Pavo Ocellus

It was blurry, but I could still see her horrified face, and when I looked down, a sword pierced through me.

I feel like this might be my end, not one I am grateful for, but one I very much deserve.

"Kaeya! Hang in there!" I can faintly see her eyes. Thrive my little beautiful bunny, thrive and be happy.

It was fun here living in Mondstadt, it was always a peaceful day. The rules aren't strict. I can go to the tavern in daylight, and unless the big blue dragon is attacking, I have almost nothing to do. Maybe some espionage mission on the Snezhnaya people, but that is about it.

"If only this peace could last forever."

But I know it can't. For soon, I will kiss this daylight goodbye,

"But for the time being, toast for this awesome dandelion wine!"

The drunken adventurer cheers! We sang all night long.

What woke us up was the roar echoed from afar.

Dvalin is at it again. I was still waking up, but the dragon is not gonna wait until I'm sober.

"Guards, secure the perimeter!" I command them. They were shaking but the dragon flew past us, the knights took a relieve breath,

"Phew false alarm, this is like the third time this week."

"Don't lower your guard, that dragon can attack us anytime." One of the officers warned his troops.

To be honest, I was relieved as well, I don't think our troops are ready to fight Dvalin, it seems that I need to whoop their ass even more.

On my way back to report to headquarters, there I saw him for the first time. Something is bizarre about that boy, but I cannot point out what.

His clothes, never have I ever seen something like this before. Maybe he is just like me?

Eh, probably just a new kind of fashion nowadays, and Amber seems to be fond of him. I shrug it off, there is no way a spy would dress themself as flashy as that.

I entered the headquarters, but Master Jean was still fast asleep. I put a blanket on top of her, and left the room. She deserves some rest.

And from the outside, I heard the roar once again. And when I opened the door, what I feared happened right in front of my eyes.

For the first time ever, Dvalin was rampaging in the city of Mondstadt itself. I had no time to think, I rushed to help the civilians, I saw from afar that Amber and the boy were getting too close to dvalin's tornado.

"Amber!" I shouted, but she did not hear me, and the boy was flung into the sky.

I saw from the earth below, it was covered in dark murky clouds but the boy was fighting the dragon with Anemo power. My eyes must be fooling me. There is no way that boy can fight that dragon alone.

I focus on saving the civilians and commanding the troops. And once again, I hear the shriek of the dragon, this time as if it was in pain. And the boy came down from the sky with the glider.

I checked on him and there was no Anemo vision on him, in fact he has no vision at all. Who was he? Whatever he was, he was no ordinary being.

I walked over to him and Amber.

I notice that there is not a single scratch on him, I contain myself from laughing.

I start to think that, perhaps, this boy can free me of these shackles. Perhaps, this boy can free me of my guilt, perhaps this boy can free me of my responsibility.

This will be very interesting, I thought to myself at that time.

I clapped my hands on him and asked him

"You got the power to go against the dragon, are you a new ally? or a new storm?"

His eyes were blank, his eyes were like an empty sheet of paper, I cannot look into his objective at all. I brought him to the headquarter, may the rest be solved later, but defending the city against storm terror should be number one priority.

In order to defeat the dragon, we pursue the four temples. I went inside with him to the temple of the wolf. He did not say anything, but it is not the first time I was with someone who is this awkward.

In the temple I asked him why he had no vision and yet was able to release the power of Anemo. If I find anything suspicious about his answer, I will not hesitate to send him here.

His time of coming here and the dvalin attack, it is just at the right moment, perhaps just too right.

He did not speak of it, he says that he does not understand about it either. I try to press him for the truth, but there is no change in his answer, nor any hesitation. But one thing is for sure, something is not right with him.

I will observe him closely, until I can say for sure that he was not a threat to Mondstadt.

I don't know what it is but, it was as if I was drawn to him.

A bard with a vision helped us. After a few while, we defeat dvalin, the bards in the town tell the story of our tale, with him in the middle of it, and I must say, that boy deserves it.

He stayed a while in Mondstadt. Sometimes he would invite me to come with him, fighting enemies, honestly it was quite pleasant with him around. But I cannot help but to notice that Amber, she had feelings for this boy.

Not only me, but most of the knights also knew about this, and never have we ever seen Amber so cutely stuttering. But after a short time, he left for Liyue. Amber was sad, but she kept her chin up. She wanted to go with him, but he never looked her way, not once.

