The Phoenix's Clipped Wings | Kaedehara Kazuha

Chapter 4

Dodging the punches thrown to you, you calmly walk backwards as Aether tries to land a single hit on you.

Seeing as there was little to no progress, you decided to call it quits so Aether could rest up for tomorrow's sparring. You could tell Aether didn't want to give up since he continued to throw punches and try to trip you.

Letting him almost hit your face, you grab ahold of his stretched out arm and brought out your other arm and aimed straight for his stomach.

The impact of your hit sent him crashing into the wall surrounding your home, making a large hole in it.

Paimon watches from a distance, chewing on some cookies she found in the kitchen and watches as you carry out a tired Aether from behind the wall.

Walking with him in your arms, you walk inside your home and set him down as he groans in pain.

The next few days went all the same, he couldn't send a single hit on you but he never gave up. This training was for him to learn not to always rely on the elements during battle.

Telling him different type of techniques he could use against his enemies from a close range and such things.

"You seem to be taking training quite well." You say as you dodge his fist from the right side.

"Keep this up and you'll learn at least the basics of martial arts. Most of the people of my clan couldn't even get this far." Aether aims his leg at your head but you quickly jump back.

"Once you learn the basics, I'll teach you what my teacher taught me."

—

"A festival in Mondstadt?"

"Yeah, Paimon wants you and Sora to come with us!" Paimon says as she holds the cat in her arms as Sora tries to bite her.

"When does it start?"

Paimon visibly brightens up at this. "It starts in a few days! So does that mean you'll come!"

Phoenix lets out a smile, surprising both Paimon and Aether, "I suppose going to it wouldn't hurt."

"Yay!"

"But I must warn you, I don't take kindly to the people of Mondstadt. The last time I was there, their whispers weren't so kind."

—

And so, the four of them traveled to the city of freedom but not without Phoenix saying goodbye to Xiao.

Phoenix puts a strand of her hair behind her ear but the wind continues to get harder which soon irritate her as her clothes swayed more and more.

"Barbatos!?" Her usual calm tone was gone as she yelled the god's name, Aether and Paimon flinched from this.

Aether looks at her surprised as Paimon shakes with fear.

"Ehe, looks like you caught me!" A voice rang out from the wind before Venti walks out from the bushes.

Phoenix glares at him as she suddenly appears behind him and picks him up by the back of his cape. He dangles from her hold, a dreamy smile on his face as she stares at him with her (E/C) orbs that held annoyance.

"Ehe, I like it when you hold me like this!" He giggles like a dreamy state which leads to Phoenix to drop him, a disgusting look on her face which Aether and Paimon don't notice.

Walking away from a whining Venti following close behind as they pass Dawn Winery and soon they're in front of the city, overlooking the gates.

"Barbatos," Phoenix calls out to him as Aether and Paimon walk ahead of them.

"Oh! What is it?" Venti says as he looks up at her.

"Your people are the worst I've seen since I left Inazuma. I hope they learn from last time I was here not to speak ill of me nor my clan. Unlike the people from the village, I won't show any remorse to these people."

"O-oh, well this the city of freedom so they're allowed to do anything they want-"

Phoenix huffs at this as she crosses her arms on her chest, "then you won't mind if I cause trouble here and there for being so disrespectful."

—

"Mister Honorary Knight — oof!"

You look down to see a child on the floor, rubbing her nose as she groans in pain.

"Ow, that really hurt."

You kneel down, catching her attention as she stares you as if she was something she never saw before.

"Are you alright?" You spoke for the first using your mouth as you look at the little girl worried. "You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

The little girl dressed in red shook her head, "nope! Klee is okay!"

You help her up, making sure her clothes weren't covered by dust as you gently wipe it off.

"Klee. There you are, don't run off like that." A voice said from behind you, making Klee immediately laugh.

"Big brother Albedo!" Glancing behind, you see a member of the Knights standing a few feet away.

His blue eyes meeting your (E/C) ones, the two of you say nothing as you stare at each other.

"You're..." Albedo's eyes widen as soon as he recognized you. Although you looked completely different since the last time he saw you, he knew it was you.

"....[Y/n]?"

—

A/n: I know the main love interest hasn't appeared yet but he will soon! I've also created a playlist for story, personal songs that I think fit with story and I regularly add more as the story updates. You can give it a listen if you want.