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Chapter Text

“Ow!” young Diluc whined as he grabbed his foot. Crepus Ragnvindar immediately snapped up to see his son sitting on the ground rocking back an forth. Meanwhile an embarrassed and confused little Gunhildr looked frantically between him and Crepus as the older man approached the two. Before he could even get a word out the little girl blurted “sorry! Sorry! I’m sorry!” Crepus couldn’t help but chuckle as he asked “calm down jean, now what happened?”
Diluc looked up at his father and immediately pointed towards jean. “She stepped on my foot!” poor jean looked horrified as Crepus simply sighed and waved over a maid. The young woman nodded as Crepus asked “Lucille, a cold towel please.” As the woman ran off to the kitchen Crepus could practically see the little Gunhildr girl shaking with fear. “Now Diluc, you’re ten years old. No need to make such a fuss about a little bruise.” Diluc furrowed his eyebrows in frustration as the maid returned with a towel.

“Here Master Crepus” Crepus nodded as he took the towel, slipping Diluc’s shoe and sock off as he placed it over the now swelling bruise. “There now, hold it there for a bit” diluc opened his mouth to say something before being interrupted by the maid.
“Master Crepus, Mister gunhildr is waiting for Miss Jean in the foyer” the older man stood up and thanked the maid before turning back to the children. “Diluc you go sit and wait in the foyer while jean goes to get her shoes.”
“Dad you told me to ice my foot” Crepus responded softly but with a fatherly sternness. “You can ice your foot in the parlor, then you will say goodbye to your friend Jean like a gentleman. Understand Diluc?”

Diluc tossed a glance at Jean before reluctantly nodding and limping off towards the foyer. Jean’s lapis eyes followed the boy as Crepus sighed. “Please forgive him Jean” Crepus took a step towards the nervous girl and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “He’s still adjusting to having a brother in the house, he’s been like this ever since we took Kaeya in.” Jean looked up at Crepus and he shot her a comforting smile back. “I’ll have a talk with him tonight. Now then, you go get your shoes, your father is waiting for you.” Jean nodded and whispered a quick “thank you mister Ragnvindar” before quickly scurrying out of the room.

When Jean reached her walking boots she quickly slipped out of her dancing shoes. Her feet throbbed from the pain of spending the last hour “dancing” with Diluc. She always preferred watching other people dance rather than dancing herself. People like Eula Lawrence, who’s steps had elegance,grace and most importantly passion for the art. A far cry from her and Diluc’s clunky,awkward, and begrudging routine of trying to move in sync while constantly stepping on each other’s toes. Jean dreaded these weekly lessons, however she knew exactly why her and Diluc’s family wanted them to learn how to dance. To put it simply, because they had to be better than the Lawrence clan. They had to be richer,stronger, and more talented than the Lawrence’s to prove their superiority. Whatever the Lawrence clan did, they had to do better.

Jean just wished they didn’t have to involve her in their petty social games.

Jean finally slipped into her walking boots and as she was about to leave she heard a voice behind her. "Oh you're leaving?" Jean immediately knew who it was. She turned to see a boy about her age with dark skin and cobalt blue hair that matched his eyes.

Jean nodded "sorry I couldn't talk much. Diluc's being…" Jean searched her mind for a word thay would be polite. "A bitch?" Kaeya laughed as Jean gasped. "You can't say that word!" Jean whispered, praying no one heard them.

"Yes I can, just not in front of dad. Diluc does it all the time too" Kaeya responded. Jean looked down to her feet. "I think your brother hates me"

To Jean's suprise kaeya three his head back and laughed. "Oh if he hates you, then I must be his mortal enemy haha!"

Jean let out a sigh and shook her head as kaeya's laugh finally died down. "Don't worry about it, whether he likes it or not he's stuck with us. Not like he has any other friends"

Jean was about to protest before realizing that kaeya was right. Poor diluc really had no one else but the people on his estate and her.

Then again, it wasn't like she had any real friends outside of kaeya and Diluc either. The only other girl around her age was eula, who she was pretty sure hated her due to her family.

Of course there was barbara, but even if she was only 2 years younger then her there wasn't much she had in common with her. Afterall Barbara loved to dance, and just the thought of ut made jeans feet hurt again.

Jean shrugged as her mind returned to the conversation, "I guess so…" Kaeya smugly added "and you're gonna be stuck being Mr. Stick up his asses wife-"

Jean immediately snapped "What?!" Jean shoved kaeya as he dissolved into a fit of laughter. "Don't say that! We aren't gonna be married-" kaeya smirked "oh really? You think your parents just happened to set you a diluc up for 'playdates' and 'dance practice' all these years for no reason?"

Jean's heart dropped and kaeya laughed again. "If things go the way they plan, ill be an uncle by the time im 23!" even if kaeya found it funny she was panicking inside. Her mom was definitely involved with the gunhildr clan, but surely she wouldn't do something like that…would she?

"It's not funny kaeya- you're weird" Jean hurriedly grabbed her shoes before looking over her shoulder back at kaeya. Feeling guilty for just a moment she yelled a quick "see you next week! Take care!" Before rushing to the foyer.

