The Trailblazer and the Uncharted world

Chapter 2: Always so peaceful?

  'So, you're saying your name is...' the amber eyed woman wavered, as her hand reached her chin and eyes processed Stelle in front of her.

  'Ahem. Well Galactic baseballer, outrider Amber reporting for duty! I will guide you into the city,' she paused for a moment before asking, 'you are visiting Mondstadt, a-are you not?' she stuttered out.

  Stelle nodded, though not knowing if she should.

  'Then- let the wind lead! That has which carried you to Mondstadt.' Amber suddenly jerked her fist to her chest like a trained sergeant.
'May Barbatos's winds bless your travels.' She smiled as she plopped her hands on her hips.

  So... Welcoming! Stelle cried in her head, as her external body's jaw dropped and froze in place.
Her hand hovered over her open mouth, as her eyes stayed the same unchanging golden gaze, like a blank slate.
  Also who's this Barbatos guy?

  'Well... Follow me!' Amber called, her hand waving up and gesturing to the stone bridge into the city. The wind picked up Stelle's hair as she began to stroll with Amber to the gates.

  Then Stelle wanted to ask, 'Aren't you going to confirm my identity? I might be a suspicious person... Or do you not do that around here?' Stelle's eyes softened.

  'Mondstadt welcomes all, regardless of identity or status, in the name of freedom!' Amber's smile beamed as she cheered her hand into the sky.
  'But, if you haven't heard already, Mondstadt recently got over strife and during that time, our gates were not as welcoming as they should have been...'

  Stelle hummed. 'I guess I came at a good time,' Stelle mused.

  'Hmm-hmm! The honorary knight's good deeds have affected the whole of Mondstadt, now people are even more welcoming than before!' Amber chimed, her voice raising in pitch.

  'Hmm?' Stelle's head turned from the lake as they made it to the halfway point in the bridge and looked at Amber.

  Amber didn't notice Stelle's obvious curiously-filled confusion to her mention of "the honorary knight" as Stelle titled her head and looked at Amber's side profile.

  'The honorary knight must be an amazing person if they can change a whole city for the better...' Stelle half mindedly thought out loud, as they walked past two guards standing at the gate.

  'Wait.' Amber suddenly halted, causing Stelle to bump her nose into Amber's back.
'You haven't heard of the great honorary knight, the Traveller!? Hero of Liyue and Inazuma! The one who brazed Sumeru's deserts!?' Amber's wide-eyed expression sure was cute, Stelle noted to herself as she nodded.

  'Yeah... Are they really that well-known...?' Stelle asked hesitantly, as she tilted her head to the side.

  It would have been helpful if that woman taught me some of what this world was like... Stelle grumbled in her head as she latched her hand onto her forehead.

  'Whoa. I haven't met someone who doesn't know the traveller in... forever...' Amber's horrified eyes and agape mouth stayed a while before she spoke again.
  'Well! That just means it'll be all the more special when you meet her!' Amber abruptly cheered as she cupped Stelle's hands.

  Stelle nodded, not knowing what to respond with as she trailed alongside Amber into the city.

 Upon entering from the gates and into the plaza, Stelle smelled the unmistakable smell of flowers to her right, and to her left a loud banging sound clashed from a hammer.
Each hit thundered in her ear.

  'So, you must be hungry, yes?' Amber caringly asked as she turned to a dazed Stelle, who had been glancing at the surroundings with a ditzy gaze.
With each breath Stelle took, lugging in the rustic air, her lungs felt clear.