Buer [3/3]

A joyous scene soon descended upon the four's meal. Oddly enough, there wasn't any customer that came by to disrupt the mood.

Isaac didn't know if this was a blessing or not— however, It only meant that his café wasn't well-known quite yet. Isaac was fine with that for now.

But for now, Isaac wasn't minding any of that. He was too focused on the current scene.

"Yeah! There was even this one time when I was out in the forest when I saw a giant wolf!" Klee said as she gestured her hand. "But it was very nice! It even told my friend Razor to escort me out of it's arena!"

"My, was it Andrius Boreas?" Yae Miko said as she held a manga in her hand. "For an ancient fossil like him to still be around..."

"I agree, Andrius had truly been around for a long time." At her words, Nahida nodded on the side.

"You know that nice big wolf?" Klee looked at both Nahida and Yae Miko with interest.

Yae Miko lightly nodded her head. "I've learned about him through books from overseas. It's a great way to pass the time."

"I know a lot." Taking this chance to explain, Nahida decided to info dump on Klee. She then started passionately talking. "Andrius Boreas is one of the Anemo Archon's Four Winds. However, in the past, he was a God that commanded Blizzards."

"Due to unknown reasons, however, he gave up his power and served the Anemo Archon henceforth." She added with a light smile. "Now, he rests in his arena in Wolvendom, awaiting challengers to face him."

Hearing Nahida's explanations, Klee nodded attentively. She then started contemplating before coming to a conclusion.

"So he's a nice big strong wolf!" She proudly said with a bright smile. This was the only thing Klee made of the details

"..." Hearing her conclusion, Isaac, Yae Miko, and Nahida were stunned for a moment before letting out light laughs. "Haha..."

"Yes, that's right Klee." Isaac was the first to agree with her as he ate his toast with peanut butter on it. "Since you know who that big wolf is now, be sure to be nice to him the next time you see him, alright?"

"I will." Klee nodded her head lightly. She then took a part of her fish and ate it.

"You seem to be quite knowledgeable about Gods, little one." On the side, Yae Miko spoke to Nahida with a light smile. "Have you perhaps studied about them thoroughly?"

"Umm..." Nahida saw her gaze and couldn't help but avert her gaze for a moment before looking back at her. "That's right. I have a great interest in them!"

"Hm? Are you perhaps from the Akademiya?" Yae Miko grasped her chin as she analyzed Nahida.

"Yes." Nahida thought that it would be best for Yar Miko to not know her true identity. "I'm a recently enrolled scholar of the Akademiya."

"Then perhaps you can help me find some research materials for a novel..." Instantly, Yae Miko found a golden opportunity as she smirked.

"The Akademiya? Oh! I remember Mom saying that she once visited that place!" On the side Klee interjected. "She said it was full of snobby nerds!"

Hearing Klee's words, Nahida instantly wore a wry smile. "That's... Umm... Well, you're not wrong, but..."

Meanwhile.

Isaac watched the three of them talk amongst themselves with an amused light smile as he quietly ate and drank his tea.

Looking outside the café where the golden light of the sun blanketed the streets of the Court of Fontaine, he couldn't help but let out a soft sigh through his nostrils. 'I know I said that I'm merely a spectator and can't interfere with the story that much....'

'But this much should be justifiable, right?' Once more, Isaac's hypocrisy was showing itself. 'Although it's too early for Nahida to be released... For me, that doesn't matter.'

He then looked at Nahida who was happily conversing with other people. The smile on his face soon turned softer and gentler. 'Yeah... To see her happy is enough for me.'

'Seriously...' However, he still couldn't help but shake his head as he looked outside. 'I'm too much of a hypocrite for my own good...'

He doesn't like Gods, yet he shows favoritism for one.

He makes promises which he can't or didn't intend to keep.

He smiles but has different intentions.

He was a director, yet he was also an actor.

'Perhaps... That's my uniqueness.' Isaac joked inside his mind. 'Full of contradictions, falsehoods, and acting. Seriously... I'm becoming more and more like a Fool.'

Just then, while in the middle of his thoughts, a voice suddenly drifted over to his ears.

"Mister Isaac, what are you thinking about?"

Turning around, Isaac looked at the source of the sound. He then saw that it was Klee.

"Nothing much." Isaac lightly chuckled. "Just some personal things."

"Personal things?" Just then, Yae Miko also joined in. She then spoke with a teasing smile, "Would you share it with us? I'd love to hear what's on your mind..."

"Yeah," However, contrary to the reaction she was expecting, Isaac smiled brightly at her. "Next time, pay up for your food."

