____________________
The remaining walk towards the City of Mondstadt was different this time.
Gone were the urgent steps that had once accompanied the now newly christened mother/goddess.
Instead, the journey was now slower, more careful and more deliberate.
Holding both her daughters securely in her arms, Artoria approached the city with a calm and steady gait.
She took in the sights that laid before her not as a player in a game, but as a new resident of this world.
The windmills from a far were turning majestically against the sunset…
The sweet scent of dandelions and cider on the breeze…
The distant sounds of a city settling into the evening….
This was her world now. Their world.
As they approached the stone great bridge leading into the city, she felt a familiar pang of anxiety crept into her heart.
Members of the Knights of Favonius would be on patrol and their presence might cause some unwanted suspicions.
Artoria then pulled her hood over her head, casting a shadow over her immaculate face.
It was a simple disguise, but combined with the dwindling light, she hope that it would suffice.
"Keep close to me my love." she murmured to Jean, who tightened her grip on her hand.
They crossed the bridge filled with a flock of pigeons, passing through a pair of two young knights who barely gave a glance to the two children, instead their eyes were drawn more to the imposing figure who carried them.
There was something surreal about that person, they thought as they lazily continued their guard.
Inside the city walls, the atmosphere became more lively.
People were closing up their shops, children were still laughing in the streets as they played their games and the sound of a bards' lute drifted from the distance.
It was the City of Freedom, the one city from the game that she loved the most.
But now, in this reality, it was bigger and more imposing.
For Artoria, it felt like a fortress of responsibility.
As they wandered through the busy streets, Artoria's thoughts drifted upon one crucial objective.
Her first priority, that was finding a home.
She couldn't just raise her two daughters in an inn, what would the other parents say?!
No, they needed permanence, a sanctuary.
A house of their own!
Guided by instinct she didn't know she possessed, the trio of mother and daughters moved away from the bustling main plaza, and began going through the quieter streets and winding alleys leading them deeper into the residential portions of the city.
After minutes of walking, Artoria found a suitable target on a small, unassuming street near the city's western inner wall.
It was a modest two-story house, made of stone and timber, with a small garden in front, currently overgrown with weeds.
Perfect!
"Excuse me Ma'am but I couldn't help but notice that you're eyeing this old house over here. May I be so bold to ask if you're somewhat planning to buy it or at least rent?" An old man wearing a simple dark green shirt and brown pants suddenly appeared from a corner.
Artoria turned and replied.
"Why yes my good sir. I was actually looking for a new house within the city, where I could raise my two daughters in peace." She said happily, smiling while her two little daughters try to shy themselves away by snuggling closer to her.
"Ah, I see a young mother with her two little angels! Oh, where are my manners? My name is Ludwig Goth, I'm the owner of this old house as well as several others here in Mondstadt! Nice to meet you Mrs?"
Artoria offered her right hand and shook the old man's left, as a gesture of respect.
"Artoria Pendragon. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance Sir Goth, though I would prefer you drop the Mrs. part, I…don't exactly have a husband." Artoria said sheepishly
"Oh, apologies my lady! I assumed you have one given these two adorable angels with you. Must be a sensitive topic." Goth nervously chuckled.
"Well, moving on, this two storey house over hear haven't been occupied for almost 5 years now. Though I assure you, the interior and its structure had been carefully well maintained." the old business proudly informed.
"Oh, may I ask why no one has ever bought it yet it?" Artoria curiously asked.
"Well, to be honest with you my Lady it mostly boils down to the economy."
Artoria gave Goth a questioning look which prompted the old man to further explain the details.
"Sigh…I assume you're not from Mondstadt Lady Artoria given how you asked a question that can easily be answered by almost everyone living within this city."
"You see, things haven't been great for the past 5 to 6 years or so. Businesses had been closing up, trade with the other nations had been poor, heck even the occasional petty crimes such theft had been increasing!"
"Oh? And may I ask Mr. Goth why all of those things you mentioned are happening?" Artoria asked, now intrigued by the nature of the situation.
This…was not the Mondstadt she remembered from the game!
Sure, it's not as prosperous as Liyue or Snezhnaya but the game atleast portrayed the entire nation as stable.
'Though, I have to admit. The knights guarding the city gates seemed….lazy? Unmotivated? Not to mention the gate itself and the walls seemed to be a little bit…. dilapidated…' Artoria thought to herself as she began to piece some clues together.
Goth then looked around as if trying to see if there were some people listening.
He then urged Artoria to lean forward as if he was about to whisper something confidential that shouldn't be said out loud in public.
"Miss, if I'm to be frank, it's probably due to the country's poor management. More specifically from the so called 'pageantry' of our current Grand Master, Randolf Gunnhildr!"
'Gunnhildr?!'
Artoria was surprised at the mention of the name as her secured grip around her daughters tightened a bit.
"Is…is this Randolf Gunnhildr a brother or a close relative to Frederica Gunnhildr?" Artoria carefully asked.
She needed to know if the person mentioned was a 'potential threat' towards her planned happy life with her two adorable daughters.
"Oh, you know Lady Frederica Miss? I'm surprised, she usually keeps to herself and is strick. Though, I'm curious, are you also a Gunnhildr? I mean no offense, I can see that you have a beautiful blonde hair underneath that hood of yours and the members of the Gunnhildr clan are notorious for their blonde colored hairs!"
Goth suddenly stopped his ramblings after her noticed that he was getting off the topic.
"Once again, I apologize Miss, it was impolite of me to ask you about personal matters. But anyways, Grand Master Randolf is indeed a member of the noble Gunnhildr clan, but he's a distant…very distant relative! Almost at the bottom root of the clan's familial hierarchy!"
"He is also….as many do believe, including myself, the main cause as to why Mondstadt had been spiraling downward for the past few years." He whispered with a bit of annoyance laced in his voice.
