Wits and Elements

Orion walked away, the buzz of the arena still echoing in his ears, when he was suddenly halted by a sharp voice. "Hey, you!"

He turned to find the participant he had saved earlier striding toward him, a scowl etched on his face. Anger and frustration mingled in the man's eyes as he glared at Orion. "I'll have my revenge for you interfering with my fight. You think you're so special, don't you?"

Orion raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting to one of bewilderment. He took a moment to study the man, his gaze steady and untroubled. "Revenge, huh? I'd suggest you focus on doing well in the tests. But if you're set on it, just remember, I'm always up for a friendly spar. Just make sure it's on your own terms."

The man fumed, his fists clenching. His face flushed with anger, but he said nothing, glaring at Orion for a few moments longer before turning on his heel and walking away. Orion watched him go, shaking his head slightly with a sigh.

Orion turned away, murmuring to himself, "Well, since I've got some time, I might as well take a quick nap." He settled himself against a nearby wall, cradling his polearm as if it were a comforting pillow, and quickly drifted off.

In his slumber, he found himself in a dream where an annoying little girl was shrieking his name. "Orion! Orion!" The scene was chaotic, with the girl's voice echoing in a disorienting loop.

Orion, still groggy from his unexpected nap, found himself jolted awake by a voice that pierced through his drowsiness. He blinked, struggling to focus on the girl shaking him. The sight of her—along with the raven perched on her shoulder—was unmistakable.

"Wake up, thou sluggard!" Fischl declared with dramatic flair. "The second test is about to commence, and thou art paired with me!"

Orion rubbed his eyes and sat up, his polearm still clutched tightly in his hands. "What? What did I miss?"

Fischl, with a huff of impatience, pointed toward the arena where Cyrus was speaking, his voice resonating through the arena. "Now, as for the second part of the test: each pair will be provided with a unique artifact. You must use your knowledge to unlock it. Each artifact is different, so the method to open it will vary. Good luck to all."

Orion blinked in confusion. "Wait, what second part? I must have missed something."

Oz, the raven, flapped his wings and cawed in agreement. "Caw! Yes, indeed! The first part is a written test concerning elemental knowledge and creatures."

Fischl stepped closer, her gaze sharp and assessing. "Forgive my earlier intrusion. I am Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, and this is my loyal raven, Oz. I trust you will make a worthy companion."

Orion, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, looked up at Fischl and Oz. With a half-smile, he greeted, "Nice to meet you, Fischl. I'm Orion. I saw your performance earlier with your raven. The poor automaton didn't stand a chance, did it?" His tone carried a hint of playful sarcasm.

Fischl, unfazed by his comment, straightened up with regal poise. "Indeed, it is only fitting for one such as Oz and I to demonstrate our prowess. As for the test, I shall enlighten thee with knowledge that pales in comparison to the vast archives of the Immernachtreich's great library. Thy concern is misplaced, for I shall manage the scholarly portion of our endeavor with utmost grace."

Orion, slightly taken aback by Fischl's elaborate speech, simply nodded. "I have no clue about this world. I guess I'm in your hands for this."

Fischl gave a dramatic sigh. "Worry not, Orion. This humble knowledge is but a trifle compared to the boundless wisdom of the Immernachtreich. I shall guide us through this trial with ease. Thou art fortunate to have such a learned companion."

Orion chuckled softly, clearly amused by Fischl's dramatic flair. "Alright, I'll try to help with the artifact if I can at least."

Cyrus's voice suddenly boomed across the arena. "Let the tests begin!"

Each pair was handed a sheet of paper containing the written test. Fischl snatched their paper with a flourish, her confidence radiating. "I shall handle this trivial task," she declared proudly.

Ten minutes passed, and Orion noticed Fischl's furrowed brow and the way she repeatedly tapped her quill against the parchment. With a smirk, he leaned over. "Didn't you say this was nothing?"