A year has passed, and his title changed from the mysterious outlander, to the amazing traveler Aether. Ah, that was nostalgic.

Since he left Mondstadt we only heard rumors about him from the bards. The tale where defeated the fatuis, monsters, and even Gods. There is just nothing that a boy cannot do, but life goes on, mine as well and just like that another year has gone by.

*Knock knock knock*

Someone knocked on my door.

"Wait, I'm going to wake up, just wait a minute."

God, the hangover, I really feel like I could die.

The door keep on knocking,

"Wait, I am going to use my clothes first."

The door kept knocking and I snapped.

I slapped the door open.

"GOD FUCKING DAMMIT I SAY WAIT!"

I looked outside and at the first look there was no one there, but I heard someone starting to cry and I looked down.

Her eyes were all blurry and she was afraid of me.

"WAAAAAA." She cried.

My head is still spinning, but I quickly pick her up to calm her down.

"Woah, how cruel, I did not expect master Kaeya of all people to make her cry."

I can hear the knights and maids looking at me like some kind of monster. I tried to calm her down but it failed.

"Klee, do you want to see magic?" She stopped crying and looked at my hand.

With the power of my vision I made her a flower made of ice, it works like a charm every single time.

"H-hi Klee, sorry your big brother is shouting at you, is there anything you need?"

"Master Jean called us, hurry up, it's Super important." She giggled.

"Okay, but you need to wait for a minute." I pat her head, she seems excited for some reason.

"Kaeya, I already brief this with Amber and Klee, they are preparing their stuff and they already agreed to join you in this expedition."

"Expedition? What expedition? Ohh that expedition..." I still have no Idea what expedition she was talking about.

Jean sighed.

"Every few years, there will be a formal diplomatic meeting between the millelith and the knight of favonius. I cannot come over this year because of other stuff I need to attend with the snezhnayan. But I will trust you with this important meeting since it's not your first time anyway.``

"Ohh, now I remember..." No, still, I can't remember, every year, it's always Master Varka and Master Jean that does all the talking, I just doze over the pretty girls there.

"Welp, I will leave everything to you then, don't mess this up." Master Jean warned me.

"But why bring amber and klee too?"

"C'mon Kaeya, Amber and Klee never really goes anywhere, after our generation, I want the knight of favonius to thrive as Varka taught us. That made me sounds old doesn't it"

I chuckled,

"Yes it is, Jean."

She smiled,

"C'mon Kaeya, let's go." Amber slam the door open, both Amber and Klee really complement each other, just looking at them can blind me in their brightness. They were hyped up for this.

"C'mon then, let's go." I pick Klee's up my shoulder.

"Thank you Kaeya" Amber hugged me, and she continued "You don't bring anything with you?"

"Nah, I'll just buy everything I need once we get there."

At the gate, Master Jean gives a worried look, but I give my best smile to assure her. After a very long walk, we arrived at the bridge.

"WOWZIE! Is this Liyue?"

I was exhausted, but they still had tons of energy.

"Hey Don't run away! I pulled them both before they ran away. We'll check into our hotel first, then we can go on an adventure."

Going with them is more tiring than going alone, but I guess it is less boring.

At night the city is getting more and more crowded. I pulled Klee up to my shoulder. I am so afraid that she will be lost.

"We ate a lot, and the view of the ocean was spectacular."

"How do you like it here in Liyue, knights of favonius?" A peculiar lady asked me, I look at Klee and Amber, none of them is wearing knight's attire.

"Excuse me?" I put Klee down, only in case we will be ambushed.

"You hurt my heart master Kaeya, we surely have met before."

"Ahh I remember..." No I didn't. I still don't remember who this woman is, should I just give signals to Amber and Klee to run away?

"Excuse me Mam, are you perhaps Lady Tianquan?" Amber spoke her mind out.

The lady laughed, "What makes you think that I am Tianquan, young lady?"

"I just remembered some things I heard on the streets earlier. Lady Ningguang was seen on streets today, and a-also I heard from Master Jean that lady Ningguang does not like to wear expensive attire, modest and hold the geo vision. But the giveaway is how stunning your look is."

"Well well, won't you look at that, you flutter me young lady."

How does Amber grow up this fast, just a while ago she was only a naive girl inside a humble city.

