things for us.” 

“A-Ah, let me help,” Mika said.

“That’s quite alright Mika,” Noelle said, “this much is nothing for me.”

While Mika agreed with her, he still didn’t feel comfortable having to dump all the work on the maid. Ever since they got closer in the Waterborne Poetry event in Liyue, Mika has been wanting to support the apprentice knight’s goal to become a full-fledged member of the Knights of Favonius. Despite this, the young woman continued to be frustratingly self-sacrificial. 

“N-No!” Mika squeaked, his voice cracking and surprising Noelle. It wasn’t like Mika to raise his voice. “I-I mean… I insist on helping you.”

“Um… if you say so,” Noelle resigned.

Mika flushed. He didn’t mean to yell, he probably made a fool of himself in front of Noelle now. Dejectedly, Mika went to carry some of the trays before making an even bigger fool of himself. Unfortunately, he failed to watch his step. Stepping on some of Klee’s scattered crayons, Mika felt his balance thrown off as he fell backwards.

“Gah!”

“Watch out!”

Just when Mika was preparing himself to feel the impact of the hard floor, his fall was halted by a pair of strong arms. Looking up, he saw it was Noelle who had caught him. 

“Are you okay, Mika?”

Mika’s face was as bright as a tomato. Burying his face in his hands, he could only nod meekly. The position they were in was straight out of a romance novel, where the princess almost trips and is caught by the dashing prince. Except this time, the roles were reversed. Mika would have laughed at the irony if he wasn’t so mortified.

“Look big sis Sucrose, Mika fell,” Klee said, pointing at the flustered youths. Sucrose on the other hand, was blushing furiously at the display. Noelle gently released Mika, who was looking at everything but the maid as he tried to hide his face. 

Mika could not have felt any more embarrassed if he tried. He would take surveying in Dragonspine and risk frostbite than continue making a fool of himself. “E-excuse me…” he said hastily, as he made his way towards the door. Just as Mika went to open the door, it slammed into his face. The surprising impact and the pain cause him to let out a short cry. “Ack!”

“Mika?!”

“M-Mr. Albedo?!”

The culprit of this accidental assault was none other than the Chief Alchemist Albedo, who had a look of mild surprise on his face. “My apologies,” he said, moving to inspect the surveyor’s injuries. 

Mika was once again covering his face, though this time out of pain. Gently peeling back his hands, Albedo noted that Mika had a bloody nose, but it wasn’t broken at least. 

“Noelle,” Albedo addressed the maid, “please take Mika to the Church. Sister Barbara should be available to patch him up.” 

“Y-yes!” Saluting her senior, Noelle escorted Mika to the church, who was once again blushing in shame as he tried to staunch his bloody nose. 

With that business concluded, Albedo could finally pay attention to the mass clinging around his leg. “Big brother Albedo, you need to watch where you’re going,” Klee whined as she gave her best puppy dog eyes. “Sorry Klee,” Albedo said, ruffling his sister’s hair. Mr. Bloatty Floatty stared at the two as it drifted over.

Albedo had mixed feelings about the Anemo Specter. Specters were considered pests where they are found, similar to slimes, yet they were still capable of danger. Not to mention how uneasy he was when he first heard about how it basically cradled Klee in the air. Yet, the scientist in him couldn’t help but relish the opportunity to study such a unique specimen. A docile Specter, especially one that held its own against three Knights, could open up new avenues for research.

It seemed that Sucrose agreed as she was once again engrossed in studying the Anemo Specter and writing in her notebook. Albedo smiled. Despite her timid personality, his assistant always had a certain look in her eyes when she devotes herself to a project. He couldn’t have asked for a more brilliant assistant, if only she could accept that.

“Sucrose,” he called. The bespectacled girl squeaked, her ears straightening in surprise. “Y-yes Mr. Albedo?” While he showed no outward reaction, Albedo still disliked that after all this time working together, Sucrose still addressed him formally instead of simply ‘Albedo.’