Her father stood in the foyer talking to Crepus as diluc sat on the couch nursing his wounded foot. Jean's father looked over to her as she sheepishly entered.
"How was dance class Jean?” Seamus Gunhildr asked as he embraced his daughter. “Good” Jean chirped into his long Church robes. Crepus looked over to Diluc, who grumpily stood up from the couch and walked towards the Gunhildrs. Jean, already knowing what was coming, held out her right hand towards Diluc. The boy robotically placed his lips to her hand before bowing. “Until our next lesson, have a good evening Miss Gunhildr” Jean nodded back and curtseyed “Until next time master Diluc.”

The carriage ride back home was accompanied by a clouded and gray sky hanging over them as the carriage trudged along the road. Jean’s father sat beside her reading through his sermons for the upcoming mass sunday. Jean’s eyes focused on the trees they passed as her mind kept returning to her conversation with Kaeya. “Father?” Seamus looked up from his sermons to his daughter. “Yes Jean?”
Jean hesitated at first, but soon took a deep breath in. “Dad,are you and mom trying to…matchmake Diluc and I?” At first Jean’s father simply stared and blinked at her before putting down his pamphlet and facing his daughter. “Jean…you know your mother only wants what’s best for Mondstat. It just so happens that what’s best for Mondstat is what’s best for the Gunhildr clan, In fact that’s why I took your mother’s last name. That is also why if you and Diluc ever married, our clans would join together and he would become a Diluc Gunhildr.”

Jean was annoyed at how her father dodged the question, though it was in his nature to avoid tough questions. Jean asked directly“So you’re saying mom wants me to marry Diluc?” Her father sighed and shook his head “Jean, me and your mother both have our own preferences for how you and your sister should be raised. Yes, your mother would be very happy if you and Diluc ended up getting along well. Just like how I would love it if Barbara followed in my footsteps and became a sister at the church.” Seamus pushed up his glasses, “We are never going to force you or barbara into something that makes you unhappy, however it doesn’t mean we won’t encourage it.”

Jean wasn’t satisfied with that answer, but she knew that was the clearest answer she was going to get from her father. Defeated, Jean sat back in her seat and watched as the carriage passed over the stone bridge into Mondstat’s capital.

“I love you dad” said Jean as her father picked up his pamphlets once again. “I love you too dear”

Chapter Text

“Be careful Amber!” Barbara waved from the doorstep of the Gunhildr mansion as the little brunette girl ran through the rain holding her backpack over her head. “Bye Bye! Let’s play again tomorrow!” Amber yelled back to her friend as she ran through the rainy streets of mondstat. Determined to keep using her backpack as a makeshift umbrella (despite how it was currently dripping onto her head anyways)

Amber squinted her eyes against the rain as she quickened her pace, hoping to reach her Grandpa’s house before he began worrying. With her eyes less than a centimeter open she sped towards the town square, once she was there it was only a few turns until she came to her grandpa’s house.
At least it would’ve been if she hadn’t smacked right into something firm and heavy. Amber quickly recoiled from the impact and stumbled to the ground. Landing ass first into a puddle, Amber yelped from the pain. Immediately after Amber felt something warm splash onto her and a voice gasp “My Calla lily soup! How dare you ruin my Dunch! Vengeance will be mine!” Amber quickly realized her lap was covered in crab,tomato and soup broth. Frantically amber apologized, wiping the soup off herself as she stood up. “Sorry! Sorry! I’m so sorry for ruining your- what did you say?” Amber finally looked at the person she just crashed into. A young girl with powder blue hair styled into a pixie cut reaching just down to her chin. Currently clutching a satin umbrella in one hand.Wearing a ruffled white blouse under a navy jumper skirt embroidered with gold thread. A Jumper skirt currently dripping with spilled soup, Amber gulped.Thick ivory tights kept the angry girl warm in the cool autumn rain as her mary jane shoes stomped towards amber.

“I said my Dunch! You just ruined my dunch!” Amber scratched her head, asking “whats a dunch? Is that a kind of soup or something?” The blue haired girl narrowed her eyes as her grip tightened on her umbrella. “No! Dunchtime comes after lunch and before dinner. Everyone knows that!” Amber tilted her head "huh, I've never heard if that before…"

The blue haired girl scoffed, mumbling a "commoners these days…" under her breath before holding out a hand to Amber. A little suprised, amber took the girls hand and slowly stood to her feet. The rest of the soup remains slid down her red hoodie and down to the ground.

"Tell me your name,so I may seek vengeance upon you!"

"What?!" exclaimed Amber "y-youre not gonna beat me up are you?!" A suddenly panicked amber shielded herself with her backpack. "Please don't hurt me!"
The blue haired girl rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to beat up a kid, we Lawrence's are are dignified clan"

Amber lowered her backpack as she finally realized who she was talking to. Her brown eyes shot open as she exclaimed "wait! Are you…Eula Lawrence?!"
Amber had heard all about the different clans and families from school, however she never thought she'd run into a Lawrence on the street.

Much less bump into one.

And spill their food….everywhere.