"What is your name?"

"A-Amber"

"Amber... I will be sure to remember that, and this little one right here?"

Klee is still busy eating her cotton candy.

"My name is Klee, Sparkling knight of the knight of favonius."

She answered cheerfully as she always had.

She didn't question how a kid as young as Klee could be a knight. Instead she approaches Klee

"Well, aren't you a cute knight?" Lady Ningguang pinches her cheeks.

See you three tomorrow.

I bowed to her.

Lady Ningguang smiled and waved us goodbye.

"Ms Ningguang was really cool, don't you think so Kaeya?"

I smiled at her and pat her head,

"You were too."

"If I knew she was lady Tianquan I would not dare to bare my fangs, you saved me there Amber."

I felt like I was falling behind with these younger knights, and honestly in the deepest part of my heart, I felt relieved knowing that they had surpassed me.

I carried Klee once more on my shoulder, she fell asleep on the way and Amber also looked sleepy, maybe we should call it a day. I thought that once I brought them to the Hotel, it was time to drink WooHoo.

On the way there, I saw him, there is no way I mistook him for anyone else. The great traveler, walking side by side with a girl.

He held her hands, and man I never knew he had it in him. They can be just companions, but she kisses his cheek and man that is more than companionship. I notice how they look so happy together, I want to greet them, but I could not let Amber meet them. It hurts me to imagine how Amber would feel, it's not like I care or anything, it 's just so I don't have to hear her tantrum again.

"Kaeya?"

Fuck, he saw me.

I went blending with the crowd and pretended not to hear him, I grabbed Amber hand and power walked as quickly as possible. She was already half asleep so it's easier to just grab her hand.

"Kaeya, why are you in such a rush."

"Ehh, nothing, I just need to go to the toilet ASAP."

"Amber?!" The boy in yellow shouted, Crap.

"AMBER!!" He kept shouting, and I walked even faster.

"Hey wait a minute Kaeya, I know that voice." Amber released her hands from me, and ran toward him.

I wanted to stop her, but she ran toward him, passing all the crowd to the point I couldn't see them anymore.

I step out from the crowd and from behind the building where they can't see me, and I can see how happy Amber is. I don't want to ruin her fun, so I just hide for the time being.

I realize that Klee snots are all over me. I cleaned myself up while watching Amber hugging him.

"Hi Amber, long time no seeing you, what are you doing here?" Aether greeted her.

"Aether? Is that really you?"

It was surprising for Amber and for me, Aether did not speak a lot when he was in Mondstadt. But he has a big grin on his face now. Can't help to notice that his hand is full of scars.

My Kaeya sense is tingling, I can feel something bad will happen, I stood up and when I was about to take Amber away, the girl from before approached them.

"Hi, you must be Amber! I already heard about you."

Amber was surprised,

"Oh Hey"

"I haven't introduced you, Hu Tao this is my friend Amber she is the knights from Mondstadt, and Amber this is my... uhm"

Aether's face is red, and Amber understands it quickly.

The girl laughed and punched Aether. "C'mon what makes you so embarrassed."

Amber's smile is slowly disappearing from her face.

"This is Hu Tao, she is my fiance."

They both blushed. Seeing them both so happy,

Amber tried her best to laugh, but she could not.

I quickly ran toward her, pulled her hands.

"Ahh there you are Kaeya." He greeted me.

But I cut him off before he can say anything else.

"Aether, long time no see, but I need to go to the toilet like now! Amber did not remember the way to the hotel. Bye bye!"

"Oh you can use the restroom at the parlor!"

"No thanks, I am more comfortable to take a whizz in my own room." And I pulled Amber as far away from them as possible.

"Brother Kaeya, are we at the hotel yet?"

"Sorry Klee, did I wake you up, don't worry the Hotel is just right in front of us."

We arrived at the hotel and I looked at Amber's face, holding her tears back.

"Wow it will be a busy day tomorrow, you two get a rest, it was a fun day today is it not?"

Amber did not answer me at all, I sighed.

"Klee? Do you want to sleep with big brother Kaeya tonight?"

"But big sister Amber will be alone..." That is exactly what she needs right now.

"No it's okay klee, can you sleep with Kaeya tonight?" Amber gives her best smile to Klee.

Klee nodded and gave Amber a last kiss on her cheek.

