Calm Before The Storm

Never thought I'd be the type to drink, but mondestat really changed me huh?

I take another sip of dandelion wine, savoring it's sweet and crisp flavor.

I've decided to take a little break, I deserve it. Which lead me to drinking in the angel's share tavern. I can understand why Barbatos loves his wine. I was a little shocked that diluc was my bartender, but quickly paid it no mind. If he's here, then the lyre probably gets stolen soon. I'll just stay here until they come barging in with Barbatos and the traveler.

"Can I have another bottle of dandelion wine?"

He passes me the bottle, and I give him the 500 mora for it.

I've never gotten dead drunk before, let's try that.

2 bottles in, I get a massive headache.

"Yeah, okay. Drinking's not for me. Have anything that can help sober me up?"

"Those only work for hangovers."

"Mind if I have a table upstairs then?"

"If you pay for it, sure."

I give him the mora, sit down on a chair upstairs, and fall asleep. 'Let's hope this hangover isn't too bad.'

When I wake up, I feel like literal shit. Eyes burning, massive migraine, sore, dry throat.

I stomp downstairs and notice that the traveler still hasn't arrived, but dliuc is still here.

"Mind giving me that pick me up now? Thanks for the table upstairs by the way."

"Here. No problem."

He passed me a bright blue drink, with a sunnsettia slice on the rim. I chug it down, and surprisingly, it tastes pretty good!

And it works fast too. The creator of this must be the most wealthy man in mondestat. A fast working pick-me-up for a city of alcoholics? Sounds like an easy way to get rich.

*SLAM*

The door slams open, revealing the trio of barbatos, paimon, and lumine.

'I should probably stop saying barbatos. If I slip it out, I might get questioned on how I knew. I'll just refer to him as Venti.'

"Can you hide us?"

Well that's rather sudden.

"Wait, What is that Exhibitionist doing here?"

Paimon says.

"Shouldn't you be hiding by now? The knights might be here any moment."

A small smirk on my face forms, as these words come out of my mouth.

"You can have a table upstairs. But you will tell me what's going on." Diluc says.

The 3 rush upstairs, and a knight enters.

"OH! I didn't expect to see master diluc here. And Jacques as well? I don't mean to bother you two, but have you seen a golden haired person in a white dress around here? The Holy Lyre Has been Stolen!"

"No. I have not seen anyone of that description."

"Me neither. If I were them, I probably would be hiding out somewhere rather than wandering the streets."

"OK, thank you for your time."

He walks out and closes the door.

I guess both me and diluc's word was enough for him.

"So Jacques, you seem well known by the knights of favonius."

'I was pretty sure diluc knew who I was due to his spy network, but I didn't really expect him to confront me about it.'

"I am. Was offered the Honorary Knight title, but declined. Probably left a memorable view of me."

"Is that so."

Diluc looks me in the eyes, and I meet his gaze.

"Well, along as you aren't making a problem for the winery, then you're fine."

"I'm glad to hear that."

I wait until the bar is closed. Normally I would experiment with my powers, but it's probably best I don't do that infront of diluc and venti.

Everyone leaves, and it's just us 5 left.

Venti gives a quick explanation, and how they don't actually have the lire, and that it was stolen by the fatui. Jean enters, and listens to Ventis explanation.

"So, my plan is to go back and recapture the lire. Are you willing to assist me again traveler?"

"Sure."

"I'll come as well. I have experience in dealing with the fatui."

"I will also accompany you."

Everyone's eyes turn towards me.

Should I go? I can't keep my power a secret forever. If I go now, it'll help me to become more involved in the story and be able to go with them to defeat dvalin.

"I'll come."

The group takes a moment to make a plan, and we leave mondestat and set out towards the fatui hideout.

As we enter, we are meet with a few puzzles that I let the others solve. The next room is filled with fatui. Before anyone can say anything, I rush forward and quickly grab one of the members weapons.

"A sword? I can work with this."

I temporarily return the sword to its weilder, sheathing it into his neck before quickly removing it and going onto the next. The leader snaps out of the shock of the situation faster than the other two and ignites his daggers with flame.

'Must be a delusion.'

As I draw closer, he dashes toward me, aiming to cut me down. I parry his first two slices, and yell out

[Braced Collapse!]

He quickly becomes on guard, and waits for an attack, but nothing happens. I throw the sword, and it pierces his left shoulder. He let's out a grunt of pain

"GZHN"

I follow up with a tesseract shot, at its highest speed toward his head.

*Squelch*

A hole the size of a fist is left in his head.

He falls over, and only 2 other fatui members are left.

"Surrender or die."

I ask them.

If we keep atleast one alive, we can find the lyre faster.

Both drop their weapons, and get on their knees.

"Where's the lyre?"

"I don't kno-"

Wrong answer.

I grab his throat, and start choking him.

"Where's the lyre? Tell me or both of you die."

"PLEASE WAIT! ITS UPSTAIRS! THE KEY IS IN THE ROOM ON THE RIGHT!"

"That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Jean, do you want to take these fatui back to mondestat and imprison them?"

"I do."

"Then I'll leave them to you."

I press the stone cube, and open the door.