Amber began to think about her grandpa, who knows what would happen to him and his job as an outrider if she angered such a powerful family. Frantically amber began to apologize again "E-eula! I mean- miss Lawrence! I'm so so so so SO SORRY!"
Amber was practically groveling at this point, "I'll buy you another soup!-oh wait I don't have any money…I'll wash your clothes, carry your stuff, I'll do anything!" Amber begged as she looked up to Eula. "Just don't get my grandpa in trouble-"

Eula waved a hand to silence amber. "Goodness gracious calm down, im not going to ruin your grandfather's career….whoever he is"
Amber piped up "he's the outsider for the Knights of favonius! And he's really nice and cool and awesome! So uh, pleade dont get him fired because of me!" Eula looked back down at a now pleading amber. "Are you listening? I said I won't do anything to you or your grandfather. I have more important people to rain vengeance upon than some clumsy kid"

"Kid?!" Amber asked "you don't look that much older than me!" Eula squinted at amber, she was a least a good head shorter than her. "How old are you?" Eula asked suspiciously. Amber immediately changed her expression and beamed proudly up at eula. "I'm eight and a half!"

A chuckle escape eula as Amber's face fell. "What's so funny?" Eula smirked smugly "I'm 10"
"That's not that much older!" Amber replied pouting. Eula chuckled, her eyes condescending but her face much less angry. "Yes it is, and as your elder I should make sure you get home safely" Eula tugged Amber's sleeve, pulling her under the umbrella. Amber was surprised as she stood under Ella's umbrella.

"So you're not going to seek vengeance?" Eula scoffed and began walking with Amber. "I can always enact my vengeance later, if you stay out here much longer soaking wet you'll get a cold."

Amber stared for a moment up at Eula, the girls stoney but warm expression was focused forward. A smile cane to Amber's face "thank you Eula!"
Eula glanced at her for a second before looking back to the path in front of her. "You're welcome…what was your name again?"

"Amber! Amber Teigrov!" The little brunette girl beamed. "Well then Amber, let's get you home"

Chapter Text

As the door to the Gunhildr mansion opened an excited Barbara hopped up from the couch. Her mother slowly rising from her seat and following after the little girl as two pairs of boots entered the household. As Jean and her father stepped into the home Jean felt a soothing wave of warm air wash over her, a comforting relief from the cold,wet storm outside.
Suddenly Jean felt a pair of arms wrap around her so tightly she nearly stumbled over. “Barbara!” Jean heard her mother call “give your sister a minute to settle in before you rush her like that.” Jean looked down at her little sister, whose big blue puppy dog eyes looked back up at her expectantly. “Sorry Jeanie” Barbara mumbled as she squeezed Jean tighter. Jean let out a playful sigh before smiling and wrapping her arms around her little sister. Jean was just barely a head taller than Barbara, so she placed a kick peck on top of Barbara’s forehead before asking “how was your playdate with Amber?” Barbara quickly piped up and responded “it was great! We played princesses and she also brought her baron bunny and I got to sing to her and mom and-”

“Barbara, why don’t you go set the dinner table?” Seamus’s voice calmly ordered. Barbara pouted before letting go of Jean, the older sister placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “You can tell me all about your day after dinner okay?” Barbara immediately nodded and returned to her cheerful demeanor as she jogged towards the kitchen. Jean smiled as she watched her little sister bounce around the kitchen humming to herself. She wasn't that much younger than Jean and yet she was definitely the baby of the family. Her vibrant sweetness and near constant energy was only outmatched by the little brunette girl that came to play with her at least twice a week.

“Jean how was your lesson?” Jean snapped back to reality as her mother looked at her expectantly. “Um…it was good” Jean said quickly, her mind wandering back to the strange conversation between her and kaeya. Without missing a beat Jean’s mother followed up with another question. “Will you and Diluc be ready for the Cotillion in December?” Before jean could answer she saw her father’s eyes flash with something before he turned his head towards her mother. “Darling, I thought we agreed that Jean isn’t going this year.”

All of a sudden a heavy blanket of tension covered the room. Jean’s mother held a challenging stare with her father. “We talked about it, but we never agreed on anything” Seamus narrowed his eyes “I never said I wanted her going either.” Jean sucked in a breath as her eyes darted between her mother and father, eventually catching the attention of her mother. “Jean” her mother’s eyes softened, “go change out of your dancing clothes and get ready for dinner.” Jean took the hint and nodded, feeling her parent’s eyes resting on her as she headed towards the stairs.

Jean’s mother waited for her daughter to disappear up the stairs before turning her attention back to her husband. “The Winter Cotillion is an important event for all the elite families mondstat, she will have to learn how to attend them eventually. Why not start now?”
“Please, everyone knows those parties are just for pompuss families to parade around their children to be married off.” Seamus scolded as Jean’s mother glared icily back at him. “And you are now a part of those ‘pompuss families’. So is Jean and Barbara you knew this was how my family does things when you married me.” Seamus went quiet for a moment, “Familial traditions do not supersede common sense Frederica” Seamus finally replied. Frederica crossed her arms and replied “you should tell that to your ministry acquaintances, how many times have you dragged Jean and Barbara into those lengthy sermons at the church? Do you do it just to feed your own ego? For someone so holy weren’t you just telling me a day ago about how you wanted the church to induct some orphan girl from dragonspine as a nun?”

