Chapter 6 — Ashes of Natlan
The morning wind carried the scent of grapes across the fields surrounding Dawn Winery.
Aiden leaned against a wooden fence, lazily spinning his spear while watching workers move between the rows of vines.
The place belonged to Diluc, though most people in Mondstadt only knew him as the quiet owner of Angel's Share.
To Aiden, the winery was just another place he occasionally followed his father to.
Marcus stood several meters away speaking with one of the vineyard workers, discussing shipment crates and wine barrels.
Meanwhile, Aiden had been left to entertain himself.
Which usually meant training.
He planted the spear into the dirt and stretched his shoulders.
The past few weeks had been exhausting.
His mother had taken her promise seriously.
Every morning meant drills.
Footwork.
Balance training.
Reaction speed.
And sparring.
Lots of sparring.
Aiden twirled the spear once before settling into stance.
Thrust.
Step.
Spin.
Strike.
The spear cut through the air smoothly.
His movements were becoming faster each day.
But something still bothered him.
He stopped suddenly.
"Mom."
She sat on a nearby crate, calmly sharpening the blade of her spear.
"Yes?"
Aiden leaned on his weapon.
"You've never told me why you left Natlan."
The scraping sound of the sharpening stone stopped.
For a moment she said nothing.
Then she placed the spear aside.
"You're curious now?"
Aiden shrugged.
"You keep saying my fighting style comes from there."
"And?"
"I want to know where it came from."
She studied him carefully.
The wind rustled through the vineyard rows.
Finally she spoke.
"Natlan is not like Mondstadt."
Aiden expected that.
Mondstadt was peaceful.
Free.
Easygoing.
But Natlan had a very different reputation.
"A warrior nation."
His mother nodded.
"Yes."
She leaned back slightly on the crate.
"In Natlan, strength decides everything."
"Children train before they can properly walk."
"Battles happen often."
She looked toward the distant mountains.
"Some people love that life."
Aiden tilted his head.
"You didn't?"
"I did."
Her answer was immediate.
"I fought constantly."
She lifted her spear slightly.
"The spear is the most common weapon there."
"It's fast."
"Deadly."
"And perfect for fighting multiple enemies."
That explained a lot about her combat style.
Aiden leaned forward slightly.
"So why leave?"
She smiled faintly.
"Because war gets boring."
Aiden blinked.
"…That's not the answer I expected."
She laughed quietly.
"I'm serious."
Her expression softened.
"I came to Mondstadt chasing monsters at first."
"Hilichurls."
"Ruin machines."
"Anything that paid."
"But then…"
She looked toward the winery buildings.
"…I met your father."
Aiden glanced over at Marcus, who was still arguing about wine barrels.
"…That explains it."
She nodded.
"He convinced me to stay."
Aiden smirked.
"I never imagined Dad convincing a Natlan warrior of anything."
"You'd be surprised."
For a moment they both watched Marcus in silence.
Then Aiden spoke again.
"So you never went back?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"Not once."
"Natlan belongs to my past."
Aiden thought about that for a moment.
Then he picked up his spear again.
"Guess that means I'll have to see it someday."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You plan to travel?"
Aiden didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
"Across all of Teyvat."
Liyue.
Inazuma.
Sumeru.
Fontaine.
Natlan.
And even Snezhnaya someday.
He didn't mention those names aloud, but the plan already existed in his mind.
His mother watched him quietly.
"…You sound serious."
"I am."
She smiled slightly.
"Good."
Then she stood up and grabbed her spear.
"Because you'll need to be strong."
Before Aiden could react—
She attacked.
The spear shot toward him like lightning.
Aiden barely blocked in time.
Clack!
Wood slammed against wood.
"Again!"
She struck again immediately.
Aiden jumped backward.
"Hey—!"
"Focus!"
She pressed forward relentlessly.
Strike.
Block.
Strike.
Block.
Aiden struggled to keep up.
Then suddenly—
A deep mechanical rumble echoed across the field.
Both of them froze.
The sound came from the forest near the edge of the winery.
Aiden's expression darkened slightly.
"That's not a hilichurl."
His mother nodded slowly.
"…Ruin Guard."
The massive machine stepped out of the trees.
Its glowing eye locked onto them instantly.
Aiden tightened his grip on the spear.
"…That's new."
Normally these ancient machines stayed deeper in the ruins scattered across Mondstadt.
Seeing one this close to the winery was unusual.
His mother stepped forward slightly.
Then stopped.
She looked at him.
"Your turn."
Aiden blinked.
"…You're joking."
"You want to travel the world, don't you?"
She pointed at the approaching machine.
"Start here."
Aiden sighed.
"Great."
The Ruin Guard raised its massive arm.
Aiden moved.
Fast.
He sprinted forward instead of backing away.
The machine swung its arm downward.
Aiden rolled under the attack and thrust the spear toward its leg joint.
Clang!
The wooden spear bounced off the metal armor.
"…Right."
Wood versus ancient war machine.
Not ideal.
The Ruin Guard turned toward him.
Its eye glowed brighter.
Aiden jumped backward just as a missile barrage fired from its shoulders.
Explosions tore across the grass.
His mother watched calmly from the side.
No help.
Aiden grinned slightly.
"…Alright then."
He tightened his grip on the spear.
If he wanted to leave Mondstadt someday—
If he wanted to face the world beyond these plains—
Then this was just the beginning.
The Ruin Guard roared as it charged forward again.
And Aiden stepped forward to meet it.