“Meet me in the lab later. I would like to know what you’ve learned about our new friend here,” he said looking at the Anemo Specter.

He smirked when he saw her eyes light up. “O-of course! Maybe we can finally make progress on Anemo Test 8051.” Eager to apply her knowledge to her experiments, Sucrose rushed off to the laboratory. Now with Sucrose preoccupied, Albedo could focus on his sister who was still clinging to his leg.

“Big brother Albedo,” Klee whined. “Are you done with your meeting? Did Master Jean say she’ll let me out of solitary confinement yet?”

Albedo let a small smile creep on his face. “Yes to the first question, Klee. As for the latter, Grandmaster Jean has decided your time out has ended but—.” He had barely finished speaking before he caught Klee about to run out the door, Mr. Bloatty Floatty in her hands. “ But! You have to help me with a favor. Can you do that?”

The thought of her smart big brother needing her help filled Klee with determination. Puffing out her chest, the Spark Knight declared, “Don’t worry big brother Albedo, Spark Knight Klee is on the case! Um… what am I doing?”

“The Adventurer’s Guild has requested the Knights’ assistance to Wolvendom. It looks like there is a Riftwolf infestation cropping up there.”

Wolvendom? That’s where Razor lived! His home is being attacked by scary meanie wolves, not like the good wolves Razor lives with. Klee had to protect Razor’s Lupical!

Albedo continued his explanation. “Kaeya will be watching over you for this mission. You will also be working with some adventurers from the Guild, so make sure you’re on your behavior.” 

Klee nodded her head vigorously. “I will be a good girl, big brother Albedo. Come on Mr. Bloatty Floatty, we gotta tell Kaeya about your new knighthood!” Klee dashed through the door to find Kaeya, Mr. Bloatty Floatty trailing behind her, leaving Albedo alone.

The Chalk Prince sighed in exasperation. ‘We really need to give them a better name than Mr. Bloatty Floatty…’ he thought. Albedo adored his sister, but he knew how much of a handful she could be and the devastation she leaves in her wake. He doubted Klee would behave for long before she would end up grounded again, especially with Kaeya watching over her. If anything, the Cavalry Captain would encourage her pyromania. He could only hope the adventurers accompanying them would rein in their mischief. Archons, he’d even hope that the Anemo Specter would be the adult in the group.

“It’s out of my hands now,” Albedo muttered. Might as well get some research done while he’s free. He should head to Good Hunter first though, Sucrose probably skipped breakfast to focus on her experiments with what she learned from the Anemo Specter. 

That Specter continued to be a subject of interest for many, Albedo included, yet he will keep an eye on the elemental life form. Klee’s kindhearted nature is one of her greatest virtues, yet it also makes her gullible and trusting. He can only hope that this… Mr. Bloatty Floatty won’t give him a reason to act against it, he would hate to make Klee sad.

Albedo frowned. “What did Klee mean by ‘new knighthood?’

Chapter Text

Bennett was having a pretty lucky day. Waking up, he managed to stub his toe only once today without falling down the stairs. Breakfast consisted of half burnt toast and Teyvat Charred Egg. Getting changed into his work clothes, Bennett fitted his lucky goggles on his head before giving himself a once-over in a slightly cracked mirror. Grinning at his reflection, Bennett set out to begin another day of adventuring.

Making his way to the Adventurer’s Guild kiosk, Bennett spotted a familiar face conversing with Katheryne. Well, more like monologuing to the poor receptionist. A girl his age dressed in a dark purple dress. The dress was backless, displaying small black wings tattooed on her pale skin. She had light green eyes, with eyepatch covering her left eye, which was further obscured by bangs of blonde hair, which was done up in two pigtails with bat clips. It was a rather risqué fashion choice for a Mondstadter, yet subtlety never appealed to the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, Fischl.

“Morning Fischl! Good day for adventuring isn’t it?” He waved at the Prinzessin. The investigator was one of the few guild members willing to put up with him and his notoriously bad luck, even becoming a permanent part of Bennett’s Adventure Team. 