Seamus was taken aback by this, he replied “are you bringing up my work now? What does this have to do with Jean?” Frederica rolled her eyes “you constantly criticize my way of raising Jean, you say i’m pushing her into a certain path . And yet your are the one practically priming our daughters to be your perfect little nuns.”
“At least i’m not trying to pimp out our child for a sliver of power-”

“Don’t you dare fucking say that Seamus” venom dripped from Frederica’s lips as she spoke. Frederica’s eyes where sharp as a dagger as she pointed towards her husband. Seamus saw a glimpse of a woman who wasn’t his wife, who wasn’t the mother of his children. He saw Frederica Gunhildr, knight of favonius with a brutal command for power. Seamus met her challenging gaze with one of his own.

“Don't you dare imply I would do such a thing Seamus. I love this clan more than anything, and I will tear down cities,mountains, and anyone who dares to harm it.”
Seamus knew Frederica wouldn’t say it aloud, but the unspoken “including you” hung in the air.

The silence was deafening between them. Before finally Seamus relented, “I see Jean is a Gunhildr first and my daughter second.” Frederica didn’t say anything, only waiting for him to continue. “Do what you wish with your ‘future heir’, but Barbara is coming with me to sunday mass tomorrow. Whether Jean tags along is your call.”
Frederica only nodded and turned away from her husband “Come on, dinner should be ready.”

As the two began to walk towards the kitchen little Barbara quickly turned towards the table. Smiling at her parents as if she didn’t just hear the entire conversation.

With her tummy full of food and after being washed up Barbara smiled at her big sister tucking her into bed. As Barbara settled into bed she hugged a baron bunny close to her. Jean raised an eyebrow, asking “where did you get that?” Barbara yawned before answering “it’s Baron bunny, amber let me have her.” Jean looked at Barabara suspiciously “you’re SURE she gave you permission to have it?”
Immediately Barbara sat up in her bed looking offended as she clutched the stuffed bunny. “Yes! Amber said she made it for me so we could match!” Jean chuckled as she sat on the edge of the bed. “Alright,alright I believe you” Barbara leaned back with Baron Bunny satisfied.
Jean stood up and walked over to place a kiss on Barbara’s forehead. Slowly Barbara opened her eyes and stared up at her sister. “Jeanie, can I ask you something?” Jean was surprised but nodded. “Of course Barbara”

Barbara squeezed her Baron Bunny as she looked for the right words.“we are always gonna be together right? Me, you, mama and papa…” Jean was taken aback by this. For a moment Jean stared at her little sister, wondering what she could have seen to prompt such a question. Jean didn’t want to lie to Barbara, but honestly considering how tense things had gotten between her mother and father there was no telling how much longer they would last.

Jean felt a squeeze on her hand. Looking down she saw her sister looking up at her with those same puppy dog eyes she’d have whenever she hugged her. They were practically begging Jean to say yes. To promise that they’d be together forever.

Jean couldn’t promise that.

“I’ll always love you Barbara” Jean said as she placed another hand over Barbara’s. “You don’t have anything to worry about, so just put those thoughts out of your mind for now alright?”
Babara looked at Jean for a moment, before nodding and letting go of her hand. Leaning back into bed Barbara said “thank you Jean….” Jean nodded and stood up however just as she did she heard Barbara ask “Could I ask just one more question?”
Jean froze, scared what sort of question it might be this time. More importantly she was wondering how she would be able to avoid it. Barbara turned her gaze to her bedroom window.The city of mondstat was bathed in moonlight, a calm breeze carrying the scent of autumn with it. The ivory curtains over Barbara’s window blew gently in the wind.

“Barbatos listens to our prayers right? That’s what daddy always says…”

Jean breathed a sigh of relief as she nodded “of course, Barbatos loves everyone in Mondstat. He is always going to be here to help us.” Barbara Continued to stare into the town of mondstat before eventually lying back down, finally settling into bed. “Thank you Jeanie…I love you”
Jean smiled back at her sister as she slowly shut her bedroom door “I love you two Barbara, Goodnight”

Barbara closed her eyes as she listened to her bedroom door close. She continued to keep them shut until she heard her sister’s footsteps fade into silence. When she was positive her sister was gone Barbara slowly sat up in her bed, crawling towards the windowsill as she kneeled in front of it. She felt the cool wind gently caress her face as she closed her eyes, putting her hands together, and beginning her prayer.

“Barbatos, please let my mommy and daddy get along again. It makes me scared when they get mean to each other, please if you could make them not fight anymore Barbatos i’d love you forever and ever!”

Barbara paused for a moment listening again for any footsteps, when she heard nothing she continued. “And Barbatos please don’t let Diluc take Jean away. He is very grumpy and mean so please don’t let him and Jean get married! If you could answer my prayers Barbatos…I’d become your best friend! I’d even become a Deacon like daddy!”

Barbara’s golden strands of hair where gently swayed by the breeze as she finished her prayer. “In the name of Lord Barbatos, Thank you.”

Barbara slowly crawled back under her covers, clutched her Baron Bunny, and closed her eyes. She heard the sound of the soft breeze blowing through the trees surrounding her home as if it was a lullabye from the wind. A guarantee from the archon that he had indeed heard her prayers.

Slowly, little barbara drifted into her sweet slumber

Chapter Text

For away in the plains of windrise, a humble bard strums his lyre. He sits in the shadow of a holy statue, guarded by a great oak tree. A tree tall enough to peak just above all of the surrounding hills and forests. With a trunk so thick that even an iron claymore would crumble to dust before making an inches dent withing the tree.