"Ever since her took over, after the 'Old Wolf'Grand Master Jericho passed away due to old age, every went wrong!"
"Taxes were being raised at an steady pace almost every 8 months or so with no apparent signs of benefit to the common folk!"
"Buildings and roads fell into disrepair…"
"Corruption is blatantly rampant! You can easily bribe a guard with just a few thousand mora!"
"Hell, the roads are no longer safe because of increasing attacks from bandits and Treasure Hoarders!"
"And where's the Grand Master you may ask? What's happening to the Knights of Favonius? The same Order of Knights that was supposed to protect us?"
Goth paused, now visibly seething.
"That Blonde fool used the funds…our hard earned Mora…to REDECORATE THE INTERIOR OF HIS GAUDY OFFICE! HE EVEN BROUGHT HIMSELF A FANCY GEM-ENCRUSTED SUIT OF ARMOR AND CLAYMORE!"
"MOST OF THE KNIGHTS WERE NOW NOTHING MORE THAN HIS GLORIFIED BODY GUARDS! HE'LL SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN LOOK THAT THEY COULD SWING A GODDAMN SWORD!"
The old man took a deep breath in order to calm himself.
"Forgive me, Miss, for it was too improper for me to had blown out some steam in front of you. But as you can tell, life hasn't been fairly well here in the City." Goth apologized to Artoria for his sudden outburst.
The heavy burden laid upon the people for the past 6 years had taken an immense toll to the once burgeoning real estate businessman.
"I've been loosing profit because of the unfortunate things that had been happening. I have to increase rent in several of my apartments just to get by and maintain my business.
Goth then gestured towards the two storey house in front of them.
"This house over here, no one bought it for years because of the price. It now currently seats at 25 million Mora…..a ridiculous price I know, but with this economy, even businessmen such as I have to make difficult choices….even if it goes against our principles…."
Artoria was silent for the moment.
She could feel the genuine sadness coming from the man in front of her.
To think that something awful was happening to her most favorite nation out of the seven.
This truly deviates from her initial expectations…from the lore that was laid out in the game!
She was about to ask more, when she heard the rustle of armor behind her.
"Halt!"
She turned around, and she saw two members of the Knights of Favonius standing in attention.
She sensed no hostility from them, only curiosity especially towards her two precious cargos.
"Good afternoon ma'am, please don't be alarmed but we were hoping to ask why the children of Lady Frederica Gunnhildr are with you?"
These knights knew of Lady Frederica Gunnhildr for she was their strict disciplinary combat instructor.
Artoria's grip around the girls tightened. Even Goth was visibly surprised by the Knights sudden arrival and the subsequent information they mentioned.
'There's no way out without causing a commotion.' Artoria thought.
She resigned to her impending fate and decided to play nice with these knights.
She would tell them the truth of what happened. However she's also going to twist some of it if it means safeguarding her future with her daughters.
She took a deep breath, lowered her hood, and as she did, both knights and Goth froze.
Their eyes widened, their jaws slack for before them stood a woman of impossible beauty!
Her emerald colored eyes seemed to hold an ancient yet regal authority that sort of command the very air around them!
Her golden hair, tied in an intricate bun, seemed to catch the last rays of the sun and gleamed with an inner light.
They had seen many beautiful women in Mondstadt, from the songstress of the Angel's Share to a few deaconesses of the church, but the woman before them was on an entirely DIFFERENT LEVEL!
Her beauty alone belongs to those of myths, and legends!
Her presence too, now laid before them, was subtle yet overwhelming!
A silent declaration of power and nobility that made their standard-issue armor feel like tin foil!
'That hair…that face….that…NOBILITY….could she really be from the Gunnhildr lineage?!' Ludwig Goth exclaimed in his thoughts, his mind still rilling from the sheer presence of the unfathomable beauty before him.
The knight who had spoken, awkwardly cleared his throat, suddenly feeling very small and out of place.
"I...I….I mean…we... ahem. We were told to be on the lookout for….La…Lady Gunnhildr and her daughters. Their….arrival from their return trip from Springvale wa….was reported…..to..to…be…overdue." He struggled, voice trembling as he tried to keep his eyes on her face, a task that felt both imperative and disrespectful.
Artoria met his gaze, her expression a mask of controlled sorrow.
"Then I am afraid I bear grim news." she said, her voice a low, melodic thrum that vibrated in their chests.
"Earlier this afternoon, I came upon their overturned caravan along one of the roads within the Windwail Highlands." Artoria paused for a moment, thinking about the poor souls who had perished.
"They were set upon by Bandits, Treasure Hoarders probably."
The words landed like lead weights. The knights' professional curiosity vanished, replaced by grim reality.
"Bandits my Lady? What about Lady... Lady Frederica?" the second knight asked in urgency.
"I'm so sorry, butFrederica had fallen in battle."
Her words delivered a crushing blow to the morale of the knights present, the finality in her tone leaving no room for doubt.
"It was….too late when I arrived. I couldn't save her, but not her daughters."
Jean, hearing the words, buried her face in Artoria's side, her small body trembling.
The gesture spoke volumes, a silent testament to the bond between them as mother and daughter.
The knights saw it, and their expressions softened from professional concern to heartfelt sympathy.
"Seven hells," the first knight muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"She was a Captain, a tough one at that. One of our best instructors. To be taken down by common bandits..."
"What about the bandits and the other people with her? What happened to them my Lady?" the second knight asked.
"Unfortunately, by the time I arrived, it was already too late. There were no survivors. All 15 in that caravan including Frederica were killed."
A wave of horror dawned upon her audience, the knights and Goth.
True, roadside robberies were on the rise for the past few years, but they usually ended up with the victims being alive.
Murder cases were few and far in between, but never have they've heard an ENTIRE CARAVAN SLAUGHTERED IN COLD BLOOD! HERE WITHIN THE NATION OF MONDSTADT!