Fischl's cheeks flushed, but she maintained her regal composure. "Of course! This is but a momentary setback. The sheer volume of knowledge contained within my mind must be carefully sorted."

Orion laughed, putting his hand behind his head. "Too bad I can't help. I'm pretty useless with this stuff."

"Then stop bothering me and let me focus!" Fischl snapped, though there was a hint of desperation in her voice. She mumbled to herself, "Pyro rigesvines are weak to…"

Orion watched her struggle, a playful glint in his eye. "You know, this is quite entertaining."

"Silence, peasant!" Fischl shot back, her quill scratching furiously on the paper. "I shall complete this, and you shall witness the brilliance of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung!"

Orion chuckled again, enjoying the spectacle. Despite her struggle, Fischl's determination was evident, and he couldn't help but admire her tenacity, even if it was mixed with a bit of theatrical flair.

Fischl managed to complete the first part of the test just above the average required to pass. When Cyrus announced their result, Orion couldn't resist a sarcastic comment. "Your Highness, thank you for passing the first part for us with such an excellent mark."

Fischl's face turned red with embarrassment, and she crossed her arms, turning her head away. "Hmph," she huffed, clearly not pleased with the barely passing score but unwilling to admit it.

Once the results were announced, pairs were given artifacts to solve. Orion and Fischl received a cube-shaped artifact adorned with various elemental symbols, primarily Pyro and Electro.

Fischl examined the artifact closely, noting the elemental symbols etched onto its sides. "These are the symbols of Electro and Pyro. It seems we are required to use our respective elements. Electro and Pyro create an overloaded reaction. Maybe that's the key to opening it."

Orion nodded. "Seems likely."

Fischl focused her energy and channeled a spark of Electro at the cube. Orion tapped his finger to release a small burst of Pyro, but nothing happened.

"Maybe that's not it," Orion remarked, studying the cube further. "The symbols vary on each side. One side has only the Pyro symbol, another has both Pyro and Electro, and another has only Electro. Perhaps we need to apply the elements accordingly."

He explained, "For example, one side with only Pyro means we use fire there. A side with both Pyro and Electro means we create an overloaded reaction, and a side with only Electro means we use Electro there. A side with no symbols means we don't need to use anything."

As they figured it out, Orion remarked, "It's rather simple."

They took turns applying their respective elements to the appropriate sides of the cube. As each side began to glow, indicating success, Orion grew more excited. Finally, he was about to use Pyro for the last side where the Pyro symbol was showing.

He channeled his power, and in his excitement, he used too much Pyro. The cube began to glow intensely before it suddenly exploded, sending fragments flying.

Orion stood there with an awkward smile. "Uh, was that supposed to happen?"

Cyrus, noticing the unexpected explosion, approached them. He inspected the remnants of the artifact, a mix of amusement and surprise on his face. "Well, I didn't expect that to happen. The artifact is designed to withstand elemental attacks and blunt force. However, since you technically opened it first, you pass."

He looked at the scattered fragments. "Although, it seems you might have destroyed your token, which is necessary for the third test."

Orion and Fischl exchanged glances, both a mix of relief and embarrassment.

"Well," Orion said, scratching his head. "I guess we're just that good."

Fischl huffed again, her face a bit red. "Hmph, thou must learn to control thy enthusiasm, Orion." Orion laughed. "I'll work on that."

Cyrus examined the remains of the artifact and then looked at Orion and Fischl with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, you'll receive your tokens. The important thing is that you solved the puzzle, even if the result was a bit... explosive." Orion offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry for the trouble."

...

Orion and Fischl found a quiet spot to sit and watch the other participants. They observed how each pair struggled with their unique artifacts, noting the variety of solutions required. Some artifacts had symbols for swords or fists, indicating that a swing or a punch might be the solution.

Orion laughed as he watched some participants overcomplicate their tasks. "Look at that one. They're trying so hard to figure out the puzzle when all they need to do is punch it."