The midnight sky is decorated with stars, the gentle winds carrying the soft melody of the bards lullabye through the night. The bard, cloaked in green closes his eyes as his fingers strum. Such a melancholic song doesn't need a musicians mastery. For these songs have become as much of a part of him as the blood in his veins and the bones in his body.

As the winds carry the sweet song of the night, they also carry the whispers of the mondstat people. The bards listens to the proud prayers and the solemn whispers of the people. One little voice standing out amongst the rest.

" in the name of Lord barbatos…thank you”

The bard slowly opened his eyes, the prayers of a little girl ringing through his head. “The Gunhildr family has protected mondstat for centuries…” the bard mumurmerd as he stood to his feet. A pack of beautiful white doves soaring gracefully in the sky overhead. The bard smiled as the winds picked up with the flick of his wrist, tustling the trees and allowing the birds overhead to soar even higher.

“Well then, for protecting my city…it’s only right that I return the favor” The bard let out a chuckle as he picked up a small dandelion flower. He released it into the wind allowing the seeds of the dandelions to scatter and fly towards their destination. Fluffy little seeds flying towards the grand Gunhildr mansion and towards the sleepy little cottage of the Teigrov family. Seeds travelling towards the dawn winery and into the deep forests of wolvendom, into the icy mountains of dragonspine and towards the Lawrence mansion.

These little harbingers of fate scattered across mondstat, intertwining those who received them in a shared destiny. However, one curious seed traveled westward. Farther and father it traveled, through the mountainous regions of Liyue, over it’s estuaries, the wind carrying it over the gaping canyons of the chasm. Eventually crossing into the lavish forests of Sumeru, where the small seed slipped through a certain small window in gandharva village. Eventually landing upon the desk of a young girl.

Olive eyes drift away from a young girl’s book towards the windowsill next to her. “A Dandelion seed?” the girl pondered to herself as she picked up the seed, observing it. “I’ve never seen one in real life before…” the girl smiled at the fluffy seed delicately holding the tiny seed in her hands as she looked up towards the night sky. The howling beast and singing insects of the surrounding rainforests the only sounds as she looked past the statue of the archon, towards the cliffs of the chasm she had never dared to venture.

“When I grow up…maybe i’ll go travel and find more dandelions…”

Chapter Text

“Grandmaster Jean, I heard house Gundhilr and Ragnvindr are uniting soon. When can we expect-”

“That’s private information Sir Halthorn” Jean interrupted, the older man’s eyebrows raising at her sudden snappy tone. Jean immediately realized her social faux-pa as the other members of the city council shifted uncomfortably in their chairs. Awkward eyes darting around the room while Jean took a long exhale.

“Pardon me Sir Halthorn, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Jean said with a polite smile. “As of now there is no information I can give you all on our houses’s status. Be assured however that once there is a new development, an announcement will be made promptly.” The tension in the room quickly lifted.Although she had avoided the question, the answer would satisfy the council.

For now.

Jean could already feel a headache coming on. It had been ten years since Kaeya had first dropped the bomb on her, and it seemed like every day since that bomb was ticking closer and closer to a countdown of explosion. The day where she would no longer be able to avoid the answer.

Did she even know the answer herself?
Despite the decade that passed she and Diluc were still connected by virtue of being some of the last few eligible elites of mondstat. Even after the death of Diluc’s father Jean still kept in touch with him through Kaeya, who now worked directly under her. The three would usually exchange some small talk over drinks at the tavern weekly. It’s not like Jean had anyone else to do things like hanging out with.

After her parents divorced and her father took custody of Barbara the only person other than Kaeya or Diluc she could really talk to outside of work was her mother. Then again, nearly every talk with her mother circled back to Diluc.

“Diluc is so tall now! One of the few boys taller than you Jean. Men prefer women shorter than them you know you don’t have many options dear…”

“You and Diluc get along so well, Why don’t you suspend time together more? Without Kaeya I mean”

“I’ve heard that Diluc is being called ‘the most eligible man in mondstat.’ You need to snatch him up quickly dear! Or someone else will…”

It was assumed by most everyone that the two would eventually be married. No matter how much Jean tried to ignore it she couldn’t deny it any longer. Diluc was a decent man. In fact, if Jean was one of Diluc’s faithful admirers she’d be over the moon right now. It was the perfect romantic plotline.

Little boy meets little girl, becomes man and woman, then eventually husband and wife.

The two knew shared so many aspects of their childhoods, of their lives, even there professions were now intertwined, With Jean having to oversee many merchant laws and contracts for the Dawn Winery.

This should be romantic, this should be love.

Perhaps it was? But if so, why did Jean cringe whenever she thought of being wed to Diluc? There wasn’t anything wrong with him.

Maybe though, there is something wrong with her.

Jean shook her head, continuing the meeting with the council. “However, if we could, I’d like to focus on the matter at hand. Unfortunately the delusion smuggling crisis continues. It is the reason we called this meeting in the first place.”

Jean saw heads bob up and down as murmurs of agreement sounded through the room. “Grandmaster Jean, I believe you said you were bringing in a specialist to help resolve this problem. Could you elaborate?” Margaret, the wealthy owner of the cat’s tail tavern, the only business in mondstat to rival angel’s share, asked. Jean immediately returned to her usual polite but stern demeanor with a smile.