Klee sleeps in my bed, her body is small but somehow she took almost all of the bed for herself.

After taking a shower I knock on Amber's door.

"Amber, are you still up? Could you open the door for me?"

"Go away." I could faintly hear her cry.

"C'mon Amber, I have a spare key but I still want you to open this door for me."

"Open that door and Baron will blow in your face."

That brat, how dare she threaten me. I took a deep breath. And I just sat outside her room.

"Amber, when I was a kid, my father brought me and my brother to Liyue, and he showed me a hidden place with an amazing view."

"Let me guess, a liquor store?"

"HAHAHAHAHA, you have become way more perceptive than I am. You can take any small detail and make it important. That meeting with the tianquan? Honestly that surprised me, I really am proud of you Amber."

She did not say anything.

"Amber, are you still there?"

That brat, she dares to sleep while I am giving a speech.

"Thank you Kaeya, I know that you drag me away not because you need the toilet. You knew this would happen, that's why you dragged me out of there. You were always there for me."

"Heh, of course. You, klee, Bennett, sucrose, Noelle, Albedo, Ellin, Fischl, the knights, the adventurers, everyone in Mondstadt. You guys are all my siblings, and I would not mind losing a limb or two if it is for you guys."

She did not answer me anymore, I will assume she is asleep or still sobbing because of what happened. Either way I am going out to buy some alcohol.

"Good night. Don't think about it too much, there are a lot of birds in the skies."

I sit on the couch since Klee took all my space, suddenly I am not in the mood for drinking. Klee is in my room too, she will cry if I leave her alone.

The next day, during the diplomacy meeting, everyone's eyes are not looking toward the presenter, but rather to our little lucky charm. I was actually impressed by how well Master Jean taught Klee, she just sat there the whole time like a puppy. There was nothing eventful during the days left while we were in Liyue which I am very glad for.

I look at Amber's face during our trip home. Maiden in love is really something else. I don't even remember how many times I was slapped by ladies. But never I made that face, she was sad, she lost her appetite. Even Jean can't help but to notice it.

"Kaeya, do you know what is wrong with Amber, after the trip she often went to her own clouds."

I tell Jean nothing of it. I am sure she will get back to her feet quickly.

And get back to her feet quickly she did.

It has been almost two years since then, and nothing much has changed. But that day, it was a weird day for me, the clouds were dark, but it was not raining.

But in the back of my head, I could not explain it but something cut me off. I don't know what it is, but for a second there, I felt empty. And after that I hear a crack from beneath my bed,

Earthquake?

I quickly rushed outside and saw the knights panicking. Huffman saw me and informed me.

"Master Kaeya, there you are, how could you sleep in such chaos. Master Jean is calling every vision bearer in Mondstadt to the library. Quick, I have no time to explain."

I quickly changed into my uniform and went to the Library. There were a lot of people there but the atmosphere was gloomy. I was surprised to see Amber's hands were shaking hard, everyone, even Albedo, looked uneasy.

Bennett trying to calm everyone down,

"Kaeya, this is crazy, arghh, it seems that my bad luck is affecting everyone!"

I flick his head, there is no way this is because of him.

The astrologist is in the corner of the room, chanting spells for something, I don't know.

Even that girl Aloy is brought here. But there are some people I have yet to see.

Master Jean enters the room with Eula to brief what happens and she does it without any pause. She spread the Mondstadt map and pointed it out with a pen.

"Sorry that I have brought you all here, even though it's the knight's mission to protect you guys."

"Nah don't sweat about it. Just give us the situation and command, we are ready to go." Aloy talks while preparing her gadget.

Their eyes were all full of fire, even though I know that each one of them is really scared right now, perhaps, this is why the Gods give them the visions in the first place.

"Right, there is a major chaotic imbalance in the ley lines, the hilichurls start to evolve into bizzare things we never saw before, this thing happened in all of tivat, so do not expect help from the outside.

The hilichurls attack settlement and camps, the cryo regisvine near the thousand winds temple also affected the eastern Mondstadt territory into blizzard.

All the domains portal into the abyss, was destroyed. Even the large one in musk reef is scattered from unknown force.

We heard reports of a giant wolf-like creature appearing out of nowhere in the middle of wolvendom, Razor is assisting Boreas to fight it. Diluc rush to the dawn winery without any briefing as soon as he heard that his workers are in danger. The worst part of all is, the hypostates, they leave their designated area and goes on mindless rampage in a straight line, based on their direction, they will all merge in here. Right above lake cinder, and when they did, only the celestia will know what will happen then."