"As for the bandits…..those despicable worthless wretches.." Venom poured out from every word that Artoria spoke.
"You don't have to worry about any of them…."
"FOR I ALREADY SENT THEM BACK TO THEIR MAKER."
As if knowing that an entire caravan was massacred was not enough, now this beautiful and downright gorgeous lady before them, just told them outright that she had single-handedly taken out an entire group of murders all by herself?!
The same group who took out one of their Captains, Frederica Gunnhildr?!
That's unthinkable! Purely unthinkable!
"But..but…you couldn't possibly ha…."
"ARE YOU CALLING ME A LIAR SIR? ARE YOU QUESTIONING MY INTEGRITY AND HONOR?"
Suddenly, the entire area around them went cold as ice!
Gone was the vibrant, regal and majestic aura that emanated from the goddess-like woman before them, instead it was replaced but an intense foreboding sensation that sent shivers to their spines.
Instead of a goddess, they were now looking at a battle-hardened warrior who now appeared like she could easily SNAP their necks without much of a second thought!
'HOLY POLE DANCING BARBATOS, SHE MUST BE TELLING THE TRUTH!' the knights fearfully excalimed in their minds as they now tried to placate the irrated woman before them!
"Forr…forgive us my Lady, we didn't mean to insult you. It.. it's just hard to believe, especially….for us…knights to…" he suddenly stopped talking when Artoria raised her hand.
"I can understand where your going at Sir, really I do. But please do refrain from questioning my honor, after all I too am a knight, and I pride myself in upholding the values in which my title represents!"
'She's a knight as well?!'
There was a momentary silence after Artoria announced her identity as a knight.
The way she passionately mentioned her identity and title, and even how she tried to defend her honor, left a lasting impression to the two young knights.
In the few years since they had joined the Order, never once had they saw such act of chivalry!
They were then brought back to reality by Artoria who then proceeded to inform them about the whereabouts of the victims remains.
"Though I was too late to save them, I made sure to honor the victims of that unfortunate tragedy. I carefully laid each of them on the roadside among a bed of flowers. Placing white shrouds over each of them."
"I even took the liberty of atleast cleaning their bodies from the blood and gore, as a final act of respect."
The knights were once again stunned by acts made by Artoria!
To honor the recently deceased even going as far as to make them presentable was truly admiring.
An action worthy of a knight!
The two knights immediately set their sights on the work that was ahead of them.
"We need to dispatch a squad or two to recover the bodies and secure the site. And these... these children need to be brought to the Knights' Headquarters. The Grand Master should be informed, he's a Gunnhildr, even though he is but a distant relative. The Gunnhildr clan…"
"NO OTHER MEMBER FROM THE GUNNHILDR CLAN WILL RAISE THEM." Artoria's voice cut through his, not loud, but imbued with a force that made him stop mid-sentence.
Her emerald eyes hardened.
"Their mother died protecting them, and they themselves knew nothing of the world outside their home. They will not be handed over to a clan of strangers as a symbol of sorrow. THEY WILL STAY WITH ME!"
The knights were taken aback by the sheer, unassailable conviction in her statement.
It wasn't a request; it was a decree!
The first knight, trying to regain some semblance of authority, said.
"Ma'am, with all due respect, we can't just... release the daughters of a noble house to a... a stranger. No matter how….well-intentioned you may be."
But Artoria remained firm to her decision.
She had squandered her role as a mother once and she will not do so again!
"My decision stands firm sir and I will stand by it." Artoria's voice left no room for argument as she tightened her hold around her new daughters.
The knights, seeing no other way around this beautiful yet stone willed woman proposed a compromise.
"Ma'am, the laws of Mondstadt must be followed but seeing that you were the one to save the two heiresses of one of the four great Noble clans of Mondstadt, we would like to invite you to at least talk this out in the Knights of Favonius headquarters. At least to diffuse any problematic situations."
The death of Frederica Gunnhildr was a matter of national importance.
Not only was she a senior member of the Knights but she's also the Matriarch of the Gunnhildr clan, whose members had dwindled thin for the last centuries.
Lady Gunnhildr and her two daughters were the only remaining members of the Main Family branch. The rest of those who bore the surname Gunnhildr were all but distant relations with no way of inheriting the fortunes of the main house.
Artoria looked from one determined face to the other.
She could feel their anxiety, the weight of duty pressing down on them. They were good men, trying to do their job in a situation that was far beyond their training.
A direct confrontationwould be simple. She could knock them unconscious in less than a second, be gone before they hit the ground.
.....
But that would make her a fugitive, an enemy of the very nation she had chosen as her sanctuary.
It would put a target on their backs, on the backs of her daughters!
No, she will not flee.
That was the path of the old Artoria, the isolated king, would take.
This new path required diplomacy, even if it was backed by the implicit threat of overwhelming power!
She gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"Very well," she conceded, her voice softening just enough to signal cooperation.
"I will accompany you. But the children stays with me. They will not be separated from me. Is that understood?"
The knights exchanged a look of relief. It was a compromise, but one they could work with.
"Understood. "Please, follow us my Lady." the first knight said firmly.
Before they left, Artoria turned to Ludwig Goth, the businessman who was caught in the middle of the drama.
"I apologize for cutting our talk short, Mr. Goth. Maybe next time, we could discuss about business in a more…. appropriate setting. Until then, I bid you a good day."
Artoria then finally went with her escorts, leaving a still stunned Goth.
____________________
The walk to the headquarters was a surreal procession.
Artoria, a goddess in makeshift disguise, flanked by two nervous knights, carrying the orphaned heiresses of a great noble house.
Whispers followed them wherever they go, like ripples in a pond.
A city that thrived on gossip was suddenly presented with a mystery of the highest order!