Fischl nodded, her gaze following his. "Indeed, it seems many are blind to the simplicity of the solution. Their minds clouded by overthinking."

They noticed Emily paired with Bennett, the guy Orion had seen in the first test. Bennett was talking animatedly with Emily, his frustration evident as he swung

 his sword randomly. Flames flickered from his swings, and to everyone's surprise, his artifact mysteriously opened.

Orion chuckled. "Did he just open that by accident?"

Fischl sighed, shaking her head. "Ah, Bennett. This is a common sight with him. He's a friend of mine, and such improbable luck doth follow him everywhere. He can turn the simplest task into an adventure of chaos."

Orion laughed. "Seems like a fun guy to have around. Even if it's a bit unpredictable." Fischl smirked. "Thou could say that. His heart is in the right place, but trouble hath a way of finding him."

Orion watched as Bennett scratched his head in confusion, Emily patting him on the back with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Well, at least they passed. Sometimes it's the unexpected solutions that work best I guess?"

As the last pairs finished their attempts with the artifacts, Cyrus's voice rang out, commanding everyone's attention. "The second test is now concluded. Congratulations to the thirty participants who managed to crack open the artifact... and to those who exploded it open as well," he added with a playful smirk, causing a ripple of laughter through the crowd. Orion felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck, and he glanced at Fischl, who crossed her arms and huffed in mild annoyance.

Cyrus continued, "The token within the artifact is your key to the third test. Keep it safe, as it grants you the right to participate in the next challenge. You've all done well today. Now, go rest and prepare yourselves. The third test will take place tomorrow at the Temple of the Falcon. Be there at dawn."

As the crowd began to disperse, Orion turned to Fischl. "The Temple of the Falcon? What's that place like?"

Fischl straightened, her eyes glinting with a mix of pride and mystery. "Ah, the Temple of the Falcon, a place of profound sanctity and age-old secrets! 'Tis a bastion where the winds of Barbatos doth whisper through hallowed halls, and where the noble spirits of falcons past guard its sacred grounds. It is a crucible where only the valorous and the worthy may find their true selves revealed. A place of trials, tribulations, and untold mysteries."

Orion blinked, clearly puzzled by Fischl's poetic description. He scratched his head, trying to piece together the meaning behind her words. "Uh, right… So, it's a temple?"

Oz, perched on Fischl's shoulder, flapped his wings and interjected with a more straightforward explanation. "Mein Fräulein means the Temple of the Falcon holds significant historical and cultural importance in Mondstadt. It is dedicated to the Falcon of the West, one of the Four Winds who serve Barbatos, the Anemo Archon."

Orion nodded, finally understanding. "Got it. That makes a lot more sense now. Thanks, Oz."

With a polite bow, Orion turned to Fischl. "You've been a great companion, Fischl. I wish you the best of luck for tomorrow's test."

Fischl lifted her chin, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Maybe we shall be paired once more, brave knight. The fates shall decide."

Oz chimed in, "Indeed, until we know the nature of the test, anything is possible, mein Fräulein."

Orion smiled. "Right. Farewell, Fischl. Oz."

As he exited the Adventurers' Guild building, his stomach growled audibly. "I'm starving," he muttered to himself.

Just then, he felt a tap on his back. Turning around, he found Emily standing there with a playful smirk. "Did you forget about our promise?"

Inwardly, Orion thought sarcastically, 'Honestly, I did, yeah.' But outwardly, he replied, "No, of course not, Emilia."

Emily's eyes flashed with annoyance, and she puffed out her cheeks. "It's Emily!"

Orion chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Emily. Let's go eat."

Her irritation quickly melted into a smile. "Good. I know a great place nearby. Follow me."

"So, where are we headed?" Orion asked, his curiosity piqued.

Emily grinned, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "There's this little tavern not too far from here. They serve the best-grilled fish in all of Mondstadt. Trust me, you'll love it."

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