"Why now? Of all time?" Bennett asked.

"It was only informed to us by the people in Liyue that the great traveler has disappeared."

Everyone was shocked to hear that.

"He could be behind all this or at least has something to do with this." Jean continued.

Amber fell on her feet, she cannot believe what she just heard.

"Diona, Fischl, Aloy. We have been reported of some flying hilichurls in springvale, our knights are already sent there, you guys assist them from a distance."

"DADDY!" Diona ran away quickly on her foot, fischl and aloy nod at each other and quickly follow Diona.

"Bennett, Eula, rosaria, stop the anemo hypostasis in the north, either kill it or bring it as far away as you can."

"Klee, you and me, we will stop the cryo hypostasis from the south."

"Master Jean." Klee starts to cry, I understand that she must be scared. Master Jean stops for a while,

"Listen Klee, I know it's hard, but right now, more than ever, we need you, and you know that I will protect you no matter what."

Klee wiped her tears and nodded strongly. Jean patted her head.

"Albedo, Sucrose. Can I trust the electro hypostases to you two?"

They nodded and quickly ran outside.

"Barbara, Noelle, you guys will tend the wounded civilians and knights."

"Kaeya, Lisa, I will leave the city defense to your hand."

Mona who was at the corner of the room suddenly opened her mouth.

"Me too! I will protect this town with them."

"Alright then, Amber, bring this key to the cathedral, on the back you will find a hidden stairway to the basement, bring all the civilians there, don't let the enemy notice you."

"NONONO, I want to fight Master Jean too!"

"AMBER! This is an order, there is no time to complain."

"A-Alright, I understand."

Something ticked me off, where is that bard, he also got a vision, or was that coward hiding somewhere? He was nowhere to be found.

Just when the meeting was over we heard something explode from afar.

I ran outside and walked into the wall and what a sight it was, mitachurls, thrice the height of the Mondstadt wall, coming from afar. The exploding sound earlier was because they threw boulders at the Mondstadt wall. But fortunately the boulder stuck into the wall only reinforced the wall even stronger. At the gate, we can see them slamming the door open.

"What should we do now!" The guards shivering on their feet.

With the power of cryo I reinforced the gate with ice.

"Master Kaeya!" The soldier shouted,

"Hold your feet my dudes, don't let your guard down."

The moment one of the soldiers opened his helmet, an arrow hit his face and he died on the spot.

I look at the wall and hilichurls are surrounding us. How did they climb up there? It seems that the wall is no longer protecting us, but a cage to trap us in.

I protect my men with the Ice wall, but how long can this last? Suddenly the sky turns purple, and I take a long relieved breath.

"Master Kaeya, this is no time to rest, what are you thinking?"

I smiled at my soldier.

We heard thunder coming down at intervals, attacking all the hilichurls in the gate. I lowered my ice wall and Lisa was in front of us, zapping these monsters from afar.

After they all died, she walked toward me.

SLAP

"He died not because of the monsters, but your carelessness, Captain Kaeya."

I did not retaliate because it is true.

"Kaeya, Lisa, The preparation is ready," The astrologer ran to us.

"What preparation?"

She ignored me and continued chanting, and as her chants went by, the water from the fountain, from the sewer, from the lake, it all slowly covered Mondstadt like a dome. And when she was done with her chant, the whole mondstadt was covered by a hydro barrier.

"Kaeya, Lisa, Hold my hand." We were confused but we still gave our hand to her.

When Lisa touches her hand, the hydro barrier starts to go on a rampage, like the high sea during a storm. When I touch her hand, The barrier is even stronger than it was before.

I felt dizzy. I climb up the wall, seeing as the giant mitachurls are getting closer and closer.

They start to growl and prepare to throw rocks once again.

"Everyone brace for impact!" I warned them, but the barrier works like wonder.

The stone bounced to the other side of the barrier like a rubber ball.

The hilichurl that tries to break in the barrier, stuck into the barrier like glue, unable to move and only enhance the barrier even further.

"This barrier will help us for the time being. But this won't last forever." The astrologer looks pale,

"Everyone that still can move, go to the church, carry the wounded, the sisters will aid you in there." Officer huffman shouted.

