Chapter 5 : The Prinzessin der Verurteilung graces these miserable lands with her presence.

On an early morning, a few days after her arrival in Mondstadt, Mordred approaches the Adventurer's Guild as usual. However, today Katheryne has an uncommon mission for Mordred.

"As you have proved your strength and your efficiency, we would like to allow you to take on more dangerous quests. Of course, they will be more rewarding as well. To do that, you'll have to first pass a test. You will need to clean up the monsters around the Thousand Winds Temple and defeat the Ruin Guard inside. A trusted member of the guild will also accompany you for the few days it will take."

"So I just go and kill every enemy around and in the temple? Got it. How long do you think it'll take?"

"Around three days if you are fast, more if you are not."

"Who's the guild member?"

"She usually works as an investigator and is quite proefficient at it. She may be young, but it would be unwise to underestimate her as she holds an electro vision. She was assigned to you for three reasons. The first is to protect you in case there is a mishap. The second one is to file a report about you and your trustworthiness. The last one is to see if you would work well together as you are a melee fighter and she is an archer. It would be efficient for you to team up."

"I feel like I'm being underestimated, but anyways. What's her name?"

As Mordred says that, the purple girl from the library walks towards the counter.

(Warning : I am not a native speaker of Fischlian or even fluent in this language. I did my best, but I do not guarantee a cringe-free experience. Also, should I put the translation below each and every one of Fischl's lines?)

"As the veil of night hast just been withdrawn, this Prinzessin whishes the darkness not to disturb your day. I am Fischl von Luftschloss Narfidort, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, sovereign of the Immernachtreich. It is I who will be inflicting these dreadful trials upon you. Be honored, as the Prinzessin givest thou the privilege of lamenting upon your fate before me."

As she said that, a lightning raven appeared.

"She means : G-"

"Good morning. I'm fine, how about you?"

'Didn't the books say they hated nobility? How come she can just walk around proclaiming her title? And how should I introduce myself? The smart choice would be to keep hiding my rank, but as a knight, it would be a grave mistake not to answer in kind.'

"The treads of fate are in my favor, as a mere mortal walking among these accursed lands mayhaps become this one's honorable knight."

"I see, so you're doing good? Then let's go, I'll introduce myself along the way. Also, I can't be your knight, as I already pledged my loyalty to someone."

'It's the perfect plan, that way there will be no witnesses, and even if she says anything, I'll just deny it.'

As Mordred and Fischl left, they didn't notice the surrounding people looking baffled at Mordred for understanding Fischl's unique speech pattern on their first meeting.

After walking some time and checking the surroundings, Mordred summons her greatsword, pointing it downwards, embedding the tip on the ground, and putting her hands on the hilt of Clarent.

"I am Mordred, the one and true heir of the King of Knights, Arthur Pendragon. I am also a member of the Knights of the Round Table, and as such, I reiterate my unability to swear allegiance to you."

"So thou hast royal blood in your veins? How delightful to meet someone of a similar stature as myself! It would indeed be uncouth of one such as myself to ask of you to serve me. Rejoice, for I present upon you my esteemed apologies."

"Don't mind it. I have a question though, what or who was that bird that was with you?"

"It is my loyal friend and companion, Ozvaldo von Hrafnavins. The penalty for mispronouncing his name is to have one's tongue torn from one's mouth. However, as I am a merciful princess, I will allow thyself to adress thee at him in the words : Oz."

"Greetings, sir Mordred. As mein Fräulein said, I am Oz, faithful servant of mein Fräulein."

"So, Ozvaldo von Hrafnavins, how do you serve her without hands? Do you fight for her? Feed her like a bird mother would do?"

"I mainly fight and translate for mein Fräulein. I do not feed her. I must admit that my claws are indeed unfit for many tasks but that won't stop me from doing anything a humanoid would be able to do."

"Translate? Why would anyone need translation for that much? If you can't even understand this manner of speech, how can you hope to search for clues to find relics, let alone the Holy Grail?"

"It is as you say, the level of education of the people here is unsatisfyingly low. There are few who can understand mein Fräulein without my help."

"How disappointing."

While Oz and Mordred were lamenting the lackings of Mondstadt's education, Fischl wanted to join the discussion but was unceasingly interrupted in her many attempts. After a while, she gave up and started looking around.

The trip continued for around half a day during which they were lucky or unlucky enough not to see even a monster around. In this time, they had the opportunity to discuss a little, this time including Fischl in the discussion, about their strategy and were able to form an amicable relationship.

"So, to go through it one last time, I go in, draw the enemy's attention, and hold it down while you shoot electro-charged arrows from afar and Oz harass it, allowing us to take down mighty foes easily. That is, if the enemy is strong enough to survive against me."

"Indeed, that is the way the threads of fate wove for us to take down the threat that once ended this world, cleansing it of its sins."

"Sir Mordred, I must admit that I am surprised at how used you seem to be to fighting along a powerful archer."

"Didn't I say I was a knight? At the Round Table, there was a strong bowman, annoying as hell, but even I must admit that he was one of the best archers around. However, he died in the end. Sucks to be Tristan, I guess."

As Mordred says that, the three of them stop, seeing the outline of the Thousand Winds Temple in the distance, signifying that their cleanup operation is about to start.

______________________________________________

So here's chapter five, the promised bonus chapter as I now have my driving license. \(^-^)/

Not much action in this chapter but it introduces an important character in the novel. As to why Fischl? First of all, I like her. Also, she fits quite well with Mordred and shares a surprising amount of similarities with Fran (for those who don't know, Frankenstein's monster, probably Mordred's closest friend in F/GO). So because of that, she was the one I chose to be Mordred's close friend. I'm still unsure if I'll add romance, but if I decide to do so it will be in a long time, and Fischl will be the one ending up with Mordred in the case of romance.

See you next time for the normal chapter :D