Chapter 3 : Housing and altercation

After leaving the confused astrologist at the restaurant, Mordred wandered the streets in search of a place where she could sleep tonight. It took her half an hour before she finally found a place called the Goth Grand Hotel.

'Seems a bit too fancy, but why not? If it's too expensive, I'll look for another place.'

Upon entering, she was greeted by an old man behind the reception desk.

"Welcome to the Goth Grand Hotel, the best and only hotel in Teyvat. I am Goth, the owner. Can I help you for anything?"

"I'm looking for a room, how much does it cost?"

"The first-class rooms are at 25 000 mora a night, the medium ones cost 15 000 mora a night, and the cheapest are at 8 000 mora. Which one do you want?"

"I'll take the cheapest one. In any case, how's business doing?"

"It isn't doing all that well, you're the only client we have at the moment. Here's the key, room 76. You'll find the room on the second floor, on the right. Do you need anything else?"

"Nothing at the moment. I'll go to my room for now."

"Have a nice day."

Entering her room, Mordred locks the door and starts setting up a basic dissimulation bounded field. It is an elementary technique known by most magi, but its usefulness is undeniable. She learned it from her mother when she still had to hide her identity from the other knights of Camelot.

Once the bounded field was activated, she removed her armor and started eating her skewers. As she did, she was finally able to relax a little and start thinking about her situation.

'So, I was dying but mysteriously survived. I woke up in an unknown place that works with unknown powers, and I, for some reason, can speak and read their language.

What I need right now is information on how the place works.

What are the main organizations, and how powerful they are. Are they friendly or not, and how strong I am compared to them.

The only organizations I know of are the Knights of Favonius and the Adventurer's Guild. I saw a cathedral, so there's probably a church. Religion seems important here cause the cathedral is on the highest point of the city. I didn't see the noble district, so I should look into it to avoid the place.

I also need money, quests should cover that. For shelter and food, I got this room and the Good Hunter.'

As she finished this train of thought, she also finished her skewers. Approaching the bathroom, she found herself in front of the shower, puzzled by this piece of technology from Fontaine.

'The hell is that? How does it work?'

After a few tries, she finally understood how to use it and went back on the events that happened before her death, especially the confrontation with her father.

'What did Father mean when he said I lacked the qualities of a king? I was created to become the king, how could I lack the qualities to be one?

Well, thinking back on it, I was probably created to take the throne from Father more than to become the king. A tool for Mother and not a ruler for the people.

But then, what is a king? Someone like Father, who sacrificed everything, including himself, for the people? But then why do the same people for whom Father sacrificed everything revolt against such a king by saying that he is "too perfect"?

Should a king be flawed? That doesn't make much sense.

Maybe by observing the rulers in this new place, I'll finally understand what a good king is and how I can become one.'

Drying her hair as she mused, she concluded her plans out loud.

"First I'll find some intelligence, to do that, I'll look for an intel broker or a library. Then I'll try to build friendly relationships with a few organizations. And finally, once I've done all that, I'll try to see the different countries and how they are ruled."

Having decided that and seeing she still had a few hours before sunset, she put her armor back on, once again hiding her identity. She then deactivated the bounded field and went to the reception to ask Old Goth if he knew where she could get intel.

As she descended the stairs, she heard someone's yelling coming from the lobby.

"What do you mean you can't rent us the whole hotel?! We even offered double the price! Do you know who we are?! Do you have any idea who you are going to offend?!"

"Sir, please calm down. If you had come an hour ago, you could have had the entire hotel, but I now have another client. This client rented a room before you came. If you want, you can have every other room I have, but you'll have to make do without this one room. It's a low-end room, so it shouldn't be much trouble for you to pass on it."

The man is wearing mostly black clothes with some red accents. His face is hidden behind a mask. The most peculiar thing about his clothes is that they are way too heavy to be comfortable in Mondstadt's warm weather.

"It isn't a matter of high or low class! It's a matter of standing! Not like a lowlife like you could comprehend it. But do you really think we can tolerate accommodating one of the great Harbingers in the same building as a lowly mutt?! You're courting death!"

At this moment, Mordred arrived near the desk, behind the screaming man. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she starts applying some pressure.

"I don't see anyone courting death here other than you. And what was that about a lowly mutt? Insulting a knight's honor isn't something that you can easily get away with."

As she says that, she increases the pressure until she hears the man's bone beginning to crack.

"I... I didn't... Let me go, I beg you!" The man panics and starts pleading to be released.

"Let's see... Should I let you go? I'll do it, but before that." As she says that, she breaks the man's shoulder before releasing her grip. "Now you can go, that should be enough punishment for the moment."

As the man dashes outside, he screams a little more, but this time, his voice is high-pitched because of pain.

"I'll remember that! Don't expect the Fatui to let it go that easily! One day or another, you'll regret it!"

Hearing that, Mordred thought of something.

'Seems like those Fatui are an organization. And I wanted friendly relationships with some organizations. Well, that's fine, they probably have many enemies, seeing how they act. I'll work it out in the end.'

She then turns to Old Goth and starts asking him the questions she has.

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Chapter 3 done. There might be a few more errors in this one as I wrote it in a place where I don't have my computer, so I didn't have access to most of my tools, but it should still be alright.

As always, don't hesitate to give your opinion or some advice, I'm always open to constructive criticism.

See you next time :D