Chapter Text
Varka returns home to Mondstadt after the victory with Dottore. It’s a long way back, but it was worthwhile. Seeing his companions and friends made his journey worth all of the risk and struggle he endured.
His first week or so was difficult to adjust, as he was now back to working within the headquarters of the Knights. For the first few nights his eyes were practically bleeding due to paperwork and logs he had to go through, and truth be told, he missed his companions in Nod-Krai.
Varka, sleep deprived and honestly, truly, bored, starts on a letter back to Nod-Krai, detailing how his journey went back to Mondstadt. There was no better person to relay this information back than Flins, he thought. Varka knew that Flins would keep that letter safe, and he would be able to inform everyone else that they’d worked with. Varka rolls his shoulders back, tightened from hunching over the desk, cracks his knuckles one by one, and picks up his pen to start writing;
Dear Flins and the rest of the Nod-Krai team,
I am writing to let you know that I have returned home safely. This is really my only break I’ve been able to get as I’ve been dealing with way too much paperwork for a man who just got back from battling on the frontlines.
I am incredibly glad and grateful to have had all of you on my side during my time in Nod-Krai, and I know and trust that you all will be able to keep Nod-Krai and its people safe.
The Traveller has also made it back to Mondstadt in one piece. They’ve spent most of their time with their old friends, recounting anything that’s happened since they’d left last.
Rest assured that many drinks have been had on my behalf, and many meals have been shared. I hope the same goes for all of you.
Best wishes,
Varka
P.S. Feel free to visit Mondstadt at any time, your presence is always welcome.
P.P.S. Make sure Ineffa keeps Aino in line and that she doesn’t have too many snacks.
Varka smiles contently at his note, hoping that his friends will enjoy hearing about his safe landing, placing it within an envelope and sealing it with his signature wax seal. He yawns, and turns his lamp off in the office before locking his door for the night. He slips his letter into the mailbox to be sent in the morning, and heads out the main doors of the headquarters. A cool breeze blows past Varka, and he lets out a sigh, shoulders dropping as he exhales. He looks up to the moon, smiling gently, hoping that Columbina and the rest of his friends are doing okay.
Varka arrives at his home, setting his keys down on his table, and heads to his room to rest for the night. Varka drifts off to sleep, the night surrounding him with comfort.
—Three Days Later—
Flins wakes in his lighthouse to a knock at the door, the sun barely rising over the horizon, casting an orange glow throughout his home. He makes his way to the front door, greeted by a Ratniki messenger,
“Sir Flins, I have a letter from the Knights of Favonius for you.” the messenger hands the letter over to Flins, who smiles warmly, “Ah, must be from the Captain. Thank you for the delivery.” The other man nods, and leaves as Flins closes the door.
Flins flips over the envelope, and breaks the wax seal to open it. Flins opens and reads the letter, smiling at the thought of Varka entrusting him with telling the others about his safe travels.
Later in the day, Flins travels to the Curatorium of Secrets to give Nefer and Jahoda the good news. Entering the Curatorium, Jahoda and Nefer are sharing a pot of tea, conversing about a recent lead they have.
“Flins, what brings you into town?” Nefer asks, grabbing another cup and gesturing for Flins to sit with them. “Sir Varka wrote a letter back. He got home safely,” Flins states, sitting in the spot next to Jahoda, and taking the cup that Nefer had poured for him, “He’s been hung up on paperwork at the moment, unfortunately. He also thanks you both for going up against Dottore and Rerir.” Flins takes a sip of the tea and sets it down on the table between himself and Nefer. Nefer crosses her legs and takes a sip from her own cup, smiling slightly, “I’m glad he’s home safe. He’s a great warrior and a great companion.” Flins smile and nods in agreement before Jahoda speaks,
“Anything on the Traveller?” Jahoda asks, eyes widening and eyebrows raising in concern. “They’ve made it to Mondstadt safe as well,” Flins chuckles slightly at Jahoda’s concern, “do you know where Aino and Ineffa are at the moment? I need to relay this information to them as well.” Flins cocks his head slightly, and Nefer waves off his concern, “no need, I’ll have Jahoda deliver the message back to them as well as Lauma.” Jahoda slumps in her seat, looking upset that she has to be the one to deliver the message. “Is there a problem, Jahoda?” Nefer pokes at Jahoda's disgruntledness, to which Jahoda nearly jumps off of the couch, “N-no boss Nef! I’ll go right now, actually!” Jahoda zips out the Curatorium door, nearly tripping on the way out.
“You really have that girl on a tight leash, don’t you, miss Nefer?” Flins laughs slightly, taking another sip of his tea. “She knows what’s best for her.” Nefer says, taking a sip of her own tea. “Do you think I could write back to him while here and have one of your people send the letter back?” Flins asks, aware that there will be a fee, “Of course, I can have it delivered tomorrow morning, if you wish. It will cost you though.” Nefer raises her eyebrow, almost challenging the Ratniki. “I don’t mind the cost, honestly. I know you do your job well.”
