A not so relaxing breakfast

As I sat on this table, staring at the woman next to me, I couldn't help but question why the stars would gladly align themselves for the sake of my continued misery. Right now, I felt tempted to simply bail out on Paimon, run back to Xinyan's house, and lock myself inside my room, never to step outside ever again to avoid the persistence this world has in finding ways to screw me over.

I'd gladly do it too, if not for the fact that doing so would make me look suspicious.

"I must say, it was quite a coincidence to be able to meet you here, Honorary Knight." Yelan suddenly said as she took a bite out of her plateful of chili powder with a side of chicken. "A surprise, though not an unwelcome one."

'I hope to god it's actually a coincidence and not you skulking around the shadows to monitor me 24/7.'

Resisting the urge to say those words right onto her face, I finally picked up the chopsticks and began eating. "I'm flattered, though I can't help but wonder why that seems to be the case?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" She shrugged her shoulders, a hint of teasing in her voice. "It's not everyday you get to have breakfast with a famous person such as you, you know? Surely you noticed the attention the people had towards you by now?"

"I'd say that's more of me looking like a spectacle than it is my own fame. But nevermind that." Resting my head on both hands, I looked straight at Yelan. "What does someone from the Liyue government want with someone like me?"

At my words, I could see through the edge of my vision that Paimon, who was busy stuffing her face with food, suddenly stopped and gave a quick glance towards the bluenette before focusing on her food once more. This time, however, her pace noticeably slowed down.

"Hmm…." Unfazed by my question, Yelan puts down her chopsticks before mirroring my action with her own. "What gives you the idea that I'm someone that works for the government?" She asked, her expression still fixed into a relaxed smile. "I could be a simple waitress working at a tea house for all you know."

"I'm not hearing a denial. That's as good of a start as any."

"Fufu, but that doesn't mean it's a yes either, don't you think?" She said, letting out a chuckle. "So? How did you come to that conclusion then, Honorary Knight?"

"Well, after having stayed in this place for a while, I noticed that the only ones who ever addressed me as an Honorary Knight have only been the Millelith. Unsurprising, considering our group has crossed paths with them a lot during our travels here. And if the Millelith knows, then surely other similar organizations within Liyue would too."

"And you think that I'm one of those people?"

"Mmhm. Since you don't seem like someone who works as a Millelith soldier, then perhaps you're someone from the ministry, maybe some other equivalent organization within the government's ranks," I paused, directing my gaze towards her eyes, "or perhaps even the Qixing, hmm?"

"Is that so?" Yelan said with a chuckle. "Has it crossed your mind that perhaps I'm a regular civilian that simply knows? About you and what happened in Mondstadt?" The smile on her face became wider, her amusement clear for all to see. "Connections are a precious and rare commodity in this harbor, but perhaps I'm one of the few who was lucky enough to have one, and are even more lucky for said connections to have information regarding the Honorary Knights of Favonius and their exploits."

"And is that something a normal waitress can have?"

"There are all kinds of interesting people in Liyue Harbor, Honorary Knight. You never know just who you might cross paths with by simply walking along the streets."

"Right." Hearing her answer, a certain archon comes to mind. "Well if I'm wrong, then I'm wrong. Simple as that. And if that's the case, then we can simply forget this conversation ever happened and go about our day." I replied, shrugging my shoulders as I continued eating. "Though my instincts are pointing towards my initial thoughts being correct, perhaps it's just one of those days."

With nothing left to say, I simply focused on the food on my side of the table, not bothering to look in Yelan's direction.

That is, until she let out a laugh.

"You are as interesting as the rumors say you are."

"Rumors, huh? Don't you mean information?"

"Unfortunately, for legal reasons, I cannot answer that."

"Is that a confession, I hear?"

"You can take it that way, sure."Putting down her chopsticks, Yelan sat a bit straighter before offering me her hand. "My name is Yelan, I work as an agent for the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It's nice to meet you, Honorary Knight of Favonius."

"A bit late for an introduction, don't you think?"

"I'm sure you've heard of the saying 'better late than never?'"

"Hmph." Not bothering to humor her words, I returned her gesture. "Kamiyama Yuu, Honorary Knight of Favonius. And this one over here is Paimon." I said, pointing towards the white fairy as she gave Yelan a greeting, to which she gladly returned. "Though I'm sure you know all about that and more already by this point."

"Not quite everything. There are a lot of blanks when it comes to you and your companions, Honorary Knight." She said, nonchalantly, as if she didn't just outright say that she's been thoroughly investigating our group right in my face. "What you look like behind that mask, for example, is still up in the air."

"And I, for one, would like to keep it that way. For as long as I am able to, at least."

"What's this?" Seemingly having her interest piqued, Yelan leans closer towards me. "I sense quite the interesting story behind those words."

"A story that you would never hear come out of my mouth. Willingly, at least."

"What a shame." Yelan let out a sigh as she shook her head in disappointment. "I would've offered something in exchange for that information, but I have a feeling that you'd be asking for something unreasonable in return."

