Chapter Text
The afternoon sun hung high in the blue Monstadt sky, beating down on Varka’s back. The weight of his claymore sat familiar in his hands as he swung it around. .
Dummies made of straw and tied together with twine fell helplessly at his impeccable bladework.
He wiped the sweat off his brow, turning to his superior, a graying knight named Valentine, “Pretty good, huh?”
The old man nodded, “Yes, I’m impressed.”
“So…” Varka said expectantly, “Can we call it for the day? I mean we still have a lot of time before sundown, and a good drink won’t hurt anyone.”
“No.”
Varka lifted up a dummy, “Come on, old man. Have a heart.”
“This is what’s best for you, son.” Valentine gave him a look, “You can have all the talent and enthusiasm in all of Teyvat, but if you slack off anymore you might think that’s the norm.”
“Isn’t it?” Varka asked, “Everytime I walk by the Angel’s Share when I’m on patrol, there are always at least a dozen knights in there.”
“Their bad behavior shouldn’t influence your behavior, Varka.” Valentine warned, “You need to learn the knightly virtue of discipline.”
Varka ran a hand through his blonde hair, “Yeah, I know. It’s the makings of a great future Grand Master. But I’m still young, I think I should be able to go out and have some fun while training. They say a good work-life balance is the key to a good life.”
Valentine walked over and pointed to Varka’s head, “You think that you should be able to go out and have fun. You are young, which is why you are not wise yet. You know not the ways of a prosperous and fulfilling life yet.” Though his words should’ve been scolding, they held a certain fondness in them.
“So enlighten me, old man, what are the ways of a prosperous and fulfilling life?”
Valentine said, “Patience. Hard work. Discipline. It is simple yet something not many are able to achieve. I hope that you are able to find it, Varka, but you need to strive for it now while you still have time.”
“Thats it?”
Valentine sighed, “Yes, son. That’s it.”
“I don’t know.” Varka shrugged, “I always thought there was going to be more to it.”
“Like what?” Valentine asked.
“Adventure. New places. Interesting people.” Varka slung his arm around the old man’s shoulder, “A bunch of good stories to tell when I’m too old and frail to fight.”
Valentine asked, “You think life is some kind of fairytale, don’t you? Some kind of storybook?”
“Perhaps.” Varka grinned, “Did you get the title of Lionfang Knight by sitting around and doing nothing? No, I didn’t think so. You did something great and everyone will remember you for it. I wanna be the same too. If I spend all my time training and preparing to be the next Grand Master, then I can’t go out and do the cool things that warrant being a Grand Master. Do you catch my drift?”
“I rose up in a time of chaos for Mondstadt.” Valentine countered, “I earned my title in a time of fear. We are in an era of peace, you have no reason to go out and slay some foul creature or try to tame one of the four winds, you need to stay here and become the best and most virtuous knight you can be before you do anything like that. Good things only come to those that are pure of heart.”
Varka cocked his head, “Pure of heart, huh? What does that even mean?”
Valentine answered, “It can mean a lot of things, son. Things I hope you can learn while I can still teach you. Another reason why you really shouldn’t slack off anymore, I am getting older after all.”
Varka’s eyes drifted off to the streets of Mondstadt, banners of every color hung from buildings. Creates of wine from every nation were being carted around with the utmost carefulness. Pretty girls went from stand to stand trying on new ribbons.
The city felt more lively, more excited.
Like it was waiting for something.
Which was hard to achieve in a nation full of people who loved to forget all their worries and have a couple drinks.
“Speaking of good things…” Varka said casually, “I heard those Dawn Winery folks are holding some kind of big shindig tonight.”
“No.”
Varka gasped, “I didn’t even say anything about it. You wound me.”
Valentine glanced at him, “The gala is for Master Crepus to find himself a suitable bride, not for your enjoyment. In fact, I had a sneaking suspicion that you would try to go, so I had you scheduled for nightly patrol tonight. Sundown to midnight.”
“Why do you think I would go?”
Valentine simply said, “There will be booze. When I can’t find you I usually just follow the smell of alcohol until I inevitably find you.”
Varka shrugged, “I just feel bad for the poor guy. Imagine you’re just living your life and your parents make you pick out one girl to spend the rest of your life with after just one night with her. Just the thought makes me want to crawl out of my skin.”
“Good thing that you are to marry whomever you want, son. However, Master Crepus isn’t given such freedom. Maybe everything will work out and he will truly love the girl he is to be wed with.”
“Yeah, wishing everything will work itself out, that's all we can do when he is forced into that.” Varka said, “Something about it just doesn’t sit right to me, it just feels like picking a sword from a rack or a bottle from a shelf instead of a life long partner.”
Valentine shot him another look, “As I said, it is a good thing then that you are not a young master from a noble, influential family. As much as you feel for Mr. Crepus, there is nothing you can do about it, you are on patrol tonight remember.”
Varka looked down at the ground, “Yeah, I guess you're right, old man. Not my orchard, not my vineyard.”
Valentine reminded him, “Sundown, Varka, you hear me? No wandering around, no stopping by the tavern, just be here on time and be sober.”
“Got it.”