After traveling for some more time, the trees grew sparser, and they encountered no further signs of dragons. The three finally arrived at the edge of Whispering Woods.
After having traveled for some time, the group had finally arrived at the edge of Whispering Woods, having no encounters or signs of the dragon again.
"Look! Mondstadt is just up ahead!" Paimon floated up high as she pointed excitedly forward.
Lumine's gaze followed suit.
A medieval-style city-state stood proudly in the center of the vast lake.
Inside the towering city walls, there were several huge windmills that turned with the breeze. Not far away a cathedral could faintly be seen.
Compared to the later nations like Liyue and Sumeru. Jibril actually preferred Mondstadt.
The good old blacksmiths, cathedrals and priests, knights, adventurers, and dragons— the feeling of a different world was practically overflowing! Plus, there was also the nostalgia of a starter village.
"I-It's so beautiful." Lumine murmured, slightly lost in thought as she gazed at the sight of Mondstadt's city. She couldn't help but smile.
However, while some admired the scenery, she had already become a scenery in another's eye.
The blonde had stood quietly by the lake, bathed entirely in the golden sunlight. Her amber eyes were shining and her long lashes cast a delicate shadow on her cheeks.
The lake breeze playfully blew past as it lifted her golden blonde hair.
She raised a hand to gently tuck a stray strand behind her ear. With her movement, it had caused the pure white skirt to sway softly, outlining her figure.
At that moment, the blonde seemed to be the epitome of all beauty in the world.
'Maybe this isn't so bad…' The Flügel thought as she chuckled softly at the sight.
[What isn't so bad?]
'Nothing!'
"Let's hurry to the city already! There's a lot of good food waiting for Paimon!" Paimon looked ahead with sparkling eyes as she was unable to wait any longer.
"...Why do I feel like little Paimon is always hungry?"
"Ooh... because there's a lot of delicious food!"
Immediately afterward, a grumbling sound came from the belly of the floating fairy.
Hearing this sound, Jibril immediately burst into laughter, and even Lumine had to turn her head away as she covered her mouth.
"Stop laughing!"
"Paimon, if you eat too much, you won't be able to fly~"
"You!!!" Paimon glanced over at Jibril and muttered quietly, "You aren't... flying either..."
"Of course I can fly anytime and I don't need to eat~"
She had no retort. How could such a person exist in the world!?
To have no interest in delicious food—what was left of her life then!?
Since she really didn't dare to confront Jibril, Paimon pouted and flew to Lumine's side, successfully getting a head pat.
"Alright, alright… I'll treat you." Lumine smiled gently.
"Yay!" Paimon flew up happily, even spinning in the air in a circle.
However, just as the group was about to officially head to the city, a voice suddenly called out from the woods.
"Hey, you! Stop right there!"
They all turned their heads simultaneously and saw a splash of red leaping out of the woods.
It was a young woman dressed in red, holding a bow and arrow. Her legs, encased in white thigh-high boots and red stockings, moved powerfully, bringing her before the group in just a few steps.
Lumine and Paimon stared with wide, shocked eyes, while Jibril remained calm.
Her eyes were fixed intently on the two rabbit-ear-like hair ribbons on the young woman's head.
After the girl in red stabilized herself, she seemed surprised upon seeing Jibril, but immediately performed a simple salute toward the two of them.
"May the Anemo Archon protect you, strangers! I am Amber, Outrider of the Knights of Favonius!"
Amber then lowered her hands as she looked at the group with some suspicions.
Jibril subtly took a step forward as she shielded Lumine and Paimon. Although it was an inconspicuous movement, it had still caused Lumine to momentarily freeze.
Facing Jibril, who was much taller than her and whose appearance was "familiar." Amber had become a bit nervous.
However, she pretended to be calm. "You don't look like citizens of Mondstadt. Explain yourselves!"
Lumine was thinking how to respond when Paimon suddenly waved her hands frantically, perhaps nervous about being mistaken for suspicious people.
"Calm down, we're not looking for trouble!"
"That's what all the troublemakers say. Moreover, there's also..." Amber looked at Jibril who was smiling. "This person looks like…."
Jibril immediately returned the stare.
She wasn't purposely trying to antagonize Amber but she had noticed that Amber's attitude toward her was somewhat strange. She has a guess for the strange behavior.
"Hello, I'm Lumine. We're just Travelers who wanted to take a look around Mondstadt!" Seeing the atmosphere turn tense, Lumine quickly spoke up.
Amber looked at Lumine and the vigilance in her eyes had slightly lessened.
"... Doesn't sound like a local name to me."
"And this.. travel companion of yours? and... uh, mascot too?"
Lumine glanced at Paimon floating in the air. Paimon had put her hands on her hips.
"Hmph! we are very close-"
"Emergency food."
"Hey! That's even worse than being a mascot!" Paimon immediately stomped her foot in protest.
Amber's mouth twitched slightly as she watched the farce unfold before her. After clearing her throat twice, she drew the attention of the two back to her.
"...Alright, then what about this… travel companion of yours..?"
"Her name is Jibril. She's a friend we happened to meet on the road. We've agreed to travel together." Lumine looked at the 'angel's' profile, meeting her gaze as she looked back.
However, this time Amber did not respond immediately but had instead stared intently at Jibril.
Her eyes wandered over the young woman's face for a moment before staring over to her wings. Almost as if searching for something, her expression was indescribably strange.
