Chapter 12: Strange Brothers

"Hey hey hey, just kidding!"

"Why is the sickle used for stabbing people?!"

The wind picked up as two figures jumped around in the great oak tree. They were none other than Ember, wielding the rosin-applying sickle, and Kaeya, the one who got stabbed.

Watching the two acting like Fatui, Diluc couldn't help but twitch his lips. The impressive image that the Black Blade had given him earlier was almost shattered by now.

"Alright, alright, I surrender. Do whatever you want, even if you make me wear women's clothing." Kaeya raised his hands slightly, sitting down on the ground.

Ember, hearing this, reluctantly put away the sickle. Was this surrender? He hadn't even thrown the chocolate (poop) or given any hand signals yet.

But oh well, maybe he should save this kind of torture for later, and it didn't sit right with him to use it on Kaeya.

"Ember, tell me, how did you get that female armor? Could it be...?" Kaeya looked at Ember with a smirk, asking.

"Don't overthink it, it was a gift from someone else. If you really want to know, she should be under my command by now." Ember interrupted Kaeya's speculation decisively. He couldn't stand the thought of Black Blade Sister anymore.

Mainly because Black Blade's figure was too large, making Ember feel quite passive around them.

"Oh, I see. That's a bit disappointing. I was curious about what kind of woman someone like you would be interested in." Kaeya sounded a bit disappointed. He was quite curious about what kind of woman would capture the interest of such an unusual person like Ember.

"Heh, don't keep mentioning me, what about you? Do you have anyone you like?" Although Ember didn't know why the conversation had inexplicably turned to emotions, he decided to continue.

Because he felt like he was quite good at this topic.

"That guy who's always fooling around, if there's really a girl who likes him, she must be blind." Diluc also walked over slowly, saying to Kaeya.

Kaeya immediately became unhappy. "Hey hey hey, what do you mean fooling around? Am I not here to cover your ass? I'm not a member of the Knights of Favonius, but I'm doing their work. Many people are very dissatisfied with you doing things this way!"

"Hmph! Just a bunch of useless people."

"You just included me in that bunch."

Watching the two bickering, Ember chuckled. This seemed a bit like a case of bickering friends.

"Why didn't Diluc join the Knights of Favonius? I think Diluc seems stronger than Kaeya?" Ember looked at Diluc, then pointed at Kaeya, puzzled.

From what he had learned in the past few days, the people of Mondstadt considered joining the Knights of Favonius as a great honor. Many people were striving to join the Knights of Favonius.

Diluc narrowed his eyes when he heard this and said calmly, "I can do what I want on my own, I don't need to join the Knights of Favonius to impose restrictions on myself."

"And there are quite a few rotten people in the Knights of Favonius." He added.

Ember thought about what happened to Collei, nodded silently, and agreed with Diluc's words.

"Why are you nodding? Even if the Knights of Favonius haven't offended you, right?" 

"Even if it's Collei, it's been compensated, and we've dealt with the knight involved." Kaeya looked at Ember nodding and quipped.

Ember scratched his head, realizing that it was indeed the case, so he reached out and made a "four" gesture.

"What does that mean?" Kaeya was a bit confused.

"In the future, Knights of Favonius members can randomly stab me three times. When they reach the fourth stab, I'll fight back." Ember explained seriously.

Kaeya was speechless. "Thank you, but also, the Knights of Favonius don't just randomly stab people."

He felt that Ember's thoughts were too detached, and he was almost becoming a professional complainer.

But soon, Kaeya adjusted his mindset. His face became serious as he said to Diluc, "Seriously, don't you consider rejoining the Knights of Favonius? The Knights of Favonius have improved a lot since Jean became Acting Grand Master."

But Diluc didn't even think about it and refused, "Forget it, I'm used to being lazy, and with me watching, it serves as a restraint on your Knights of Favonius. It's fine this way."

"Well, well, my old brother, you're still the same as always." Kaeya reverted to his carefree demeanor.

"What are you doing?" Kaeya was startled to see Ember's head stuck between him and Diluc.

Ember looked at Diluc, then at Kaeya, and then said to Kaeya, "Do you have a problem?"

Kaeya sensed that Ember's words held deeper meaning. A "?" appeared on his forehead, then he shouted, "I'm adopted!"

"Oh, sorry." Ember replied indifferently.

"Pfft!" Even Diluc, who was usually serious, couldn't control his facial expression and burst into laughter.

"Why are you laughing!" Kaeya didn't pay much attention to Ember's words, but rather felt pleased that he could make Diluc laugh.

Because everyone's demeanor had changed, and it was still early, they walked a bit slowly.

This was exactly what Ember hoped for, as it gave him plenty of time to enjoy the scenery of this world.

Soon, Ember was wearing a flower crown on his head, holding four flower crowns in his hands, and approaching.

"Here!" Without hesitation, Ember put a flower crown on the heads of both Diluc and Kaeya.

"Are you a child?"

"Childish!"

Both Diluc and Kaeya mocked, but neither of them took off the flower crowns. Instead, they adjusted the position of the crowns to make them more comfortable.

Occasionally acting like a child wasn't so bad, was it?

Watching Ember laughing in the distance, the hearts of the two relaxed as well.

Even though the three deliberately slowed down, they were not ordinary people after all, so they quickly saw the outline of Mondstadt ahead.

Accompanied by the setting sun, Ember saw three small figures running towards him on Mondstadt Bridge. It was none other than the long-awaited Galara, Collei, and Amber.

Of course, Amber was most likely accompanying Galara and Collei.

"Ember big brother!" This was Galara and Collei shout.

"Uncle Ember!" This was Amber's shout.

"Here, I made these on the way." Ember handed the two remaining flower crowns to Galara and Collei.

Then he looked at Amber, took off the flower crown from his head, put it on her head, and said, "I didn't know you were coming, so I didn't make one for you. Don't mind, I still really like you."

Then he rubbed Amber's head and joked, "Of course, if you call me big brother, I'll like you even more!"

Amber's face turned red instantly, stuttering, "You... what are you saying

! I... we only met a few days ago!"

"????" Ember was full of question marks. It was really hard to understand a girl's heart.

But Collei whispered something to Amber, and as a result, Amber's face turned even redder.

"Shy... shy to death!"

Covering her hot face, Amber ran back to Mondstadt, and Collei smiled at the sight.

Although he didn't know what had happened, seeing Sister Collei smiling, Galara smiled too.

Then Ember saw Collei and Galara smiling, so he smiled too, although he was wearing a helmet, so others couldn't tell.

"What an interesting combination, isn't it?" Watching all this happening not far away, Kaeya also smiled.

"It's rare for us to agree." Diluc's face also revealed a hint of a smile.

Everything he did was to ensure that such smiles would forever bloom in Mondstadt.

"Goodbye, it's annoying, I still have reports to write. I wish I could be like you someday." Kaeya waved to Diluc and Ember, then left.

"You can persuade Jean." Diluc turned back to his expressionless self.

"Forget it, Acting Grand Master Jean will skin me alive." Kaeya waved his hand, turned his back to Diluc, and disappeared from everyone's sight.

Ember looked at the time and felt that it was not early. He held Galara and Collei hands and said to Diluc, "It's getting late, goodbye, see you later."

"Sure, let's have a drink sometime." Diluc nodded at Ember, and in just one day, he had accepted Ember as a friend.

Watching Ember's figure also disappear into Mondstadt, Diluc stretched his body. He had a feeling that the days ahead would be much easier.

"What a peculiar person, it seems like the days ahead won't be boring." Diluc smiled and also walked into Mondstadt.

(End of this chapter)