“Thank you Margaret. Due to this being a serious public safety issue, I have Contacted the Sumeru Akademiya.”

“The Akademiya?!” One of the council members, an older man with a pudgy belly and teddy bear like face exclaimed. Jean nodded at the man as the other council members inquired “with all due respect Grandmaster Jean,” Schubert Lawrence, a brown haired man with glasses straightened in his seat. “Is it wise to entrust this issue to someone from a foreign body? The Akademiya may be an institute of researchers, but it is a governing body first and foremost. Who knows what the sages could be planning”

Jean responded calmly “The Sumeru Akademiya may be a foreign body but this is also a foreign issue.” As Jean saw the faces of the council morph into confused stares Jean explained. “These Delusions can only be created in Snezhnaya. Therefore what we are dealing with is likely some sort of smuggling ring from Snezhnaya that is transporting and distributing the delusions here.”

“It’s the damn fatui” A member mumbled, all eyes turning to the councilman in question. Jean shook her head “The fatui have been peaceful in their negotiations with mondstat so far, it’s best we treat them with the respect they deserve. Nevertheless, by next week the specialist will already be on the case.”
The rest of the meeting was a blur for Jean. After at least an hour of trying her best to steer the conversation into a productive direction she once again left the meeting feeling a migraine beginning to kick in. Once she stepped out into the hall Jean immediately wanted to beeline for her office, however someone stepped in front of her.

“Grandmaster Jean!” Jean looked towards a short young woman, her ginger hair tied up in a ponytail as her wide eyes looked back up at Jean. Jean responded “good afternoon Nymph.” The woman stepped up towards Jean and batted her eyes “I didn’t see you this morning.” Nymph stated it almost accusatory, but Jean still smiled back at her. “Oh I was in a meeting for the town council, it’s getting quite busy these days. It’s tiring.”

Nymph nodded her head up and down before stepping closer to Jean. “I know right? I couldn’t keep my sanity if I had to listen to Margaret’s shrill voice for an entire meeting.”
Jean tried to keep a polite smile, “Margaret is a nice lady and is very hardworking-”
“Nah” Nymph said “ you know she probably only comes to these meetings to talk about herself.”

“Is that so?” Jean found the way Nymph would often talk down other women distasteful, however she was a skilled mage, and skilled field officer. That was something Jean had to respect, no matter how uncomfortable she was around nymph.

“ Oh Jeanie!” Jean stiffened at Nymph’s use of that nickname. Jean had always considered Nymph a respectable coworker, however it seemed it the past few weeks Nymph considered Jean as a shrink of sorts, a listening ear who was too polite to decline anything.

Nymph pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear leaning forwards on her tippy toes. “Could you help me in the library later? It’s really hard for someone as tiny as me to reach anything~” Jean watched as Nymph poked her bottom lip out just a centimeter, just enough to form a subtle pout. Jean may have been tall for a woman, but even she could see that Nymph was around five foot two inches. A bit short, but definitely not completely unable to reach the books in the library on her own.

Jean kept her polite tone as she said “Godwin can show you where the stepladders in the library are if you are having trouble reaching the books”
Jean tried to move towards her office, before being blocked again by Nymph. "I can just wait for you in the library then Grandmaster Jean."

Nymph left before Jean could respond. Leaving her to rub her head in exhaustion. Finally she was able to escape into the sanctuary of her office. Jean let out a long sigh of relief as she finally sat down in her office chair. For a brief moment, she was alone.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Jean's head shot up. Quickly she stood up and practically bolted towards the door. Wondering if one of the guards had something urgent to tell her, or maybe it was a sudden political dispute? Jean swung open the door, ready to deal with any emergency that came her way.

Well, any "emergency" that wasn't a tall lady with siren like ivy colored eyes.

Jean stared, confused for a moment before a smile came to the woman in front of her.

"Hello dear, I'm Lisa Minci from the Akademiya. I'm assuming you're Grandmaster Jean?"

Chapter Text

"Rosaria!" Sister Victoria chided as Rosaria slowly dragged the cigarette from her lips. Wrinkling her nose Victoria fanned the smell of tobacco away with her hand as she scolded. “You can’t do this in the house of lord Barbatos!”
“I'm not in the house of Barbatos.” Rosaria dropped her cigarette to the ground, grinding out the flame with her shoe. " the rules say I can smoke as long I'm not doing it inside the church"

Victoria let out a grouchy sigh "you are still on church property Rosaria-what would Barbatos think? Having his own follower littering defining his sanctuary."

"Did you come all this way just to tell me to not smoke here?" Rosaria asked, knowing that not even sister Victoria would seek her out if it weren't important. Victoria rolled her eyes. “No. Rosaria I need you to go find Barbara.”
Rosaria cocked an eyebrow, it wasn’t normal for little miss perfect to be anywhere that wasn’t the church. Especially not so close to choir practice. “I'm surprised she’s gone missing, I mean, isn’t it your job to be up her ass 24/7?”

Victoria’s eyes narrowed, threatening to pierce daggers into Rosaria. Although not intimidated, Rosaria took the hint and proceeded to walk away clutching her spear in one hand.
“Hold on rosaria.” Rosaria shot a sharp glare at the nun as the sister stopped her. “What?” Victoria rolled her eyes at Rosaria’s attitude before pointing a stern finger in her direction.