Who was this woman?
She had the bearing of a noble queen from fairytales of yore, the beauty of a spirit, and the protective ferocity of a lioness over her cubs.
The rumors, already simmering from her brief appearance at the city gate, now began to boil.
Among them, shared by many including the two knights who escorted her, was an idea that floated based on her appearance and regal bearing alone, as well as her apparent closeness with the two Gunnhildr girls.
A Gunnhildr? Is she a Gunnhildr?
But not just any Gunnhildr, no, her appearance far surpassed those from the several branches of the clan.
No, they began to whisper of a lost scion from the Main Line.
A possible long lost half sister of Lady Frederica!
Yet, the woman in question just ignored the burgeoning rumors and gossips, for her attention was focused on her two adorable daughters and the imposing stone citadel that was just a few yards ahead of her.
The Headquarters of the Knights of Favonius was a building of grand, solid architecture, a testament to Mondstadt's commitment to its guardians.
Inside, the air was cool and still, smelling of old stone, polished wood, and the faint metallic tang of armor.
As they entered the main hall, Artoria's subtle yet overwhelming presence caught the attention of all the knights who were either stationed or loitering about, causing them to stopped in whatever they were doing at the time.
The very appearance alone of the majestic woman who entered their historic halls was enough to captivate all those who were present.
But it was her regal and noble aura that caught their utmost attention.
This strange unknown woman carried herself like a noble, a ruler, yet their was something about her that sings to their heart.
Something that sings to the true spirit of the knighthood hidden within their armor and facade.
Little did they knew, the chivalric spirit hidden within them recognized the presence of the one who bears the title 'KING OF KNIGHTS'!
Even in a different world, that title means something and right now, it was subtly being manifested among the assembly of the Order by the very person who held that title!
As the entourage came closer to the very heart of the hall, a man was seen waiting at the top of the grand staircase.
He then turned to face those below him.
He was tall man, with a neatly trimmed blonde beard and piercing blue eyes that held an ounce of calculating shrewdness.
He wore the regalia of the Grand Master, a fine white uniform adorned with the insignia of his office, but it sat on him like a costume, unable to fully conceal the ambitious air that clung to him.
That person was Randolf Gunnhildr, reigning Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, and Frederica's distant relative.
His eyes flicked from his knights to the two small children, and a glint of something sinister flashed in his eyes.
Triumph? Relief? before being masked by a facade of solemn concern.
But when his gaze settled upon Artoria, the mask slipped for a fraction of a second.
His eyes widened, and a spark of raw, undisguised jealousy ignited within them.
For in the concealed deity before him, Randolf saw the things he had tried to covet the most.
He saw beauty, nobility, regality and he saw the bearings of TRUE POWER!
Immediately, a visceral hostility towards the unknown woman before him bloomed in his chest!
"What is the meaning of this?" he boomed, his voice carrying the weight of authority, though it lacked true resonance.
He descended down the stairs, his gaze fixed upon Artoria.
"Report."
"Grand Master," the first knight said, snapping to attention.
"We found the daughters of Lady Frederica Gunnhildr in the company of this Lady. She... reported that Lady Frederica has fallen in battle to a gang of bandits in the Windwail Highlands!"
There was a temporary silence….a calculated silence, that followed right after the knight reported the death of one of the Order's most disciplined captains and instructors.
A perfect, rehearsed look of shock and grief appeared on Randolf's face, as if he was waiting for this exact moment.
"Frederica?! Oh No! It couldn't be her! Tell me it isn't so!"
"This is... a tragedy for the entire city! For our Order!" He placed a hand over his heart, a gesture that felt as hollow as his words.
His eyes, however, remained locked on Artoria, assessing and dissecting.
"And you are?" he demanded, his tone sharp.
"Who are you to be found with the last of the Gunnhildr line?"
From the moment Artoria laid her eyes upon Randolf, she immediately decided that she did not like him A LOT!
Something's wrong with this man.
The air around him screams of pride and ambition with a hint of hostility masked underneath a fake regal bearing.
'Is...is this the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius before the game started?! Is he like the predecessor of Varka or something?!' Artoria surprisingly thought to herself.
'He doesn't look like the embodiment of someone who cares for the people much less the city! His entire appearance screams subterfuge and manipulation!'
She felt a primal, protective instinct flare.
This man was a threat.
Not in the way the Bandits were a threat, but something more insidious. He looked at her precious daughters not as traumatized children, but as valuable assets!
The motherly goddess was already trying to hold herself back from breaking every single bone of the pathetic weasel who dared try to look at her daughters with those greasy eyes!
Artoria met his probing gaze without flinching, her emerald eyes were as cool and deep as a forest pool.
"My name is Artoria Pendragon," she stated, her voice clear and unwavering.
"I was traveling when I came upon the attack. I was too late to save their mother, but I swore on my life that I would protect her daughters."
"Pendragon?" Randolf repeated the name, rolling it on his tongue as if tasting it for poison.
"I have not heard that name, nor do I know of any association it holds with any of the noble houses of Mondstadt. You are a foreigner, then."
"My origins are of no consequence," Artoria countered smoothly.
"What matters are the children. They have been through a terrible ordeal. They need rest and safety, not to be paraded before the court like trophies, which I assumed you have by the dozen inside your office."
Her words were but a subtle jab, but they landed true!
A muscle in Randolf's jaw twitched.
"Lady Gunnhildr and her daughters are of the main branch of the Gunnhildr clan," he said, his voice now dangerously low.
"By law, they fall under the purview of the Knights of Favonius, and by extension, the clan, until such a time as the heiress comes of age."
"As Grand Master, it is my duty to assume that responsibility. They will be placed under my care!"
"OVER MY DEAD BODY."
The words were not shouted.
They were spoken with a quiet, chilling finality that made the very air in the grand hall grow cold.