The Prinzessin turned away from Katheryne to face whoever called her. A smirk formed upon seeing her fellow adventurer. Striking a pose, she spoke confidently, “What ho, if it isn’t mine dear leader. Thou hast the fortune of catching the Prinzessin at the dawn of day.”

“Heh heh…” Bennet scratched the back of his head. “I was just about to head out for a commission. Since you’re already here, you wanna tag along?”

“Then it appears the stars have aligned. I too have chosen to embark on a journey across the lands, smiting my enemies and striking fear into the hearts of those who oppose the Immernachtreich!”

Bennett pumped a fist in the air, “Alright! Adventure time with Bennett and Fis- I mean the Prinzessin.”

Fischl then turned towards Katheryne, “You there, lowly servant, present thine divine missive from this kingdom’s ruling regent!”

“I-I’m sorry?” Katheryne tilted her head in confusion. Fischl was one of the more… eccentric members of the Adventurers Guild. She was an excellent investigator, her skills helping identify growing threats, yet her overly eloquent manner of speech made it difficult to understand her. The girl’s dedication to her role as the Prinzessin isolated her further from her peers. 

A flash of purple lightning appeared beside Fischl, manifesting in the form of a large raven. This was Oz, Fischl's translator and familiar. 

“Apologies Miss Katheryne. What mein fraulein means is that she would like to know what the commission today is.” the avian explained.

Katheryne gave a look of gratitude towards Oz, “Of course. Riftwolves were spotted within Wolvendom and were even seen encroaching the borders of Dawn Winery.”

“Riftwolves attacking Wolvendom?!” Bennett exclaimed, causing Fischl to wince. “Razor must be busy protecting his lupical. We have to help him!”

“I concur, an attack on the son of wolves is an attack on us. We must set out posthaste!”

Katheryne held up a hand, “I commend your enthusiasm, but since this commission was placed by the Knights of Favonius, they have sent some knights  to the area as well.”

“Thou send mere knights to the land of wolves?!” Fischl said, crossing her arms. “As the Prinzessin I am more than equipped to handle this threat. Why, any enemy wouldst prostrate themselves once they gaze upon mine royal majesty. Isn’t that right dear leader?”

“Right!” Bennett nodded enthusiastically. Razor was another of his best friends and a member of Benny’s Adventure Team. Despite his somewhat feral behavior and 

Katheryne remained unconvinced. “Even so, the Knights were insistent upon sending some soldiers to accompany you.” 

“Hmph,” Fischl huffed. Bennett laughed nervously, flashing Katheryne an apologetic smile. “Who are the Knights sending to help us?”

Katheryne opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a loud shout.

“Da da da!” Bounding across the stone tiles came Klee. A large smile was plastered on her face as she ran across the courtyard. Trailing behind her was Mr. Bloatty Floatty and Kaeya. The Cavalry Captain had his arms behind his back, smiling as he leisurely followed the adorable Spark Knight. 

Skidding to a halt in front of the Adventurer’s Guild kiosk, Klee performed a clumsy attempt at a salute, “Spark Knight Klee reporting for duty!” Bennett liked Klee, she was a bundle of joy and didn’t mind hanging out with him. It seemed Fischl shared the sentiment, as her smirk grew at Klee’s attempt at professionalism. 

“Oh? The daughter of explosions doth grace us with her presence. Thou’s constellation be truly blessed to dwell under the thunderous presence of the Prinzessin,” the blonde curtsied towards the child.

“Hiya Prinzessin! Hi Oz! Hi Bennett!” Klee beamed at the two adventurers.

“Greeting Miss Klee,” Oz chirped politely.

“Morning Klee!” Bennett greeted back, matching his fellow Pyro allogenes’ enthusiasm. “What are you up to today?”

“Me, Kaeya, and Mr. Bloatty Floatty are going to Wolvendom to hunt bad guys,” Klee answered. Behind her, the Cavalry Captain and Specter caught up.

