Blessing in Disguise

Recovery

"y/n!" The small-statured professor frantically cupped the girl's face and whispered sharply at her, "You need to leave, NOW."

Y/n's eyes widened as she took in Old Lin's crazed look, his disheveled hair and his baggy eyes, ever worsening by the second. 

"Old Lin... what's wrong?" Y/n started as she heard the shuffling of a couple of men downstairs, who had previously busted in without Old Lin's permission. She had been too startled by the sudden intrusion at a time so late to see what the commotion was about.

"There's no time for explanations. Just run to somewhere safe, you hear me? Jump out the window. Go. NOW."

She did as she was told, landing lightly on both her feet and one hand from experience from the many past landings she had maneuvered. She looked back up at the window and saw a Fatui agent with a blade, threatening her beloved professor. 

She turned around, not daring to look back. She didn't even hear a scream. Or struggle. Or anything. Her surroundings seemed to close up around her in black, as she ran further, faster from the scene and ran for her house. Her breathing got heavier--

"Y/n... y/n!"

Y/n woke with a gasp, clutching the sheets with her clammy hands. She panted while looking up at the ceiling, processing what had just happened. 

It was a dream, She released the grip on her sheets, a sheen of sweat on her face. She looked over at Giselle, who had heard her struggles when she entered the room to bring y/n breakfast. Y/n propped herself up the bed, scooting back a little to lean on the headboard. 

Y/n smiled weakly at a worried Giselle who had started to wipe the sweat away with a cloth. She accepted the breakfast, expressing much gratitude when the maid tied y/n's wet h/c locks back. As she basked in her friend's comforting presence, y/n allowed herself a moment to worry, to think about her home and her guardian, Old Lin. 

She clenched her eyes shut for a minute, recalling the memory that was brought back to her from the unpleasant nightmare. 

I hope he's okay, She thought.

Archons, I hope he's alive.

~~~

"Ow-"

"It's okay y/n, just a few more steps and you're there!"

Each of y/n's arms were slung over Giselle and another maid's shoulders, escorting you to the carriage that was going to take you to Mond's cathedral for proper healing, now that the nuns were notified of her need to stay in the cathedral for a while. 

As Giselle sat her down inside the carriage, y/n mumbled a pained thank-you and watched the workers load wine into another compartment of the carriage. As the preparation for the short trip to the castle neared to an end, Giselle sat down next to y/n, and the carriage started moving, y/n's eyes fixed on the beautiful grape vines until they were too far away to look.

She sighed. She had to stay in one room for a full day after waking up, with only occasional visits from Giselle and her fellow maids for treating her wound and meals. She could barely walk a few steps, so she couldn't even leave for a fresh breath of air. The grapes were a sight she had only just seen. She had yet to even meet the master that took her in. Speaking of which...

"What kind of person is master Diluc?" y/n wondered aloud, leaning into the windows of the carriage, cupping her jaw with her hand. 

Giselle smiled, as if she had waited for this question. "About master... well, I've been meaning to tell you about him, since you won't get a chance to meet him soon."

"Oh?" Y/n replied, then furrowed her brows. Was he that unbothered by her stay?

"Is that so? That's unfortunate... because, err, I wanted to thank him for the hospice in person!" Y/n exclaimed, throwing her hands up nervously.

Giselle squinted at y/n, the suspicion showing through her expression. She poked y/n on the cheek. 

"You have another reason, don't youuu?" Giselle's analytical stare was fixated on y/n's eyes, making her squirm in discomfort. At this, y/n huffed, raising her arms in a surrender.

"Fine, fine. I give in!" Y/n chuckled, earning an eager look from the maid. She continued, "I was going to ask him if I could stay any longer since I'm not planning on returning home any soon."

Giselle nodded slowly as y/n explained her situation to her, and frowned when y/n got to the part about the blade-wielding Fatui bastards that had threatened Old Lin and busted into her house. 

"Those Fatuis, always strutting around everywhere thinking their Tsaritsa owns the place!" Giselle huffed with her arms crossed, while y/n laughed. 

They talked some more, and y/n took the opportunity to ask some questions about master Diluc, hoping that the information could help her convince him to let her stay longer. Giselle told her about a lot of things: about Diluc's usual cold demeanor and how y/n needn't worry about it, since it was what he was usually like, about his extreme distaste for the Fatui (y/n figured that was why Giselle hated them, too) and their schemes, so y/n would have an easier time earning some sympathy from him. Y/n relaxed a little at this remark. Maybe I can stay a little longer, after all.

The two friends chatted until Giselle brought y/n's attention back outside, where she could see a huge castle atop a mountain that lay in the middle of a shimmering lake. Y/n was dazed by the view that was small haven, as the horses' gallops slowed in front of the guards of the front entrance. Giselle grinned at y/n's childlike wonder.

"Welcome to Mondstadt~"