The two knights who had escorted her took an involuntary step back.
The sheer force of will radiating from the immaculate blonde woman in front of them was palpable, a pressure that made their armor feel tight!
It's like an invisible sword just descended upon the entire hall, waiting to be swung down upon any of them!
Jean, sensing the tension, whimpered and buried her face deeper into her Mama's side. Barbara, in her arms, began to fuss, letting out a soft, distressed cry.
Artoria's gaze didn't waver from Randolf's, but her entire demeanor softened.
Without breaking eye contact with the Grand Master, she began to gently rock Barbara, while her free hand stroking her little Jean's hair in a slow, calming rhythm.
It was a display of profound motherly instinct, not even Frederica was capable of doing!
The act was a stark contrast to the undeniable threat the woman had just issued.
The message was clear: she's the guardian over the Gunnhildr heiresses, and her protection was absolute!
The several Knights who were present at the time inside the Headquarters witnessed the standoff and couldn't help but feel further at awe towards this mysterious woman!
An unspoken understanding began to circulate among the watching knights.
They had served under Randolf for the last six years.
They saw the slow and steady decline of their chivalric Order under his leadership.
They had seen his ambitions, his preference for pomp and ceremony over rigorous training, his dismissal of true knightly virtue for political maneuvering.
They saw him now, a man eyeing two orphaned girls as keys to a vast fortune, as stepping stones to absolute power within the city!
And then they looked at her, at the one they call Artoria Pendragon.
This stranger who suddenly appeared out of nowhere with the face of a goddess and the bearing of a saint and monarch combined.
They saw how the traumatized heiresses clung to her, how the infant Gunnhildr settled comfortably in her arms.
They saw the unvarnished, righteous maternal fury in her eyes when she spoke of protecting them.
They saw a knight. Not the tarnished version they had become under Randolf, but the ideal they had all once sworn to be. The chivalry their ancestors had preached.
The living embodiment of those virtues now stood before them in the flesh!
One of the older knights, a man with a grizzled beard and a scar across his brow, took a hesitant step forward.
"Grand Master," he began, his voice raspy but firm.
"The lady has a point. The children... they have just lost their mother. To separate them from the only person they seem to trust the most now... it may not be for the best. Perhaps we could...grant her temporary guardianship? For their sake atleast."
A murmur of agreement rippled throughout the assembled knights within the hall. It was quiet, but in the stillness, it was as loud as a war cry.
Randolf's face turned a deep shade of crimson!
He was beingchallenged! Undermined! In front of everyone! By this... this phantom woman, and now by his own men too!
The audacity of it was staggering!
He felt his control, so carefully cultivated over the years, beginning to slip.
"Temporary guardianship?" he scoffed, trying to regain his authoritative tone.
"We know nothing of this woman! She could be anyone! An opportunist! She bears the children of our most esteemed house and you speak of granting her custody based on a... a feeling?"
He pointed a gloved finger at Artoria, his voice rising.
"Her very features are suspicious! That hair! Those eyes! She bears the mark of the Gunnhildr main line! I have not seen her before, yet she looks as if she could be Frederica's own sister! This smells of deception! A ploy to insert herself into the clan and usurp the inheritance!"
The accusation was both clumsy and brilliant. It turned her greatest physical asset, her resemblance to the clan into a weapon against her.
He was painting her as a con artist, a fraud preying on tragedy!
Artoria listened to his tirade, her expression unchanging.
When he finished, she took a slow, deliberate breath.
The air in the hall was thick with tension, every eye fixed on her.
"You speak of inheritance and clans, Grand Master?" she said, her voice cutting through his hysteria with scalpel-like precision.
"I speak of two children who just watched their mother die!"
Her gaze swept across the room, briefly meeting the eyes of every knight present. Her own emerald eyes holding a profound, unassailable sorrow.
"You look at them and see an estate! I look at them and see their mother's last, desperate act of love!"
She gently shifted Barbara in her arms and looked down at Jean, who was peering up at her with absolute faith. Then she looked back at Randolf, and her expression hardened into something that was not merely anger, but disappointment.
The disappointment of a king towards a failed vassal.
"You claim to be their kin? You claim to wish to protect them as the one with the highest authority over their clan?"
Artoria continued, her voice dropping to a low, intense register that held everyone captive.
"THEN PROVE IT!"
"Swear it to me! Right here, right now!"
"Swear upon your honor as a knight, and as a Gunnhildr, that you will raise these girls not as heirs to a fortune, but as your own flesh and blood!"
"Swear that you will love them, comfort them, and place their well-being above all else!"
"Swear it upon the entirety of Mondstadt in which its freedom and stability you as the Grand Master of this order had sworn to protect!"
"SWEAR IT UPON THE NAME OF THE ANEMO ARCHON BARBATOS WHO BLESSED THIS LAND WITH FREEDOM UNRIVALED!
...…..
"Swear it and I will walk out of this city and never return."
The challenge hung in the air like a gauntlet thrown at his feet.
It was a masterstroke.
She had turned his political game into a spiritual test.
For him to lie would be to pervert the most sacred oath a knight of Mondstadt could make!
For him to tell the truth that he saw the children as nothing more than assets would be to condemn himself in front of his entire order!
Randolf Gunnhildr froze.
Sweat beaded on his brow beneath his neatly trimmed hair.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
He wanted to roar, to deny, to have her thrown into the dungeons, but her words had trapped him!
The assembly of knights were watching him, their expressions no longer just curious, but expectant.
Judgmental.
They were waiting for their Grand Master to prove he was worthy of the title.
He looked at Jean, the most likely successor to the position of head of the clan.
She was staring at him with wide, fearful eyes, and then at Barbara, who was now babbling softly, oblivious to her desires.
Truthfully, he saw no daughters. He saw only keys.
He couldn't say the words.