"I wouldn't ask for much, really. If you're willing to hand the Jade Chamber over to me, I'm willing to consider it."

"All that for you to merely consider? It seems that what lies behind that mask is more valuable than I thought." She said, tapping her fingers against the table, her smiling expression unchanging in the face of my very unreasonable offer. "Unfortunately, I do not have that kind of authority with me. Even if I do, I'm afraid that getting myself locked behind bars would be the least of my problems."

"I suppose it's a no go then."

"Mhm. But you did say that you'd like to keep your face hidden for as long as you are able to, did you not? That means I'll have the answer as long as I patiently wait."

"Hopefully not anytime soon. In any case, that should be enough of an icebreaker, don't you think?" Reaching for the drink I ordered, I took a long sip before getting straight to the point. "Does the agent of the Ministry of Civil Affairs have something she'd like to ask to little old me? Surely it's not a coincidence for you to end up sitting here on this table, no?"

"It is a coincidence, actually." She replied, as she grabbed a handful of chilis and swallowed all of them at once. "Though I'm pretty sure you won't believe me."

"A healthy dose of skepticism never hurts anyone."

"I suppose so. But let's not dwell on that." With that, she moved on to the matter at hand. "I think it would be better if we go somewhere more private for our talks. There are eyes and ears everywhere, Honorary Knight, you never know who could be listening."

"And where do you suggest we go?"

"I have a place in mind, if you're willing to follow along?"

Listening to her offer, I couldn't help but pause.

I thought about declining, but since things have progressed to this point, I might as well deal with whatever she has to say rather than delaying the inevitable.

"Sure, why not?"

"Great." Hearing a positive response, Yelan suddenly stood up. "In that case, I'll be waiting outside. Ah, there's no need to feel rushed, Honorary Knight. Take your time and enjoy the remainder of your breakfast. You'll need it."

With that last strangely-threatening-but-not-quite statement, she scoops up the last of her chilis before eating them all in one go.

At this point, I couldn't help but wonder whether she actually enjoys eating them by the dozen, or if it's some kind of bizarre self-torture that she's doing just for the thrill of it.

After that, she walked to the cashier, paid for her meals, before making her way to the exit. Though not before giving a wave in my direction.

With just the two of us on the table once again, Paimon, who had been simply listening to our conversation, finally broke her silence.

"Are we in trouble, white mask?"

Looking towards Paimon and seeing the white fairy, absent of her usual excitement she had with her food, I reached my hands towards her head and began patting her head.

"Considering I wasn't dragged outside in ropes, kicking and screaming? Then no, we're not in trouble. Hopefully it stays that way."

"Paimon hopes so." She said quietly. "Are you going then?"

"I already said yes, so I kinda have to."

"Oh." She paused, looking down at her unfinished food for a bit, before eventually raising her head as she tugged at my robe. "Be careful, okay?"

"I will. Don't worry, Paimon."

Giving her one last pat on the head, I rummage through the bag I brought with me before dropping a sack of Mora in front of Paimon. "Here, you can pay with this after you finish. It's fine if you want to have seconds, but don't go overboard, okay?"

"Okay."

"If I take too long, you can go back ahead of me, or maybe go out and explore if you want to. If you do, always remember: be careful of your surroundings, always make sure you're in a crowded area – that shouldn't be too hard, all things considered – but most importantly, if a strange person offers you food, run away."

"Geez, white mask, Paimon gets it already!" Hearing my warning, her previously somber mood instantly disappears as she shoves my hand out of her head with a pout.

"I'm just making sure you don't get kidnapped, Paimon."

"Hmph! Paimon has enough self-awareness to not fall for such obvious tricks!"

"Oh please, anyone willing to share their food with you is practically your best friend. How can I not be worried?"

"Ugh, whatever. Just go already."

"Alright, alright." After making sure everything was in order, I slung the strap of my bag around my shoulder and stood up from my seat. "I'll try and finish things as fast as I can. Hopefully, you won't have to visit me behind bars by the end of the day."

'Even in the miniscule chance that it did happen, when the dragon's corpse fell from the sky, they would be more than eager to let me out anyway.'

With that, I made my way outside towards a certain bluenette leaning against the wall of the building across.

As she stood under the shade, I noticed Yelan staring into the crowd as she occupied herself by playing with a translucent blue dice she rolled around her fingers.

The moment she noticed my approach, she threw the dice upwards and caught it with a swipe before pushing herself off the wall.

"That was fast."

"Yeah well, I don't exactly have any appetite left knowing that a government agent of all people would like to have a 'chat' with me."

"Fufu, is that so? Well, you don't have to worry too much, Honorary Knight." She said, as she beckons me to follow her. "I really do just want to have a chat with you. Granted, the topic might not be what a normal conversation would have, but other than that, it's nothing too serious."

"I'll believe it when I hear it myself." Ignoring the laugh she let out, I fell in step beside Yelan as we inserted ourselves into the busy crowd "So? Where are we going?"

"You'll see, Honorary Knight. You'll see."