Freedom (Jean x oc) A Genshin Impact Fanfic *Completed*

Chapter 6

Amell settled with the fact that no matter how many criminals he apprehended, there was never a shortage of wrongdoings. They were as fecund as the soil that spanned all across Teyvat. He had accomplished a few missions the last month about certain cases where said criminals were classified through little details.

 The first thing that came to mind when delivering suspicion onto someone was their hair, eye color, and age. The questions that cloud over his head were 'what does this person look like?' and 'how old were they?' When he summed it up that way, it was easier to find them and he pictured them clearly in his mind. 

Sometimes, these chatters come out false or the suspects in question turn out to be wrong. Investigations on them would cease and the Mora spent on the aforementioned inquiries would be millions wasted.

He was nicknamed by various titles. Informant, Escort, Bodyguard. But Jean's Assistant was more precise, next to the Librarian which was Lisa. 

Amell was now too familiar with the darkness his job entailed but that gave enough motivation for him to enjoy the light his city celebrated. Just like how the Anemo Archon desired it, freedom was a subjective but ecstatic feeling that was taken advantage of and Amell would cherish it until he was brought back to reality. In doing so, he'd redeem himself from the disappointment he'd felt in the past.

He hoped things would change. That it'd be easier to endure these with someone as capable as he is. There were a lot of those in the city, ones he knew on an eye-to-eye basis. And that didn't mean he knew them well, only to a spectator's view. 

Only Jean Gunnhildr caused him to be happier and liberated. She had that effect on everyone. Best of all? She was humble about it. She had provided him a gateway of opportunities, a step closer to finding his master and possibly himself. 

Come to think of it, he was suddenly hit with a hollow thump in his heart. 

He had no long-term dream at all. He was only existing with a mission and some pent-up feelings he'd like to release. He grasped his Vision, prided himself with the usage of a polearm weapon, knew some ins and outs of the continent but no real aspiration for himself.

What do I want to become?

He had a job. If he stuck to it, the thought would eventually knock on his door. 

I might be satisfied with how I am right now. I'll figure it out. All adults don't plan these things ahead I hope... Jean certainly knows who she is. But do I even know myself?

Mona Megistus sat by a mountainous pile of books. If the leotard was too revealing, Amell would've passed out on her sleeping garments. The woman was obsessed with anything connected to her alignment, so much that she'd abandoned the chairs as a comfortable place to sit to be hypnotized by the deluge of books surrounding her. 

Amell was aware the astrologist adorned a penchant for exorbitant clothing but her finances couldn't cut it at the end of the month when she splurged it on her 'apparatuses'. Apparently, that seemed to matter better than owning leather. She looked up at him under her pointed hat, her pale green eyes glimmering underneath a black veil of shadow her hat spawned.

"Mona Megistus, why does someone who keeps rejecting the Knights' offer set foot in one of their academic subdivisions?" He came only to ask her questions and make conversation.

"You're graciously rude," Mona remarked, her honesty merciless and wagging with zeal. And for a minute there, she had already sensed how he was feeling. "Libraries with connection to the constellations urge me to come. Your principled organization full of heroics do not interest me."

"Your passion seeps into the canvas so obviously."

"Amell? Yes? What is your heritage? Have you been abandoned or born without those who birthed your flesh?" 

Alright. She's cruelly straightforward. Now, who's rude...?

"I'm sensing you don't like company..." Amell leaned against the wall. "Don't be alarmed. I'm not here to recruit you. I won't lie I'm interested in why you're here rather than somewhere that befits your vocation."

"There's always more than one reason why people approach me. An astrologist inside a library is funny? I'm guessing it's your first time to meet one."

He nodded. 

"Since you know who I am, I can guess you know what I'm capable of? You Knights just love writing things down, don't you?"

"I'm no Knight. I can be one but I choose not to." Amell chuckled. "I do have a request regarding your capabilities."

Mona leveled her gaze with Amell. There was mayhem in their silence. Mona couldn't quite figure out Amell. Her hydromancy was malfunctioning, the element her Vision strengthened faltered as the stars themselves began vanishing, almost breaking down in front of this man. Every usage of her knowledge came with a price and it seemed that Amell had been one of those. Someone on her level would easily be able to attain the fate of a person by a single glance but here she was, blinking and clenching her fist in frustration. Was he even human? How could he hide from her divination-seeking deftness?

"Uh. Mona? You okay?" Amell inquired. Mona snapped out of her concentration, feeling the magical properties in the air wanting to burst at this unveiling.

This was absurd. Beyond unreasonable. Incomprehensible! She couldn't find out what his constellation was! The last time she'd felt this was when she attempted finding out the bard's true nature and that irked her to no end. 

Either Amell was close to the level of an archon or the substances in his body repelled her erudition. The former wasn't likely but the latter evoked a call of duty in her. There really were some things that couldn't be explained at first glance.

She smiled, erasing her struggling demeanor. "I am fine. I'm sad to say my services aren't available for matters that don't connect with my objectives." This wouldn't be the first of her inaccuracies. Mona would get to the bottom of this.

"Would your talents only be limited to submitting astrology columns for generating income?"

"You're free to think that's the only way I live by," Mona smirked.

Mysterious. Fascinating. She thought.

Amell inhaled a breath. Mona had secretly been enjoying how she could push his buttons. This was their first meeting but she somehow could relax being around him. She didn't know why.

"Let's be friends then," Amell extended his hand out. "If I can't have your cooperation, I'll just have to earn your trust."

Mona bellowed a laugh, earning a loud 'shush' from the sadistic and ruthless librarian. A haughty 'ufufufu' echoed in the room, causing them both to shiver. 

"Was this your plan B?" Mona couldn't tell what his actions were, she really couldn't but she could sense his nature. He wasn't that terrible. 

"I don't have a lot of people I can call friends. I've stayed for a while in Mondstadt but I never really took the time to know its inhabitants."

Mona crossed her arms. "You'll love Lumine and Paimon, then."

"Who's Lumine? Paimon?"

"Well, now you're boring."

Amell smiled. "What do you suggest to be the opposite of that?"

Mona grinned. "I don't give advice. I say things that will and would happen."

All of a sudden, Amell had forgotten the Abyss Order and was happy to have a friend.