The lie was too big, too heretical to the ideals he was supposed to embody!
The silence stretched, growing heavier with each passing second, a testament to his moral bankruptcy.
Artoria did not press him.
There is no need for her to even consider the reply of a scurrying rat in front of her!
Her attention was shifted to the two precious bundles of joys she now holds dear in her arms.
Her little Jean let out a tired yawn which also somewhat caused Barbara to yawn as well.
She graced them with a smile only a mother could project.
Her little babies were tired and they need to rest!
There was no time to dwell on the ramblings of a desperate leech!
With the grace and authority worthy of that of a Queen, Artoria turned away from the still stunned Randolf and looked at the assembly of knights surrounding her
Shock, awe and a bit of reverence? etched in each of their faces.
"The children are tired and need to rest from all the events that have transpired today. I would appreciate it if any of you would kindly escort me to the nearest inn so that I can safely provide them nourishment and rest."
Artoria's statement came out more as a regal command than a request.
Her sheer charisma, acting like a charm to the knights who were now slowly seeing her as an idol of chivalry!
The Knights were more than willing to follow the command of this mysterious woman rather than their own ambitious Grand Master!
The grizzled veteran knight with the scarred brow stepped forward instantly.
"Of course, my lady," he said, his voice filled with a newfound respect.
He deliberately ignored Randolf for his focus was entirely on Artoria and the children.
"The Goth Grand Hotel is the finest in Mondstadt, but it may be... too public. There is a quieter inn nearby, called The Windswept Pleasance. It is clean, the food is good, and the innkeeper is a woman of discretion. I can arrange everything for you."
"I would be most grateful." Artoria said, inclining her head in a gesture of thanks that was both queenly and sincere.
She turned to leave, her back facing the Grand Master, the conversation, as far as she was concerned had already concluded.
"STOP!"
Randolf's voice was a strangled roar, stripped of its grand authority, now filled with impotent rage and panic!
He had lost control of the room, lost control of the narrative, and was about to lose control of his prize!
He couldn't let her walk out!
The humiliation alone would be unbearable, but the political damage would be catastrophic!
Yet Artoria kept on walking towards the exit escorted by a group of knights as if she's royalty.
"If you want to continue this conversation then it can wait until tomorrow. You haven't even responded to my challenge of which your answer is still lacking."
"If you so care about these two then it wouldn't be much of a stretch to see their need for rest be paramount in this situation?"
"If you have nothing better to speak of, then I bid you a good day."
Artoria just casually dismissed Randolf's ranting without even looking back!
Her casual defiance had unknowingly stirred the hearts of every knights present!
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The walk through Mondstadt's streets was a starkly different experience from her arrival.
The sun had already set, and the city was now illuminated by the warm, welcoming glow of lanterns hanging from the eaves of buildings.
A cool night breeze, carrying the scent of night-blooming flowers and the faint, sweet aroma of cider from the nearby taverns, rustled through the streets.
The group of knights, now her unofficial escort, moved with a sense of purpose, clearing a path through the few evening strollers.
They walked not as subordinates, but as an honor guard!
The veteran knight, who had introduced himself as Sir Hemlock, walked beside her, his voice low and respectful.
"My Lady. The innkeeper is a young widow named Elspeth. She is a good woman. She will ensure you and the children are not disturbed."
"You have my thanks, Sir Hemlock," Artoria replied, her attention divided between him and the two sleeping angels in her arms.
Her little Jean was now fast asleep, her head resting comfortably on her shoulder, her daughter's breathing deep and even.
Barbara had also succumbed to sleep, her tiny body warm and limp, snuggled cutely against her chest.
This was one of the exclusive benefits of motherhood she had sorely missed! And she's gonna enjoy every moment of it!
The Windswept Pleasance was a charming, two-story timber-framed building with a small, well-tended garden out front.
A painted sign depicting a dandelion seed drifting on the wind creaked gently above the door.
Hemlock pushed the door open, holding it for her.
Inside, the atmosphere was cozy and warm.
A fire crackled merrily in a large stone hearth, and the air smelled of baking bread and spices.
A woman with kind eyes and short dull blonde hair was wiping down a long wooden counter.
She looked up as they entered, her expression shifting from professional curiosity to that of surprise at the sight of the armored knights and their revered charges.
Hemlock stepped forward, his voice gentle but authoritative.
"Good evening Elspeth. These are important guests of the Knights of Favonius. They require the best rooms you have. Food must be sent for them later. Please ensure that they are not disturbed by anyone."
Elspeth's gaze took in Artoria, her immense beauty, the sleeping children, and the formidable escort of knights.
She was a woman who had seen many strange things in Mondstadt, but this was new!
Something about this mysterious lady before her screamed royalty!
She simply nodded, her shrewd eyes understanding this was a situation above her usual pay grade.
"Of course, Sir Hemlock. The rooms are ready. The master suite on the second floor is most fitting to our guest here and her daughters."
Artoria offered the woman a small, grateful smile. "Thank you."
As she turned to follow Elspeth up the stairs, Hemlock, as well as the rest of the knights who escorted her, placed a hand over their chests in a gesture of fealty that was far deeper than their ranks had required.
"My lady," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
"The Knights of Favonius are at your service. Should you require anything, anything at all, you have but to send for any of us!"
"I will remember that," Artoria said, and she meant it.
**********
The master suite was simple but comfortable.
Two beds, one large and one smaller one, were made up with clean, crisp linens.
Artoria gently laid Jean down on the smaller bed, pulling the covers over the small girl.
She lingered for a moment, watching her eldest sleep, the child's face peaceful for the first time since she had found her.
Then she turned to the large bed and carefully placed her little Barbara in the center, building a small fortress of pillows around the infant to ensure she wouldn't roll.
'Fort Babylot!' she giddily proclaimed in her mind
For the first time in hours, she was alone.