How in the world are these hilichurls getting so strong? From above the wall, I saw Master Jean from afar and on her hand was Klee in her arms.

"Open the barrier."

"Master Kaeya, be logical." The astrologer tried to calm me down.

"I say open the barrier."

I lift Mona's neck.

"Put her down Kaeya, Jean commands us to stay here and protect the city. Do you know how many soldiers and people we lost today?" Lisa threatened me.

"I say open the barrier now."

Lisa electrocuted me, but it was numb, I almost did not feel a thing.

Mona passed out and I threw her at Lisa.

The barrier went down, I jumped right outside the Mondstadt gate.

"I will no longer tolerate your doing. You hurt my soldiers, my brothers and sisters, no more, I no longer care if we are comrades, I will end each and every single one of you right here."

I no longer see anything, rage consumed me and my sword moved on its own.

When I woke up everything had ended.

I saw the sunlight coming through the windows. This is the knight quarters.

"Hmmm nyam nyam nyam, apple pie." Amber put her sleeping face on my tummy.

I took a deep breath, I am glad that you are safe. I patted her head, but she is not waking up.

"Aether." I smiled, glad that nothing had changed.

I shook her gently, she rubbed her eyes from waking up, and was surprised.

"Kaeya!" She hugged me and cried.

"Glad that you are okay Amber, where is Klee."

"Klee is fine, barbara already healed her up perfectly. I heard from Master Jean that she finished off the cryo Hypostases."

Ouch my back hurt, damn the inside of the nightquarter have changed, I wanted to see how the city is.

"Wait Kaeya!" Amber warned me about something, but it was too late.

I tripped, for something, I don't know what it is and when I check it out.

"Kaeya, I know this looks horrible, but take a deep breath."

"AAAAAA!!!!!"

I shouted at horror, as I saw

or should I say I didn't saw,

"m-my leg. it's gone. A-amber? W-what magic is this."

"Calm yourself down Master Kaeya, "

Barbara entered the room.

"Barbara, you can heal this right?"

"I am not a miracle worker master Kaeya, during your rampage, you lost your leg. Wagner is working on your prosthetic leg."

Amber helped me get back to my bed. I was talking with them when someone else slammed the door.

Lisa, Mona and Master Jean entered the room.

Master Jean power walked toward me. Oh no, I am in danger.

"Je-jean? I mean Grandmaster, wa-wait, don't hurt sick people."

I covered my face, but she did not attack me.

She bowed to my face, thank you Kaeya, tears started to come from her eyes.

"I was really worried when that hypostasis hit my knee. If you were not there..."

I know more than anybody that she cares so much for our little Klee.

"Klee?" Jean called Klee over.

"Now what do you say to brother Kaeya?"

There is a bandage on her head, but there is nothing wrong with her. She is embarrassed and hides her hands behind her back.

"Thank you so much big brother Kaeya!! You really are the best!!!" She jumped to me like a cannonball. Ouch it hurts.

She gave me a letter and I quickly checked what was inside.

A picture of me on the Mondstadt bridge raising my sword. I almost shed my tears.

Mona whispered to me, "Even if you don't do anything they will be okay."

"And I don't care." I smiled.

Mondstadt slowly recovered but I resigned as the cavalry captain. Huffman was given that job, I hope she does not bleed her life to it. I am now just the trainer for the knights, with no title whatsoever.

She promised to spar with me today. But the boy, he came back in the most unexpected time possible. I never ever dreamt of seeing him again till the day I died. But maybe I don't have the knack to predict the future. I am not even surprised by his appearance again.

I let Amber meet her hero one more time. What business does he have in Mondstadt now? After he went missing for almost a decade he suddenly came back to Mondstadt. I have heard the rumor about his return but, man, I could never predict that boy. I did not disturb them, and instead went back to the headquarters.

"How are you Master Kaeya?"

"Ahh Jean, I am no longer part of the knights, just call me by my given name. Where is my little ragnvaldr?"

"He is playing with his dad."

"How are things going for you Grandmaster?"

"There are just so many things to do since varka stepped down. The fatui is disbanded, the door to the abyss is still closed down and there is not a single sight of a new vision bearer for years after that disaster. Perhaps, the time of God is over." Jean sighed.

"Perhaps." Yeah maybe.

"Is there anything you need?"

