Aether, Venti, and Sying walked through the streets of Mondstadt after completing a few commissions for the Adventurers' Guild. After the events in Liyue, the trio returned to New Khaenri'ah so they could think of a way to get to Inazuma. They started taking commissions to occupy themselves while they waited. The trio walked over to Katheryne as she called them over.
"It has been awhile since you three joined the Adventurers' Guild. Are your adventures going smoothly?" Katheryne asked.
"They're going pretty well, but a fourth member would be nice. Everyone we know is too busy to help us out." Aether admitted. Kaeya was still the Cavalry Captain for the Knights, Albedo and Sucrose also worked for the Knights, and Childe was spying on the Fatui for Sying, so no one was able to join them.
"Is that so? Apart from your own skills, reliable teammates are also indispensable when adventuring. Another person to count on is always good, after all. But recruiting such dependable companions is no easy matter, is it?" She said.
"Yeah, it's not easy." Sying replied.
"I do have some information that may be of help to you. There's been a blond stranger who arrived in Mondstadt lately, dressed in most unusual clothes." Katheryne told them.
"Does that person look anything like me? And were they with a small girl in a fluffy coat?" Aether questioned.
"Like you, Honorary Knight? No, they couldn't look more different. This stranger is a very tall man, wears a Nova Vision on his waist, and even has an eyepatch. And there is no record of him coming with the girl you described. That stranger declined the Guild's invitation, but nonetheless, you can look for him if you're interested. Perhaps he might accept your commission instead. After all, it is not uncommon for some adventurers to not want to be limited by the Guild, but to be happy to accept a fellow adventurer's requests. And should this stranger be a strong adventurer indeed, he would certainly be a big help on your journey. I heard he can be found at Angel's Share." Katheryne spoke.
"Let's go meet this mystery man!" Venti cheered.
"You just want wine." Sying pointed out, making the bard laugh. "Tell you what, if you behave, you can buy some wine."
"Alright! Let's go!" Venti yelled, dragging his two companions to the tavern. When they arrived, they went to talk to Charles.
"Charles, have you seen a blond stranger who wears an eyepatch around here by any chance?" Aether inquired as Venti grabbed a bottle of Dandelion Wine. Sying smacked the Anemo god as Charles answered.
"That I have. He comes here every night. Just to drink though. Doesn't order anything else. He even sometimes mixes his own drinks after he orders them. I don't know anything else about him, but from his selections and mixes, I'd say that he's quite the connoisseur. If you're looking for that gentleman, he ordered a new bottle of wine in advance yesterday, so he should be here today, too." The bartender informed the trio. The three travelers decided to wait upstairs and Venti wasted a ton of money on wine. When the stranger arrived, Sying recognized him immediately, but wanted to make sure it was really who he thought it was.
"Hi, I'm an adventurer with the Adventurers' Guild. My name is Aether, and these two are Venti and Sying." Aether introduced his friends to the stranger. The blond male stayed silent.
"Rude. Pay attention when people are speaking!" Venti complained, taking a sip of wine.
"So, you say you're a traveler. Why are you traveling?" The stranger asked, only to be hugged by Sying.
"Dainsleif!" The Nova god yelled.
"Lord Astral?" The stranger questioned. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm helping Aether look for his siblings." Sying replied.
"You know him, Sying?" Aether wondered.
"That's right! This is Dainsleif, one of my loyal subjects!" Astral declared proudly.
"My lord, you're embarrassing me." Dainsleif pointed out. Sying, Aether, and Venti sat at the table as the conversation from before resumed.
"Like Sying said, I'm looking for my missing siblings. My twin sister, Lumine, and my little sister, Luna." Aether responded.
"Well, that's good a reason as any. As Lord Astral shouted out to the whole tavern, my name's Dainsleif. I suppose you have some business with me?" The Khaenri'ahn assumed.
"Well, I was hoping to invite you to adventure with us." Aether proposed.
"Sure." Dainsleif agreed.
"How come you never agree that fast when I ask you to do something?" Sying complained.
"That's because you're annoying, and your friend is not." Dain teased, making the god groan. "However, I will require advance payment."
"How much?" Aether inquired nervously.
"500 mora and three answered questions. The 500 is a one-time fee, and we'll settle the questions in a moment." Dainsleif said.
"That's it?" Aether wondered.
"That's it." Once Dainsleif finished his sentence, Sying handed him 500 mora. "Thank you, my Lord. Now, as for my questions, I'd like you to answer them here and now."
"Do I need to answer them all correctly?" The Outlander asked.
"The answer to a question says nothing about right or wrong. Only about differences in attitude. I only wish to know what your choices are. You need only answer. Lord Astral, I know what your answers would be, so I need you to keep quiet. I'm sure you can manage that." Dain remarked.
"Okay, okay. I won't answer the questions." The adeptus replied, as Aether nodded his head in agreement.
"Question one. The crisis Mondstadt faced was resolved by an alliance between yourself, Lord Astral, and that Anemo Archon who calls himself Venti, who is currently drunk. Who, in your view, was the key to ending that crisis?" Dain questioned.
"Hey! How did you know about me?!" Venti shouted.
"I know everything that I should." Dainsleif smirked. "Well, answer the question."
"The unity of Mondstadt's people gave us the victory." Aether responded.
"Question number two. Rex Lapis, who has defended Liyue Harbor for millennia on end, used his Gnosis to lay down a Contract to End All Contracts, of which stipulations are still unknown. Who do you think will defend Liyue Harbor in the future, now that they've lost their deity?"
"Everyone in Liyue Harbor."
"Now for my final question. This world has people who gained Visions, and those who did not. Which of the two do you think hold more importance in the eyes of the gods?"
"Perhaps, none of them do."
"I understand. As I thought, you really are similar to her."
"What do you mean?"
"As we agreed, you may now commission me." Dainsleif dodged the question. "That said, I only take commissions related to the Abyss Order. Like you, I am currently on a journey. You intend to find your siblings, while I wish to oppose the Abyss."
"We've met some Abyss Mages, but nothing major." Sying spoke.
"Ugh. Those creatures are the fangs and claws by which the Order spreads chaos in this world. I have come to Mondstadt this time while on the trail of an Abyss Herald." Dain told them.
"An Abyss Herald?" Aether repeated the word, unfamiliar with it.
"They command the Abyss Mages." Sying chimed in.
"Come to think of it, since the Stormterror incident ended, we haven't encountered the Abyss Order at all." Aether realized.
"There's a reason behind that, I'm afraid. It's possible that they may have been under orders to redirect your path." Dainsleif spoke up.
"No matter. They won't defeat us." Sying declared confidently, standing up. Dainsleif smiled a bit before regaining composure.
"Well, then, let's go see for ourselves, shall we? According to the leads I have on hand, the Abyss Order has re-infiltrated the Temple of the Falcon. Let's meet up at the temple. Perhaps your questions about the Abyss will be answered there."
YOU ARE READING
Meraki
Fanfictionthe soul, creativity, or love you put into something; the essence of yourself that is put into your work. In which the King of Khaenri'ah plans to overthrow the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