The adrenaline of the day, the grief, the righteous fury, and the fierce joy of her new found purpose all drained away, leaving a profound exhaustion.
She stood by the window, looking out over the moonlit rooftops of Mondstadt.
The city looked so peaceful, so free. But she knew better now. She had seen the rot festering at its core in the form of a man named Randolf.
She pulled out the Holy Grail from its hiding place, the golden object glowing faintly in the dim light.
She had abused its power for wealth, a pragmatic choice. But she wondered what other wishes it could grant.
Could she wish for Randolf to be gone?
For a more worthy Grand Master to take his place?
The thought was tempting, a shortcut to the justice she desired. But as she looked at the sleeping faces of her daughters, she dismissed it.
No. True change could not be wished into existence!
It had to be forged, through action, through will, through the hard, thankless work of rebuilding what had been broken!
She had learned that lesson from Camelot. She would not forget it here!
A soft knock at the door broke her reverie as Elspeth entered with a tray.
"Some warm milk and bread, my lady. For the children, when they wake." She set the tray down on a small table.
"Thank you Miss Elspeth."
Elspeth was surprised by the sincere thanks that came from this lady that more or less looked like a queen or a goddess. A wave of shyness took over her.
"It's my duty my lady."
Artoria saw the shyness in her eyes. This woman has not yet overcome the aura that she exudes.
"You can call me Artoria. If you would be so kind."
The mention of Artoria's first name surprised Elspeth.
It was common courtesy in Mondstadt to be addressed by a person's title not their first name unless you're close. She couldn't help but smile a warm and motherly smile.
"Lady Artoria... What a beautiful name."
Artoria gave a warm smile.
Before Elspeth left, she looked at the sleeping children, then back at Artoria with her soft and motherly eyes.
"You're a good mother to them my Lady."
Elspeth said with tears of joy welling from her eyes as she looked at the scene in front of her.
"Those two angels were lucky to have you."
Artoria was caught off guard by the sudden sincere compliment from the innkeeper.
She never thought that she would be called a 'mother' from someone else so sincerely!
The word alone made her feel warm inside.
"Thank you." Artoria whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
When Elspeth left, Artoria went back to the window and stared upon the gentle night that covered the City of Freedom.
She's here, really here in the city she called home when she was still playing Genshin.
A single tear flowed from her eye as she remembered with nostalgia the years she played that game, out of lost for her departed daughter.
The first encounter during launch day, the friends she had met along the way.
The building of her realm inside the sereniteapot and the various scenes from the Archon Quests that captivated her wildest imagination!
Genshin became her go-to happy place when she's feeling down from work or when she's feeling the depression of her daughter's loss.
Genshin became a source of smiles for her.
And now, she's here.
And she will build a new life here.
She didn't know how much of the future timeline had already been affected by her arrival, but the first shot had already been fired!
For better or for worse, she'll face the trials ahead of her with a pride worthy of her station as a goddess and as the King of Knights!
Artoria then looked at her two sleeping daughters now nestled on her bed.
"For them." she gently whispered.
She will live her life and build a world where these two, HERMOST PRECIOUS CHILDREN would grow up without worry and free from any harm!
This was her vow, this was her promise to them.
And....and ifanyone, mortal or divine alike dare try to mess with that promise, then they will be facing the tip of her Divine Spear and will face the wrath of the one who was called the Once and Future King!
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(Back in the Headquarters of the Knights of Favonius, inside the Grand Master's chamber)
"SHIT! DAMNIT, DAMNIT, DAMNIT!"
A roar of curses echoed through the vaunted personal chambers of the Grand Master of the Order.
A roar that carried a seething echo of a planned gone terribly wrong!
"The plan should have gone smoothly and flawlessly. With their deaths, I could have ascended and become the Head of the Clan!"
"But instead…that damned bitch suddenly appeared out of nowhere and DECIDED TO RUIN IT!" Randolf slammed his fist into the hard cyprus-made desk in front of him.
Randolf Gunnhildr, was a man born from an impoverished family, with his father being a very distant relation to one of the four great clans of Mondstadt, the Gunnhildr clan.
At a very young age, he longed for a better life other than being a poor farmer's child.
He longed for riches and power, for the glory of the last name that he carried yet felt so hollow.
Randolf wanted more, and in doing so….he decided to carve a life for himself…
Starting with him killing his father and mother, who he believed were the sources of his misery!
If only his father were a bit more ambitious, he wouldn't have ended his life prematurely!
He framed their deaths as a massacre plotted by thieves and bandits.
This however caught the attention of the investigators from the Knights of Favonius, who by sheer pity, took the young orphaned boy with them thus starting his journey in the Knights of Favonius.
As the years passed by, Randolf became a competent knight, yet his ambitions were never tempered.
He wanted more, and the more he read and learned about the glory of the Gunnhildr name, the more he craved for it!
The clan was already in a decline, and their main branch was failing.
The Heiress was a woman named Frederica who was two years younger than him.
She was cold, strict and cared little for others aside for the prestige of her clan!
Initially, he planned to marry her, yet that bastard adventurer turned priest Seamus got to her first!
So he revised his strategy, using subterfuge and manipulation, he wormed his way into the top echelons of the Order and after the frail old Grand Master Jericho suddenly passed away from 'old age', he secured the position of Grand Master for himself through bribes and threats.
Unfortunately for him though, the act of him taking the mantle of Grand Master led Frederica to despise him, for she was the one initially slated to be the successor after Jericho dies.
He tried to be civil with her, yet the cold bitch refused, her cold attitude worsening a bit further especially after being pregnant with her second child!
Indignated, Randolf tried to get back at her by doing what he does best….killing, particularly murdering her husband Seamus.
He heard that their relationship was already soured to begin with, and the situation just worsened after hearing of Seamus' possible promotion from priest to Cardinal of the Church of Favonius.