"..."
"Miss Amber." Jibril took a few steps closer, looking down slightly at the startled Amber.
"You've seemed to take quite an interest in my wings. They're quite soft, would you like to touch them?"
In just a few seconds, Jibril had completely turned the tables.
The Outrider visibly became flustered, quickly retreating out of the shadow casted by the Flügel .
"N-No need... for th-that." Amber was suddenly puzzled.
For some reason, the blonde seemed a little disappointed. But that expression had only seemed to last for an instant.
Lumine: I want to touch them too!
"So… to sum it up, you're all traveling partners right?"
"Well… look, there's been a large dragon sighted around Mondstadt recently. Best you all get inside the city as soon as possible." Amber instructed Lumine.
"Since it's not far from here, let me escort you all there."
"There's no need we have-" Paimon was cut off halfway as Jibril covered her mouth with her wing.
"Oh? You must be out here performing some task, right? Wouldn't this cause a problem?"
"Not yet but there's no need for worry. The mission isn't too difficult." Amber said, proudly rubbing the tip of her nose. "As an excellent Knight, this is simply my duty."
Despite her words, Amber still wanted to continue observing the group, specifically Jibril.
And Jibril was fully aware of this.
But... let her look. Didn't the System make her this beautiful so that people could look?
"Okay." Lumine seemed to have absolutely no suspicion.
"Then stick close to me everyone!"
Amber took the lead while Lumine walked side-by-side with Jibril as they followed behind her.
As the group continued on the city had become increasingly clear.
Although most of the buildings were blocked from sight by the city walls, the sight was still grand and awe-inspiring.
Along the way, Amber suddenly asked Lumine, "By the way, tell me... strange yet respectable Travelers, what brings you to Mondstadt?"
Amber had already begun secretly gathering information, but... weren't her lines a little different?
"Lumine got separated from her brother during a really, really long journey."
"And we are her travel companions who are joining her to help search for her brother."
"Exactly, exactly!" Jibril agreed, giving Paimon a look of high approval.
"Oh... looking for your family… huh."
Amber lowered her head, pondering for a moment, and her rabbit ears drooped slightly.
"Ah... Okay! Let me finish my other stuff first, and then I can help you put posters around the city…"
"Thank you..."
"Haha, there's no need to mention it—Shh!"
Amber suddenly stopped the group with one hand, then placed her index finger on her lips, signaling them to be quiet.
Lumine quickly pulled Jibril down. The Flügel controlled her wings, preventing them from being dragged on the ground while slightly obscuring the halo above her head.
"...It's a Hilichurl!"
Amber gripped her bow tightly and cautiously poked her head out from behind the boulder they were hiding behind.
"These monsters have been getting too close to the city recently."
Taking advantage of the moment when the Hilichurl looked away, the young woman immediately drew her bowstring.
After a brief aim, an arrow burning with pyro shot out with a whoosh, precisely hitting the Hilichurl between the eyebrows and bursting into a cluster of dust.
Watching the monster gradually turn to dust, Amber's expression was not relaxed. "My task this time is to clear out their camp!"
"It must be nearby. Come on, let's finish the mission quickly so we can enter the city sooner."
The three quietly climbed over the slope, and soon enough, they discovered a Hilichurl camp.
There were six Hilichurls in total: two stood on a watchtower holding crossbows, and four stood inside the fence on the ground.
"I'll take care of the two on top." Amber whispered and then skillfully climbed a tree without making a sound.
"Jibril, let's go together..."
The Flügel looked at Lumine, who had already drawn her sword. She smiled and nodded as a black energy began to surge in her palm once more.
What should she make this time? A sword, a spear, a bow, a scythe... Wait, couldn't she create firearms? If she had a gun, wouldn't that just—
[Side Quest Issued: Defeat 100 Hilichurls (0/100). Must use Lösen ]
'...'
The moment Amber drew her bow and fried pyro arrows. Lumine had dashed out along with the arrow.
One Hilichurl on the tower was instantly killed. The others, startled by their comrade's death, quickly grabbed their weapons and charged toward the approaching Lumine.
"Yaya ika!"
Bang—!
When the black sword edge had clashed with a wooden club, Lumine decisively knocked the opponent's weapon away.
The young woman's swordsmanship was actually quite simple, but its strength lies in its swiftness. Allowing for her to easily suppress the clumsy monsters.
"Traveler, behind you!" Amber's voice came with a second pyro arrow. Lumine immediately turned and blocked the sneak attack with the flat of her sword.
Paimon, who was watching the fight from afar, started to silently sweat.
"That was close.. Jibril?... Huh? Where is she??"
The Flügel was nowhere near to be spotted and she couldn't be seen in the camp either.
Of course, Lumine wasn't able notice this as her focus was entirely on the enemies before her.
The blonde had let out a low grunt as she exerted force to kick the Hilichurl several meters away. While simultaneously sidestepping the incoming whistling rock.
She held out her palms in front of her. The formerly dull gem on her chest suddenly shined with a faint blue-green light.
"Wind Blade!"
In an instant, an even more violent torrent of air swept past her both front and back, and simultaneously, the Hilichurls vanished.
After three miserable screams the entire camp had fell silent.
When Lumine slowly sheathed her sword and turned to look, there were only three massive black stakes deeply embedded in the distant.