Wolvendom? That’s where he and Fischl were headed. “Are you guys the Knights sent to help us fight the Riftwolves?” Bennett asked, glancing at the Anemo Specter. Klee’s newfound friend was a controversial subject with the citizenry of Mondstadt, with many questioning what reason Acting Grandmaster Jean had to sanction the presence of a being most would consider a monster. 

Then again, the organization puts up with him despite his bad luck. Kaeya in particular makes a habit to check up on him once in a while, even though he doesn’t have to. Sir Kaeya is a captain. Why does he need to trouble himself by watching over a random adventurer?

“That’s right,” Kaeya said. “Master Jean decided the presence of the Abyss was a matter of national security. Wouldn’t want the Abyss Order getting involved now would we?”

The mention of the foul organization of monsters sent a shudder through everyone’s spines, sans Klee and Mr. Bloatty Floatty, who didn’t know any better. Even Fischl’s characteristic haughtiness flickered at the mention of such foul beings. “V-verily Sir Kaeya such a thing shall not occur under mine watchful gaze. These foul creatures shant plague these lands once they face the might of the Prinzessin and her royal retinue! We shall scatter their armies while the wolfchild and his kin make haste to blessed pastures!”

Bennett stared in awe at Fischl’s bold proclamation. “That’s right! Razor needs help protecting his lupical. If there’s more of us, we can split them up while he gets the rest of the wolves to safety. Great thinking Fischl!”

Fischl puffed out her chest in pride. “Then our path is set. Come companions, these scoundrels shall cower before the might of the Immernachtreich!” 

“Yeah!” Bennett and Klee raised their fists in approval.

Kaeya smiled at the display of youth. It reminded him of simpler times before the cruelty of reality stripped his innocence away. The Cavalry Captain turned to address the Specter, “Looks like it’s gonna be an interesting day huh?” 

The Anemo Specter bobbed as it watched the trio wearily. 

It was going to have to be the babysitter of this group wasn’t it.

~

Wolvendom was disturbingly quiet when they arrived. No sounds of birds chirping or the rustling trees disrupted the serenity of the forest. The clouds were covering the sun, blanketing the forest in a dim darkness. Normally, such quiet would be a welcome peace in the land of Anemo. Yet for our intrepid group, it only served to build a sense of unease, even Klee was frightened enough to clutch Mr. Bloatty Floatty for comfort. 

“Uuuu… it’s so dark and scary,” Klee whimpered with eyes wet with fear. She was squeezing the poor Specter so tight Kaeya swore he could see its eye was beginning to bulge. 

“D-don’t worry Klee,” Bennett chuckled nervously. “This path is pretty safe so I think we’ll be fine.”

Kaeya, being the lone adult of the group, patted the heads of the fiery kids. “That’s right, the worst that we can find here are boars or the stray Hillichurl.” That seemed to comfort the youths, as their shoulders slumped in relief. Klee loosened her grip on Mr. Bloatty Floatty, allowing it to give the Cavalry Captain a burble of gratitude. Kaeya nodded in response before turning to lead the group forward. While on the surface he was tasked to watch over Klee and the kids, there was a secondary goal Jean gave him as well.

“I trust you can handle this?” Jean asked him, hands clasped in front of her with a serious gaze. Albedo stood beside her desk, his usual stoicism present as he awaited Kaeya’s response.

Ugh, these two are always so stiff. “I’m offended you think so little of me Master Jean,” Kaeya said with faux hurt in his voice. “Perhaps staying cooped up in your office is starting to get the better of you.”

“Kaeya,” Jean ignored his barbs, he never really meant them anyways. “The city finally calmed down from the Stormterror incident. Now they have to deal with the fact that I condone a monster living within our walls. We can’t afford for Klee’s new friend to cause chaos and give the Fatui more material against the Knights and my authority.”

Kaeya put up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright I’ll watch over the little guy. I still think you’re overreacting, if anything I think it's much more well-behaved than Klee. No offense Albedo.”