This somewhat caused an irreparable rift between him and Frederica which in turn caused them to argue more often!
So, using the connections he has made with a local gang of Treasure Hoarders who are so easily swayed by mora, he plotted to kill Seamus and make it look like an accident!
And kill him they did.
Based on their report, they ambushed Seamus while he was riding inside his carriage, and threw the entire thing off the cliff!
They then threw the horses also, landing on top of the severely injured priest who tried to crawl himself out of the wreckage, crushing his body to death and made the entire situation look like an accident!
Seeing Frederica spiralled further into cold hard depression was a gleeful sight for him!
He got his revenge, now he aimed further…
To claim the seat of patriarch of the Gunnhildr clan!
He couldn't get it six years ago because poor Frederica went up and married that sorry excuse for a priest.
Now, the only thing left to do was to eliminate her and her two spawns….and afterwards, after forcing the remaining clan members into submission using his position as Grand Master, he would take his place as the Head of the Gunnhildr clan, effectively rulling all of Mondstadt!
The trap was set earlier that day, he already gave a generous sum of 40 million Mora to a notorious group of Treasure Hoarders hiding in Dragonspine. A group filled with blood thirsty murderers!
He waited the entire day in anticipation.
He was so damn close….when suddenly this bitch appeared and started ruining everything!
That foreigner, that charlatan dared face off against him?!
Oh, if she thinks this is over, then she's surely mistaken!
He will make sure to ruin her, to make her life miserable, a living hell, for going up against him!
No one messes with Randolf Gunnhildr, Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, and rightful Head of the Gunnhildr Clan!
(End of Chapter)
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(Artoria Pendragon)
- As a full-fledged goddess and as the pinnacle amalgamation of all her various forms, Artoria's power can be described as near immeasurable. Even a casual usage of one of her weapons such as the lance Rhongomyniad can blast a being at a level of high servant (equal to that of a common or low ranking god in Teyvat) into a state of near death.
- Her power and fighting capabilities are stated to equal if not surpass that of a Grand Servant (Beings who have the power to fight the very world itself).
- The reason why she bears the form of her Lancer/Ruler aspects, is all due to maturity of physique.
(Parameters)
- Strength: EX
- Endurance: A++
- Agility: A++
- Mana: EX
- Luck: A++
- NP (Noble Phantasms): EX
(Class Specific Abilities)
Since Artoria possesses all the abilities of her various forms, she can access the said abilities at her leisure.
A). Taken from her Goddess Rhongomyniad aspect/form
- Artoria can summon the Knights of the Round Table. However, they retain their free will, and as such, she has no way to make them follow her commands against their desires. She can further empower them by bestowing Gifts upon them, granting them special abilities.
- Artoria has access to powerful spells that allow her to create Enforcement Knights, beings that give off the magical responses of humans, but who are also close in form to Heroic Spirits. Due to her near limitless power, she can create vast armies of it if she wishes.
- Clairvoyance: allows Artoria to see new level of perspective on par with the most powerful of mages and sorcerers, able to understand both the ideals and purposes of her target.
B).Taken from her Lancer and Mysterious Heroine X aspects/forms
- Riding (EX Rank): She is able to operate all vehicles and beasts freely including Divine Beasts and Dragon Kinds. Artoria can always summon her horse "Dun Stallion".
C). Taken from her Ruler/Summer Bunny aspect/form
- Artoria possesses an extremely high magic resistance, invalidating the effects of most magecraft.
- Royal Card: This is a Skill that represents Artoria's ability to handle cards as a casino dealer, and throw them like daggers at enemies. Also, this skill brings HIGHAMOUNT OF LUCK when Artoria is doing any form of gambling, making her literally unbeatable in any gambling games.
D). Taken from her Artoria Avalon (final ascension form of Caster Artoria) aspect/form
- Artoria Avalon/Caster is the second 'Fairy of Paradise', a being created by Faerie Britain's system akin to the Counter Force that the isle itself uses to fight back when it is in danger. Being born a fairy, this form allows Artoria access to latent skills such as Fairy Eyes.
- Fairy Eyes: a skill that allows her to see the true intentions of people and perceive the lies of the world. It also allows Artoria to see the 'True Names' and desires of people.
Item Construction (B Rank): Able to create tools that harbor Magical Energy.
- Territory Creation (EX Rank):'The one who stands within the white walls of Camelot—stronghold of the Human Order.' She gives form to one of the greatest defensive formations in a confrontation with a "Threat to Humanity".
- Avalon le Fae (A Rank): A power concealed under the name "Protection of the Lake". The power possessed by Artoria to bless life and protect the target from all sorts of corruption.
- Magecraft: Allows Artoria to access all kinds of Spells like Heating, Detection, Healing, Linguistics, Camouflage, Lockpicking, Stealth attacks, Explosives, and Obstacles.
- Marmyadose: A large sword that has the appearance of a staff. It was forged by a God of Fire and granted to great heroes in the past. It is said that this sword exceeds Excalibur in power alone, and sometimes Artoria would use this large sword as a substitute for Excalibur.
E). Taken from Artoria Pendragon (Saber) aspect/form
- Artoria Pendragon is the legendary King of Knights, the one that ruled over the battlefields in the age of legends. In life, she commanded the Knights of the Round Table, the greatest knights to ever live and heroes that would later be sung of in legends. If summoned as a Servant, any of them would boast indisputable fame and strength,however, even among them, Artoria stands at the top.
- Instinct (A Rank): Artoria possesses the ability to always instantly identify "the best personal course of action" during combat. This is strengthened to the degree that it is essentially a sixth sense in the realm of predicting the future. Because this skill allows for the prediction of trajectory, it is possible to avoid attacks from firearms, and along with listening to the sound of cutting air, she can be said to have a protection against all projectile weapons.
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