"The only reason I treated you two today is because of Nahida here," He pointed at Nahida before finishing his cup of tea. "If not for her, you two would be coughing up your Mora right now."

"Such harsh words, Isaac." Yae Miko sighed with what seemed like a saddened look.

"Yeah, Mister Isaac! That's mean!" Klee also joined in and imitated Yae Miko.

'...These two should NEVER be together.' Isaac was starting to see a pattern between Klee and Yae Miko. 'The former says something and the latter agrees... What a disaster.'

"Umm... Is it really because of me?" Just then, Nahida, who sitting opposite of Isaac, asked.

Her elongated ears then slightly bobbed up and down. "I... I can pay for them..."

Seeing her reaction, Isaac was momentarily stunned before wryly smiling. "No, no, no. I already said it's on the house, don't worry about it too much, Nahida."

"I-I see..." Hearing this, Nahida looked up and her elongated ears once more lightly moved up and down. She then smiled at him. "Thank you."

Seeing her sweet smile, Isaac's heart instantly softened. 'Adorable!'

'I must protect and keep this little cabbage happy!' Isaac's determination deepened as he grasped his chest in his mind.

And so, their conversation continued. Through Klee, Isaac learned about the recent situation in Mondstadt as well as the traveler who arrived.

Yae Miko, on the other hand, was only sharing how boring Inazuma as of late was because of the Sakoku Decree.

As for Nahida, she was joining in the conversation here and there with some knowledge.

In a sense, their little morning breakfast was turning to something more like...

A gathering.

---

After half an hour, their morning breakfast finally came to an end.

"Well, I have to go now. There are still matters in the shrine that I need to attend to." Yae Miko was the first to leave. But not before looking at Isaac and smiling. She then muttered under her breath, 'But I'll be back...'

'What did she say?' Isaac, who was behind the counter, didn't catch what she murmured. 'Oh well.'

The second to leave was Klee. She ran out the door while waving at Isaac with a smile. "I have to go now! Bye, Mister Isaaaac!"

"Farewell, Klee." Isaac smiled softly at her as he waved back at her departing figure.

After seeing Klee leave, he then turned his head to Nahida. "Would you also be leaving, Nahida?"

"...You already know about my true identity, don't you?" However, contrary to the response Isaac was expecting, she responded with a question.

"That's..." Hearing her question, Isaac momentarily made a confused expression before letting out a wry laugh. "Well... You're right."

He then walked in front of her and slightly bent his body forward while placing his right hand on his left chest. "Forgive me, O Great God of Wisdom, Dendro Archon..."

"Lesser Lord Kusanali."

Hearing Isaac speak all of her titles, Nahida became flustered and she smiled shyly. She then quickly stopped his actions, "Please, lift yourself. There's no need for such things."

"How could I not? You are, after all, a God." Though he said this, if Furina was the one in front of him right, he'd instantly accept her offer and stop bowing.

"No," Nahida shook her head. She then looked at him gratefully. "The fact that you treated me normally despite knowing my true identity... That alone was enough."

"...I see," Isaac let out a small sigh before standing up straight again. He then looked at her with his deep amber eyes. "Will you be leaving too?"

"Yes," Nahida nodded her head in confirmation. "I still need to come back. I still need to look out for my nation, after all."

'But your nation doesn't seem to need you...' A bittersweet smile appeared on Isaac's face. "Is that so... Then..."

He then walked over to her and pulled something out from his system inventory.

Afterward, he squatted on one leg to match her height before extending a hand. "If you ever want to come back here..."

He then opened his hand, revealing the plentiful Mora inside. "Just do so with these."

"This café would always welcome you."

Nahida heard this and looked at Isaac in silence. She didn't know why, but the combination of the serene atmosphere of the cafe, coupled with Isaac's gentle words, made the scene comforting.

She then saw his deep amber eyes. She didn't know why, but she felt like she had seen them before, but couldn't remember anything. 'Such familiar eyes...'

Nahida then looked at the Mora in Isaac's hands for a moment and hesitated before taking them. "Thank you."

After taking the money, Nahida walked over to the door. But not before looking back at Isaac.

She then made a warm bright smile. "I'll make sure... To return."

Yes. To her, this place was the only location where she isn't alone. It was where she could be with others and not just be a dream.

This place... Had become her sanctuary.

After saying this, Nahida soon walked through the door of light, and her small figure disappeared.

Isaac watched her silently the whole time before letting out a bittersweet smile on his face.

"See you again..."

"Buer."