A Royal Walk
"Thank you very much, Allen! Here's your compensation, please take it!" The little girl said with a big smile to Allen.
"You're welcome, Flora" Allen smiled "But you should really think about other methods to cultivate flowers. You can't always request to plant them so far away."
"Yes, I'll think about it. Thanks!" Flora said thoughtfully while thinking about her flowers.
Allen let her be and started walking over the Adventure Guild while greeting everyone in his way. One month had passed since he arrived and while doing commissions he and the people of Mondstadt got used to each other, the people's impression of Allen being great for his easygoingness and hard work, never minding to give a hand to help.
"Will thou taint the glorious image of this Prinzessin? Insolence! Not even the darkest shadows would dare to cloud my majesty!" As Allen was approaching the Adventure Guild to inform about his finished commission, he saw Katheryne busy with a blonde girl with a raven flying next to her that seemed to have some complaints.
"Something happened?" Allen asked interrupting the rattle.
"She is a new recruit, but she refuses to wear the uniform" Katheryne explained.
"A mere recruit?" The girl said offended "I am Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, Sovereign of Immernachtreich, omniscient and eminent judge of all the world's iniquity!" Fischl made a pose.
'As expected. She is Fischl' Allen remembered quite well Fischl, a character from the game. A peculiar girl with a chuunibyou syndrome that roleplays as a princess. She was also an investigator of the Adventure Guild and had quite special Vision, making it capable of invoking an intelligent being, her Electro Raven, Oz.
"I can really understand her" Allen nodded looking over the green adventure's uniform. It was a rule to use the uniform until at least attaining rank 15, to show that you were a rookie. It was similar to having an L on the car when starting to drive.
The main problem was that the uniform was a little ridiculous, rather than for adventures, it seemed fitter to Santa's elves. This was also one of the reasons Allen decided to skip ranks, not wanting to wear it as he had enough of wearing the Cicin Mage's uniform over these years.
"Let's do one thing. Why don't I accompany her over her first days? With my presence, there will be no need for her to wear the uniform. I've got quite used to Mondstadt and adventuring."
"It won't be any problem, but..." Katheryne looked at Fischl before returning to Allen "Are you sure?"
"Why not?" Allen hummed "It seems funny."
"Who might thou be?" Fischl asked looking at Allen.
Allen smiled and bowed, putting his right hand over his heart "I am Niwa Allen, a mere mortal fascinated with your highness's presence. I know I do not deserve it, however, I cannot stop the thrill inside me. Shall the Prinzessin let me stay at your side and help in this arduous path?"
"Thou desire to be my retainer?" Fischl said looking attentively at Allen.
"My sword is yours, my Prinzessin." Allen said with a serious tone, Fischl being a little taken back, not used to people following her play and blushing a little.
"Hm!" Fischl coughed "Very well, I grant thee permission to travel with me. I will accept thee as my knight. Shall this Prinzessin's benevolence be extended all over this land!"
"She means nice to meet you and thanks for your help" The talking raven translated for her.
"Oz!" Fisch shouted blushing embarrassed, her nobility tone disappearing with it.
"Who might this noble raven be?" Allen asked with a smile.
"He is my royal familiar, Ozvaldo von Hrafnavins. Where I hail from, he holds dominion over stars and sky across three universes, and the souls of the mighty, fallen in battle, rest in the shadow of his wings. One should add that the penalty for mispronouncing his name is to have one's tongue torn from one's mouth. However, as I am a princess and you are one who has my favor, we are at liberty to simply call him, Oz."
"Nice to meet you Oz"
"Likewise, Allen."
"First of all. As the Prinzessin, your talents will be larger than the stars, but would you name the shiniest one of them?" Allen asked.
"Certainly" Fischl hummed "I have countless talents, even when most are sealed in this mortal vessel and world but one of the greatest shall be this" Fisch put her hand over her parched eye.
"It is the all-seeing Auge der Verurteilung, which reveals all that is true in the world. As to the question of why I conceal it... Well, would you willingly bear the agony of piercing to the heart of all truths? Furthermore... the world would lose much of its appeal if wholly stripped of delusion and falsehood." She explained "That is the reason I only unleash part of its power."
"What mein Fräulein is saying is that I am able to share my vision with her" Oz translated "She has also practiced archery since she was little."
"Oz!" Fischl reprimanded again "I have all knowledge sealed inside me, it is the mere act of remembering it."
"Katheryne, would you have any commission about searching, either enemies, plants or whatever?" Allen asked.
"I have one of searching Valberrys and cleaning some Hilichurls camps, but for someone so new..." Katheryne thought about it "With you there I doubt there's any problem" Katheryne gave the requests "I wish you luck."
"Hm!" Fischl took the request "That shall be the first step to recovering my grandiosity. My name shall be imprinted all over this land!" she made a poise but quickly turned over Allen "Where do we need to go?"
"I shall escort you, your highness" Allen smiled bringing her outside the city, towards Star Valley.
...
"Behold! This is the might of the Prinzessin!" Fischl shot an Electro-charged arrow, hitting one hilichurl.
3 other hilichurls detected her, launching towards her.