Nefer retrieves a piece of paper, an envelope, a pen, and her wax seal of the Curatorium’s logo for Flins’ letter. Flins takes a final sip of his tea and begins to write a reply to Varka’s letter;
Sir Varka,
Thank you for informing us of your return. Everything is going smoothly over here, minus the odd appearance of the Wild Hunt every once in a while. So far, the Ratniki have held many a feast for various reasons; the captain's birthday, defeating Dottore, amongst a few others.
Jahoda is relaying your note to Aino, Ineffa, and Lauma as I write. Potentially miss Columbina as well if she is back on Teyvat as of right now. I’m sure most of them will write back to you.
You were a great help against our enemies, as well as a great companion in general. I do hope the two of us can work together again sometime, though hopefully it won’t be as life threatening as this time.
Please don’t hesitate to communicate back and forth, as I do enjoy hearing about the lives of others. If you do so, I will do the same.
Best regards,
Flins
P.S. Say the word, and I’ll be in Mondstadt. I’d love to visit you sometime.
Flins finishes writing, and seals his letter with the Curatorium’s seal before handing it to Nefer. “Thank you Miss Nefer. I shall take my leave now. The tea was lovely as well.” Flins bows slightly before heading out the door and back to his lighthouse.
—The Next Morning—
Varka, sitting at his dining room table, drinks his coffee while reading the book he’s been interested in for a few months now. A knock at his door stops him mid-page, to which he places a black feather in-between the pages— one he’d found on one of his first expeditions in Nod-Krai. He opens the door to a young man, shorter than him who hands him a letter,
“Captain Varka, I have a letter from the Curatorium for you.” Varka’s eyebrows raise, “Wow, that was quick. I was expecting a reply by tomorrow at the absolute earliest.” Varka takes the note from the man, “If you wish to send a letter back, I’ll be in the Angels' Share until midday tomorrow. There is a fee, however.” Varka nods, accepting the terms. “Understood. I’ll fork over the cost.”
The man leaves, and Varka sits back at his table, and opens the note. He opens the letter, shocked that it’s Flins who sent the letter, as it has the Curatorium’s seal, envelope, and paper. He smiles at the letter, glad that he responded. As he gets to the end of the letter, he pauses— face and ears turning a shade of pink that they haven’t in a long time. Shocked by his own reaction, Varka shakes his head, clears his throat and finishes his coffee; leaving the letter on his table to be dealt with later.
In between breaks, when he’s done paperwork, or anytime really, the words “I’d love to visit you sometime,” dance through his mind. Each time, Varka gains the same pink hue he did that morning.
“Sir, I have some patrol reports for you.” a young female voice cuts into Varka’s daydreaming state. He jumps, clears his throat, and looks up to see none other than Amber at his door, with a few papers in her hands. “Yes, thank you Amber. I appreciate it deeply.” Varka stands from his desk, still slightly flushed. “Is everything okay sir? You look a little unwell,” Amber asks, eyes widening and eyebrows creasing slightly. Varka clears his throat once more, “Yes, yes. I’m feeling just fine Amber. Thank you for the reports.”
Amber leaves Varka’s office and he lets out an exasperated sigh, “this really cannot be happening.” He mutters, while leaning back on his desk and dragging his hands down his face.
Returning home that night, he spots the letter on his table and immediately walks over to his desk situated in the back room of his home. He hurriedly, and almost excitedly, grabs his pen and starts responding to Flins’ letter.
Dear Flins,
Good to know that everything is going well in Nod-Krai. I’m expecting that my work for the next few days, maybe even weeks, will just be paperwork.
Feel free to drop by anytime, I would be more than willing to host you at my house for however long you’d like to visit for. No need to announce your departure from Nod-Krai, just make your way over here whenever you feel works for you.
Your company would be a nice distraction from all of the writing I have to do from here on out.
Safe travels,
Varka
P.S. I would love to give you a tour of my town and nation once you get here. There are many beautiful and scenic spots within Mondstadt that I’m sure you would enjoy.
Varka smiles at his letter, becoming slightly more pink than he was earlier, and seals his envelope before heading to the Angels’ Share to both drop off the letter as well as grab a drink.
Varka drops off his letter to the messenger, handing him some mora as well. Varka ends up staying for a few drinks, chatting with some of the other off-the-clock knights, as well as the bartender before going home for the night.
Varka returns to his home, and lays in bed. He begins going over his thoughts, how he’d reacted to Flins’ letter, and ultimately decides that it is definitely (probably) nothing. He does, however, end up falling asleep while thinking of Flins and how he’d enjoy Mondstadt.