“None taken,” the chalk prince responded. In truth, he agreed with Kaeya’s assessment. Despite the initial report about the confrontation with the Anemo Specter, it had been mostly docile since arriving in the city. If anything, it seemed fond of Klee’s presence. Or afraid of her, he hasn’t figured that out yet. Regardless, he wouldn’t be a good brother if he took risks with Klee’s safety.

“Regardless, it would be best if you accompanied them to Wolvendom.”

“Wolvendom?” Kaeya quirked an eyebrow. 

Albedo nodded, “There are reports of rifthound packs on the outskirts of it, threatening the local ecosystem. Naturally, we want to minimize their threat and ensure that the Abyss Order doesn’t take advantage of it.”

“And…” Jean paused as if trying to gently convey her next words, “Some have been found near Dawn Winery.”

Kaeya’s blood ran cold as he felt his throat tighten. “Was anyone hurt?” he asked immediately. It was easy for Jean to guess who he was asking for.

Jean shook her head. “Master Diluc informed me that one of the maids spotted a pair of whelps on the cliffside. By the time she brought him to investigate, they had already left.”

Kaeya clenched his fist behind his back. He didn;t like the thought of abyssal creatures roaming in Mondstadt. To have them near his childhood home, despite his shaky relationship with Diluc, was something he could not condone. While he knew Diluc could protect himself just fine against the creatures of the abyss, the thought of the staff, especially Adelinde and Elzer, could be at risk made him dig his nails into his hands. Were it not for his gloves, he would have broken the skin.

“I see,” he let out with a shaky breath, “that’s why you want me to accompany Klee to Wolvendom as well.”

Jean nodded. “With the rifthounds spreading to Dawn Winery, it’s only a matter of time before they begin threatening the main roads. Klee’s skillset could help clear them out before they become a problem.”

“And you want me to make sure she doesn’t burn down the forest… Again.”

“That and so you can keep an eye on our new ‘honorary knight’.” 

That gave Kaeya pause. “Come again?”

Albedo sighed, “Klee was upset at being locked in solitary confinement and thought her new friend was in trouble too. To calm her down, Sucrose told Klee that our new Specter guest was being granted honorary knighthood.”

Nobody spoke for a few moments. Jean had her head in her hands, exasperated that she now has to explain to Klee about how she can’t give knighthood to anyone. Kaeya spent a few seconds processing what he just heard. Albedo understood their silence.

“I admit it was not the greatest lie.”

Kaeya decided to leave then and there. 

Their trek through Wolvendom finally bore fruit when they spotted evidence of a recent battle. Claw marks on the trees and ground dotted the area, their corrosive energies causing the plant life to wither where they touched. Large gouges caused by an equally large blade and scorch marks caused by electricity were also found. 

The claws of rifthounds were scattered throughout the forest, the only evidence of their presence. It seems some wolves, possibly Razor’s pack, drove off the ones here. Though the scraps of fur and blood stains showed they took some licks of their own. The sight painted a grim picture and led them to double their efforts in searching for Razor.

“Maybe Razor drove them off…” Bennett pondered.

“Nay,” Fischl interjected. She knelt near some footprints, inspecting them before saying, “these marks doth foretell of a battle of recent passing. The son of wolves traveled toweards the Boreal gates, likely to smite the foul creatures that hath sought destruction. These were but the pitiful dregs of a vicious vanguard. The lowly spawn of greater abominations that bring ruin to this serene glade. We must make haste lest the pack meet an untimely fate.”

“Mein freilen says that Razor traveled northwards to hunt the rest of the rifthounds,” Oz translated.

Kaeya agreed with the investigator’s assessment, noting that the remains of the rifthounds of this pack were those of whelps. Given the amount of claws present here, there were certainly adults not too far. 

A distant howl pierced through the air. It sounded desperate, pained even. Immediately Bennett ran towards the noise.

“Bennett, wait!” Kaeya reached out to grab the rash boy, but he was already running towards the source of the howling. Fischl and Klee followed not long after with their hesitant flying companions in tow. Kaeya could only sigh in frustration as he ran after the kids. He was definitely getting a drink when this was over.