"Ahh I am fine, just here in advance, because you will see something shocking."

"Hmm?"

Someone knock on the door,

"Speaking of the devil." I opened the door.

"Master Jean! and Kaeya? Anyway, look who I found outside?"

Amber force opened his hood.

Master Jean was shocked.

"Is that you Traveler?" Master Jean asked him.

He shook his head. Jean closes his eyes and asks him once again.

"Is that you Aether?"

The boy nodded.

"Y-you must be Grandmaster Jean, forgive my inpoliteless. Lady Tianquan told me that perhaps you can help me."

"You don't remember me?"

He shook his head.

"Does it have to happen with your disappearance? Your hair?"

"I-I don't know... I am looking for an explanation as well." His voice is nothing like he was once, it was voice and can't be heard clearly.

What's with that memory lost trope?

"For now why not stay here in Mondstadt?" Amber holds his hands.

I pulled Amber out of the room.

"I will borrow Amber for a while, you can ask what you need from Grandmaster."

"Woy Amber! I know you like that boy, but he is somebody else's fiancee." I whispered to her while also shouting at the same time.

"But-"

"No but! Amber listen, you need to move on, I already sent you to a dozen blind dates, is there nobody you can consider? Look, even most of the knights like you. You should give up on him."

"Yeah, I understand." Amber looks sad, but I am glad she gets it.

"Amber, I have heard everything from him. Can you take him to have a quick tour of Mondstadt, perhaps he can remember if he views something from the past." Jean is unable to read the mood.

Amber is still blushing red!! Goddamit, she did not understand a single thing I said.

Now the boy is blushing too!! Hold on hold on, does this boy really not remember anything?

"Master Jean, is it okay if I accompany them?"

"Well you don't have to Kaeya" Amber looked annoyed.

"I INSIST" I gave a forced smile and Amber quickly understood.

Welp it's awkward but it can't be helped.

"We-well Amber, what kind of person was I?" Ughh he irritates me so much.

Amber's face went red once again, I am so sick of their little skit.

"Oh, you were a fine man, obviously we don't speak a lot since you got into a lot of adventures." I answered the boy. Amber gave me the "Shut your trap and get out of here." Look.

"Ahh is that so?" The boy put on his hood again. Another minute of silence,

"Is there anything you want to eat?" Amber asked him.

He nodded.

"Let's go to my house, I will cook you something!" Oh if only the world goes that easy for you Amber.

"Marjorie, do you have a table for three?"

Yes of course Master Kaeya.

"C'mon traveler, I mean Aether, if you go to Mondstadt, the first thing you must eat is the tavern food!" I grab him

Amber pouted, but the boy's answer surprised me the most.

"N-no thanks, I want to try Amber's cooking."

Hold on, is this boy. This can't end up good. Does he know that he, oh crap, this is bad. I took a deep breath,

"Aether, stop right there. Don't move another inch. Amber, you haven't forgotten about the disaster that happened the day he disappeared have you?"

Amber went silent. Before they can react I draw my sword and point it at the boy,

"Draw your sword traveler."

His face looks pale, I won't let that fool me, I have met a lot of people who pretend never to see any bloodshed, but once they are forced to, they will show their fangs.

"Kaeya! stop this!" Amber held my hands.

"You don't have any weapon with you?" I was surprised. "I don't care anymore, just do whatever you want to do." I sheath my sword.

I went to the tavern leaving the two lovebirds behind.

"Brother, one clover club please."

"Hi Uncle Kaeya!"

"Oh there you are little Vin, you want to drink with uncle Kaeya?"

"Knock it off Kaeya, he won't become a drunkard like you." My lovely brother really loves me, doesn't he?

Someone else entered the tavern,

"Master Diluc, is little Vin in here?"

"Yay, sister Klee! Are you here to play with me?"

Klee nodded at him.

Little Vin looked at his dad's eyes and Diluc nodded. He never really changed much.

"Bye dad, bye Uncle."

Klee does not even greet me, ahh these kids, they grow up so quickly. I tell the story with Amber to Diluc, he does not seem to be interested in it.

"Perhaps you are jealous of him?"

A cold silence filled the room.

"Are you perhaps not right in the head?" I joked.

He grunted.

Haha, he really thought I fell for that brat.

"She is a sister I never had, but she does remind me a lot of you."