“Listen Rosaria” Victoria sighed with exasperation. “I know you aren’t thrilled about being here but you need to know that I’m not asking you to be a great nun-or even a good nun.” Victoria looked down at rosaria, whose expression remained cold and numb. “You aren’t meant to be a nun, that…has made itself very clear.” Victoria’s eyes narrowed as her gaze scrutinized every inch of Rosaria's attire, but Rosaria knew it wasn’t just her modified uniform that the sister was referring too.

“The only thing I ask of you, Rosaria, is to be invisible. The least you could do is give us the courtesy of making yourself and your….activities, unseen.”

Rosaria met Victoria’s gaze, allowing a moment of silence to hang between the two before she finally asked. “Can I go do my job now?” Victoria, seemingly disappointed by Rosaria’s lack of acknowledgment of her previous sentence, sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Yes. now go.”
Rosaria didn’t have to search for long to find Barbara. Within just a few minutes of surveying the Favonius cathedral grounds, she soon came across two blonde silhouettes in the distance. In the graveyard of the Favonius cathedral no less, Rosaria paused. It was definitely Barbara alright, with her iconic curled blonde twin tails poking out of her head, and big blue doe eyes. Despite her age she teamed with youth and innocence.

Something the man who was talking to her clearly was a big fan of.

“Oh, Barbara! I'm just-I'm such a huge fan I don’t know what to say!” The blonde man exclaimed as he practically shook in excitement. His eyes snaked up and down Barbara’s form as the young woman held the broom close to her chest as if using it as a shield as she smiled up at the man.

“Oh, that’s very kind of you… Albert? That was your name right?” Barbara’s tense smile stayed unwavering as Albert shook his head furiously. “Yes! Yes! That’s my name- god it’s so crazy to finally talk to you, Barbara! You look so cute and small~”
Barbara stepped backwards slowly as Albert went in for a hug. Avoiding him as politely as possible. “Thank you, Albert, that’s very kind of you. It was nice to meet you-”
Albert not taking the hint, only stepped closer “Barbara could you please sing at angel's share tavern sometime? It’d be so amazing-”

Barbara quickly shook her head before answering “Drinking is against my vows as a nun…I should really get back to my work…”
Albert chuckled “oh yeah…I forgot haha, well it’s not like you’ll have to drink or anything, unless you want to with me-”

“Get out of here.”

Both Albert and Barbara jumped at the sight of Rosaria appearing behind the man. Albert stumbled backwards. “Huh? Wait, who are you?” Albert sputtered as rosaria glared daggers into the man. “I'm a nun. And you’re not. Now get off the property.” Albert had a guilty look in his eyes as he replied “you can’t kick me off the property, this is a public graveyard, and-”

“Would you like to join them?” Rosaria asked as her expression stayed stoney and hard. Albert’s eyes widened as he asked “a-are you threatening me? You’re a nun you can’t-”

“I can and no one will do shit about it.” A gasp came from Barbara at Rosaria’s filthy language. Realizing he was backed into a corner Albert looked between Rosaria and Barbara for one final chance. “I’m just visiting Barbara! Right?” Barbara kept her eyes on the ground as Rosaria rolled her eyes. Stepping towards Albert the man finally surrendered. “D-don't touch me! I'll leave okay?!”

Albert, with his pride wounded ran away from the spot with his tail between his legs. Rosaria watched him disappear from view before turning her gaze back to Barbara, who was still clutching her broomstick.

“Thank you so much! uh…” Rosaria watched as Barbara looked her up and down before meeting her eyes again “oh uh…are you new here?”

Rosaria stared at the young woman incredulously. “I’ve been here for a decade. Far longer than you and you still don’t know my name?”

Barbara’s face turned red. “Uh no I don’t…I’m sorry”

Rosaria watched as Barbara’s face fell , feeling a pang of regret-or was it guilt?

“It’s whatever. Come on,sister Victoria wants you” Rosaria turned to head back towards the entrance to the Cathedral. Barbara jogged a little in order to keep up with Rosaria’s pace. “Thank you for helping me, But I can make it back to Victoria on my own. You don’t have to trouble yourself-”

Rosaria scoffed “no you can’t” and Barbara stopped in her tracks. Rosaria turned and stared as Barbara stubbornly clutched her broom. “What do you mean I can’t? I may have needed help back there but I’m an independent grown woman! I can do things myself you know…”

“Grown woman?” Rosaria wanted to scoff again but decided to entertain the little idol nun. “You are an independent woman?”

Barbara flinched at the question but nodded “I’m eighteen. You’re not that much older than me Rosaria.”

Rosaria narrowed her eyes. “Three years makes more of a difference than you’d think”

“Especially in this hellhole”

Rosaria thought to herself before nodding towards Barbara. “Now move it. Or Victoria will get pissy”

“I hope you don’t use that language in front of her-” Barbara responded, reluctantly following Rosaria’s coattails.

“She’ll get over it” Rosaria mused as the two walked towards the front of the cathedral.