"Wings of Darkness, come, sever the night from day!" Oz approached Fischl, forming a coat around her that made it seems as if wings had grown at her back "MIDNIGHT PHANTASMAGORIA!" Fischl flew across the hilichurls, electrocuting them.
"Fall to the darkest night!" Fischl made a poise of victory without realizing that one stray hilichurl jumped at her back, swinging its club at her, Fischl getting scared as it was too late to act.
*Swiff* However, before it was able to reach her, Allen appeared cutting it in half with a simple swing of his sword.
"T-thanks" Fischl thanked Allen, a little scared of the attack.
"It is my honor as your escort, my princess" Allen smiled "With this, we have finished it all." Allen said looking around "Let's return."
Allen was in truth quite surprised about Fischl. She was still somewhat inexperienced, but she was quite strong on her own, having great marksmanship and Elemental Power. Also, her skill called Oz was a little of a cheat.
Oz followed her commands, but also made independent actions that showed great control of its surroundings. Allen was sure that if he hadn't defeated that stray hilichurl, Oz would have reacted before it was able to hit Fischl.
Nevertheless, Allen had shown his goodwill towards Fischl, quickly gaining her favor which was the main reason for accompanying her. Allen had two reasons for it.
Fischl's talents were quite useful as having a sky view make it easy to investigate and she would become a good source of information which was what he wanted most for the moment. The truth was that today's commissions were incredibly quick thanks to her as in the end, the most time-consuming was searching rather than fighting.
And the second reason was that he liked Fischl character in the game. As Joseph, he also had his chuunibyou period and he could feel identified with her. Plus in a world like Teyvat with elemental powers and superhuman strength, wouldn't make it easy for such delusions to appear?
"So why has my princess decided to become an adventurer?" Allen asked on the way to the city.
"This is my rite of passage. Following the infinite trails of my parents" Fischl explained as her parents are also adventurers "And what would be thy reason? Even in my extensive knowledge, there is a blank space of thee, only some nights in the city."
"I came from Inazuma and I am actually training to become stronger" Allen took out his sword "There's something that I must do."
"Hm!" Fischl nodded "I recognize thee! Do not worry, because I shall help to attain your dreams. As my loyal retainer, not even the infinite is the end!"
"Thanks" Allen smiled as they reached the city.
...
As Allen and Fischl crossed Mondstadt's doors. Allen froze for a moment as he saw a young woman and a child crossing his view.
The woman seemed to be in her early 20s while the child wouldn't have more than 6 years, most probably being a pair of mother and daughter seeing their resemblance. Both blonde hair and ruby eyes with characteristic long and pointy ears, resembling elves.
Seeing the naughty but pure look of the little girl going by the hand of the young woman, Allen instantly knew who she was 'Klee. So that means the woman next to her should be Alice'
Alice was quite the special character in the game, having been named more than one time and described as a powerful and important character but never having appeared physically in the game, only her voice. However, she seemed to have some big secrets behind, even most probably being another otherworlder like him and the Traveler.
Just as he thought about it, Alice turned over him, her eyes fixed on him for an instant, before blinking with surprise.
"Mommy?" Klee asked, catching her mom's attention.
"Nothing happened, let's go" Alice said before continuing their walk, ignoring Allen completely.
"Allen, what happened?" Fischl asked Allen, breaking his frozen state.
"Nothing. Let's take out rewards"
...
"Hahaha, cry out my illustrious name!" Fisch laughed as she showed the completed commission to Katheryne.
"Thank you for completing today's commissions. Here is your reward." Katheryne said with a smile giving the rewards.
"Have you seen, Oz? Our first rewards!" Fisch shouted excitedly as she hugged the bag with some Mora.
"Good job, Mein Fräulein" Oz congratulated.
"Has everything gone well?" Katheryne asked Allen.
"Yes, all fine." Allen nodded "I don't really think she needs too much observation, she would get used quite promptly."
"Her parents are quite well-known adventures that taught her, plus your evaluation...I suppose that we can make an exception with her uniform" Katheryne decided.
"You have my favor!" Fischl laughed "The world bows under my presence!"
After that, they distributed the reward and loot.
"Allen" Fischl said with a timid tone "Thanks for everything today."
"It's my honor" Allen took her hand, planting a kiss over it "Never forget your dream, my princess."
Fischl blushed a lot and turned around, running away "Let's go, Oz!"
"Farewell, Allen. Thanks for your help. Till next time" Oz said goodbye, flying towards Fischl.
"Bye" Allen turned around, going over to his hostel, but as he crossed over the street. He was dragged by a mysterious force over a dark alley.
*Pang!* Allen was pinned over the wall, thin arms blocking his escape with a kabe-don.
In front of him, he could see those ruby eyes fixed on him and now that they were near, he was able to discern the peculiar irises' forms, a star on the left one and a moon on the right.
"What is your mission, Allen?"
...
{AN: Last chapter of the week unless I reach 550 powerstones this week.
It's truly difficult to write Fischl's talk! Sorry if it does not remind you of her.
And now a new mini-arc about 11 chapters with Alice. It might start a little forced, but I liked the end of it.}