"You drank too much." He said. I don't remember much after that, but I woke up in my own bed.

Another day, another hangover, God, age is really getting unto me.

*ugghhhh* I stretch my back. I was preparing my brunch when I heard someone knock on my door.

What again this time. I open the door

"Excuse me Mr Kaeya."

"Hmm, what do you want, boy?" And that is when I notice, not only color his hair, but his eye, it turns gray. Was his eyes always this full of life?

"I want you to train me."

I looked at his eyes, it still pissed me off.

"Go away."

He put his feet on the door gap, just before I fully closed it.

"Wait Mr Kaeya, consider my offer."

What offer? He shows me a bottle. Maybe from Liyue or Inazuma. I took a sip. Woah, Soju! I haven't drunk this for ages. This boy really knows how to take someone's heart.

"Alright, I will train you, but I will not discriminate, you will train with our knights, eat with our knights, sleep with your knights."

He smiled,

"I will not disappoint you sir."

"But don't get me wrong, I will never ever let you hurt Amber anymore."

I thought he would be covered in sweat but, without any hesitation he asked me.

"Anymore? Did I ever hurt her in the past?"

This boy, I really hate his looks right now, after all he did to Amber. I slammed the door. The training regime starts tomorrow at o'500, don't be late.

That night I met with Jean once again in her office.

"Jean, what do you think about that boy? I do think he is a little suspicious, but one thing that I am really sure of is, he is not the man he was."

"Yeah I feel the same, he is now just like any other man, he has lifted off his burden. But we cannot let our guard down."

I nodded. A week goes by, he shows steady progress, he fits in with the knights. But he is way too weak.

He trained seriously, he sometimes meets with Amber, it should be in secret but again, they are poor at hiding it. Almost all of Mondstadt knows what the two are doing, but we are all genuinely happy for them.

One day, the boy suddenly approached me while I was training by myself.

"Mr Kaeya, would you like to spar with me?"

This boy, he really thinks he can go up against me now that he has trained? You are so on.

We both use our wooden sword and prepare our stance. His grip is still too weak against me, his defense is too broad, full of weak spots.

But still he attacks me ferociously. All I did was parry him, and with a chance I knocked his sword and before he could take it I put my wooden sword on his neck.

He sighed.

"What are you fighting for Aether? There is absolutely no reason for you to do this. You can just focus on finding your memory but you stop. Why is that? Is it Amber?"

"Yes." No hesitation in his face.

"I want to marry her, but I know that I need to prove to everyone that I am worthy of her."

He can't prove anything to me, and he will never be able to return all the love Amber has given to him.

"You do know that whom she loves is not you but rather the great traveler don't you."

He stops for a while. But he nodded.

"But I still love her!"

It hurts me to hurt him but I can't let him hurt Amber anymore. I hit him again and again with the wooden sword.

"You don't understand do you!" I was filled with rage and kept hitting him with my wooden sword.

"I don't care if I deceive her! I will make her happy!" He shouted.

"Kaeya enough!" Amber shouted from a distance!

She pushed me away.

"Aether, are you okay?" The boy nodded.

"Amber, look, I didn't mean to" I look at her disappointed face.

"I quit." She speaks quietly.

"Huh?"

"I quit being a knight!!" She throws her favonius badge away.

Without looking back at me she lifted the boy up.

"Amber!"

With tears in her eyes they walked away.

Ahh crap, what have I done? Ever since she was a kid, all I ever wanted is for her to be happy.

I did not speak to them anymore after that, they settled down in the outskirts of Mondstadt living a humble life. Everything around me changes, everything but me. I felt empty. Everyday just going to the bar like a drunkard. Almost a year has passed and suddenly

*BOOM*

I was half asleep at the tavern when that explosion happened. It came from Springvale,

Oh no Amber!

I rush there, seeing Aether hair turning yellow once again, and his eyes, is nothing like I remember. He was full of anger, behind him was a mysterious person, his clothes were from the abyss, wait I thought the abyss was destroyed.

Aether use the power of electron to move super fast and is about to stab amber,

I felt time slowing down around me, as if the world around me froze up. But still, I ran toward the sword, and the time suddenly moved. Just right in time, I was able to protect Amber.

"See, I would not mind losing a limb or two if it's for you guys." Was the last word that I was able to get out of my guts before I lost my consciousness. I am sorry that I am not a stronger person.