Chapter Text

Amber clutched a wooden box in her arms as she nodded her head towards Swan at the Mondstat gate. The brunette man’s stoic posture contrasted his eyes dulled by the boring hours of standing in one place. It was moments like these that made Amber appreciate her job. Being an outrider while also being a part time adventurer definitely was not a cushy life. However Amber knew that her need to be doing something-anything at all times and her inability to stand in one spot for more than five minutes would make being a city guard absolute torture for her. 

Swan absent mindedly nodded in her direction as Amber walked by. The city of Mondtstat today was calm and picturesque. The air was warm, but the cool breeze kept the city at a temperate climate.   Perfect for going out and basking under the blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds without worrying about the sweat. Despite it’s usual liveliness the city of Mondstat was rather calm as amber walked up the cobble steps and to the main street of Mondstat. As she scanned her surroundings she saw only the small business owners seemed to be out today. 

Amber heaved a breath, her arms aching as she finally reached the town square. Doing her usual patrol was a chore in itself, not that she ever minded. But perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to volunteer to carry what easily felt like a 20 pound crate all the way back to Mondstat. Amber heaved again, leaning back as she adjusted the crate in her arms. The smell of something cooking invading her nostrils. Immediately she recognized the scent and turned towards Good Hunter’s small store front. “Hello ma’am how may i-” “UGH” An ugly noise came from Amber’s chest as she dropped the crate to the ground.The contents of which rattled inside as Amber fought to catch her breath. Sara blinked in bewilderment as she watched the young woman’s arms shakily clutch her knees as she hunched over. 

“Are uh…you alright ma’am?” 

“Yep!” Amber chirped, still heaving as she slowly stood back up, grabbing the counter with one hand for support as she smiled. 

“I’m great! just…*wheeze*...a longer walk from Springvale to Mondstat when you're carrying cargo” Sara poked her head over the counter, her eyes trailing down the crate at Amber’s feet. Her eyes darted between the young outrider and the crate, wondering how someone could have possibly convinced her to deliver such a thing by foot. As if sensing Sara’s upcoming question Amber waved her free hand, “oh I uh…*wheeze* ran into an old man on the way back from dawn winery who was practically killing himself trying to lug this thing, so I offered to deliver it for him!” Sara parted her lips to say something, but just shook her head and smiled at Amber. 

“Barbatos save you Amber, you’ve practically turned yourself into a packing mule! As if they weren’t already working you like a dog.” Amber chuckled as she finally regained her breath “I’ve only gotta haul this thing up to the Favonius cathedral, then it’s just some daily guildwork and i’ll be done for the day!” Sara opened her mouth to respond only to have her eyes flick in the direction of a flurry of whispers following a certain tall woman striding past Good hunter. Amber caught Sara’s intrigued look as her own eyes followed towards a figure draped in a fancy velvet hood and high leather boots walk past before turning into an alleyway and disappearing from view. But not before Amber caught sight of the woman’s arctic blue locks peeking from her hood. 

“Wonder what she’s up to now,” Sara commented in a curt tone. 

“Wait, was that Eula?” asked Amber as she stared towards the alleyway in the distance. Sara raised an eyebrow but nodded as she wiped down the inside of a mug. “Yeah, I’m surprised she hasn’t moved away yet. That’d be the first thing I’d do if I had her family’s history-” “Do you think she recognized me?!” Amber asked excitedly, causing Sara to jump a bit at the girl’s sudden enthusiasm.  Her cedar eyes sparkled with orange shimmers of excitement, Sara chose her words carefully, trying not to let Amber down too much.

“I…uh- don’t think she looked this way.” Amber’s eyes flicked back towards the alleyway as waves of nostalgia and excitement crashed over her. “It’s been so long since we’ve talked-I gotta go say hi!” Amber turned on her heel, and before Sara could stop her she sprinted towards Eula’s direction. “But what about your box…” Sara called after her but by that time she was already gone. 

Sprinting down the alleyway and along the “special shortcut” to angel’s share she had traversed a million times while living in Mondstat. As Amber rounded the corner she beamed in excitement as she saw the woman with blue hair standing outside Angel’s share reading the posted placards along the wall. “Eula!” Amber exclaimed cheerfully as she jogged towards the woman, waving excitedly as the woman stared back at her with a blank expression. Amber finally caught up to the woman, panting as the woman stared down at her without saying a word. 

“Oh, my archons Eula it’s been so long! I didn’t even know you still lived here! I’m so happy to-” 

“Will you shut up?” the woman whispered harshly as she put a finger to her lips. Amber furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. 

“What’s wrong Eula? I just-” “Would you stop saying my name so loud?!” Eula said again roughly as her eyes darted around towards the people roaming the town. “What? Eu- I mean, Eula. why don’t you want to be heard? Are you hiding?!” Amber whispered and Eula rolled her cobalt eyes. 

“Obviously, now go away so you don’t blow my cover-” 

“Well you’re not doing a very good job” Amber responded and Eula’s sharp eyes widened. Amber continued with a pragmatic but friendly tone 

“Sara and I recognized you the moment we saw you walk by! Also, I think some other people were whispering about you-” “Oh for fuck’s sake-” Eula hissed as she clutched her hood tight on her head, trying to get as much fabric to cover her face as possible. “I’m going home, and if anyone asks, you didn’t see me here” “But Eula!-oh sorry! I mean Eula wait!” However, Eula was already gone, disappearing into the crowd leaving a confused and bewildered Amber alone outside the tavern.