Nightmare or A Vision

Orion drifted into a fitful sleep, his mind swirling with fragments of unanswered questions. In his dreams, he found himself in a dark, shadowy realm, an eerie contrast to the bright and bustling city of Mondstadt.

He was a child again, restrained under a strange light mechanism that hung above him, casting an unnatural glow. The light wasn't from the sun; it felt otherworldly, almost alive. His limbs were held down by unseen forces, and he struggled against the invisible bonds. "What is happening to me? I CAN'T MOVE!" Orion cried out, fear consuming him.

Blurry figures surrounded him, their faces indistinct in the dim light. He could hear snippets of conversation, muffled and unclear.

"But he is only a child..." a voice said, filled with concern and desperation.

"What is going on? Where am I?" Orion's thoughts raced as he tried to make sense of the scene unfolding around him. The dreamscape shifted, and he could make out the faint outline of a temple, ancient and crumbling. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, making it hard to breathe. The person speaking seemed to be arguing with someone else, their words becoming even more fragmented and distorted.

"He is the only one... the new...." The voice continued, but the rest of the sentence was lost in a haze.

The vision grew darker, the details slipping away as Orion tried to grasp onto them. His heart pounded in his chest, fear and confusion mingling into a palpable dread. The light from the mechanism above dimmed, and the shadows closed in around him.

Suddenly, the dream plunged into complete darkness, and Orion felt himself falling into a void. He jolted awake, gasping for breath, his body covered in sweat. His heart raced, and he struggled to shake off the lingering terror of the dream.

He sat up in bed, his mind still reeling from the vivid nightmare. "What was that place? And who were those people?" The fragments of the dream echoed in his mind, the voices and images blurring together into a maddening puzzle. "I can't shake this feeling that the place I saw was familiar."

Orion knew he wouldn't find answers lying in bed. He needed to understand the strange connection between whatever he saw and his current situation. He composed himself, sat up straight, and left his room. In the halls of the Knights headquarters, he met Jean as if she was waiting for him to wake up.

Jean noticed his pale face and furrowed her brows in concern. "You look like you've seen a ghost or something," she remarked, her voice tinged with worry. Orion forced a weak smile, trying to brush off her concern. "Just a nightmare, that's all," he replied, his tone casual but his eyes betraying a deeper unease.

Jean wasn't convinced but decided not to press further. "Alright then," she said, not quite buying his words. "You should wait a bit for Noelle to come. She's a knight-maid in our ranks and will help provide you with any service you need."

Orion's face turned red, and he asked, confused, "What kind of service?" Jean chuckled. "Silly, what do you think? She's a maid knight, and she loves helping people. I'm sure she would be a great help to you. She can provide you with knight clothes if you want."

Orion quickly replied, "No, that won't be necessary. I like my clothes. Plus, you'll have to excuse me, but I must leave today."

Jean, fully aware that he had agreed to stay for one night at the Knights' headquarters, showed a bit of sadness on her face but agreed. Orion noticed her disappointment and said, "Thank you for being understanding." With a final appreciative nod to Jean, Orion turned and made his way out of the Knights of Favonius headquarters. The grand doors of the building creaked softly as he pushed them open.

…

As Orion wandered through Mondstadt, he thought to himself, "Well, yesterday I didn't explore this part of the city with Kaeya." He noticed what seemed like a big broken statue of a girl being rebuilt. "That girl looks interesting," he mused. "I guess she might be someone important to this city." But he didn't think more about it and continued his stroll until he reached a cathedral.

He was in awe of the building because it looked so different from any other in the city. He stood there, took in the air for a bit, and felt at ease. Eventually, he even napped, only to wake up suddenly, exclaiming, "Oh! Diluc! I totally forgot that I agreed to go see him! Oh, the tavern, shoot!, I didn't even ask what the name of the tavern is."

Just then, Orion noticed a familiar figure flying towards him. "What the..." he muttered as Amber landed next to him.

"Oh, Orion!" Amber exclaimed, enthusiastic as ever. "How are you feeling today?"

"Yeah, I'm feeling quite refreshed, especially while I'm here," Orion replied, momentarily forgetting about her flying. He then added, "What's with the wings?"

"Oh, you mean the glider?" Amber said with a smile. "I practice around the statue and cathedral occasionally. Plus, I'm the gliding champion of Mondstadt."

"That sounds amazing. I wouldn't mind having one of those gliders," Orion remarked.

"I can get you one, but it will take a bit of time to make," Amber offered.

"You don't have to if it's bothersome," Orion replied, "and I can't really pay you."

"No, no, no, you don't have to pay anything," Amber insisted. "Consider it a gift from the City of Freedom. Flying freely is the pinnacle of what this city is all about, at least that's what I think."

Orion stayed silent, unsure of what to say. Absorbed in the conversation, he remembered that he had to ask about Diluc's tavern. He asked her carefully, not wanting to reveal Diluc's identity, "By the way, Amber, do you know where I can find a tavern owned by someone young?"

Amber was surprised by the peculiar question. "A young owner? Well, I'd say it has to be either the Cat's Tail, owned by a young lady named Margaret, or Angel's Share, which is owned by Diluc."

Orion responded quickly, "Diluc? Do you know him?" She replied sarcastically, "Who doesn't? Diluc is one of the most important and influential figures in all of Mondstadt."

"I see, and where can I find his tavern?" he asked. "Come with me, I'll show you. As it happens, I have business nearby his tavern," Amber offered.

…

As they set off, Orion turned to Amber. "Thank you, by the way, for helping me yesterday when you and Kaeya found me in that crater. I probably would have wandered aimlessly because of my amnesia if nobody had found me there."

Amber smiled warmly. "No problem at all, Orion. The people of Mondstadt are quite nice to foreign visitors. We believe in helping those in need, and I'm glad we could help you. Besides, Kaeya and I were just doing our duty."

Orion felt a sense of gratitude and relief. "It's good to know there are kind people here. I feel a bit more at ease knowing that." Amber nodded. "Mondstadt is a city of freedom and friendship. You'll see that more and more as you spend time here." Before she finished, she pointed ahead. "Oh, that's Angel's Share. We're here. I'll leave you now, Orion. Be seeing ya." "Thanks again, Amber," Orion said.

Orion then noticed a person outside the tavern who seemed to be waiting for someone. The moment their eyes met, the person said, "Master Orion, the young master is waiting inside." Orion, confused, asked, "You know me?"

The person replied, "Of course, the young master already instructed me to wait for you and naturally provided a detailed description of you."

Orion thought to himself, "I see then." He entered the tavern, which was bustling with drunkards, people playing cards, and general merriment. The air was filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses.

As he made his way through the crowd, he noticed the bartender, who happened to be Diluc himself. Diluc looked up as Orion approached and said formally, "Welcome, Orion. You are late."

Orion felt a flash of anger. Diluc hadn't told him the location of the tavern, and it had taken him a while to find it. He took a deep breath, pushing the irritation down. "It's a nice place," he said, his tone as neutral as he could manage.

Diluc's eyes softened slightly. "Yes, it is. It's quite lively around this time of day, which is why I said you were late. I was expecting you sooner so we could talk without worry."

Orion snapped, unable to hold back his frustration. "It's your fault! You didn't mention where I can find your tavern!"

Diluc's expression changed for a moment, then he smiled. "I haven't? Well, that's on me, Orion. In that case, here, have a drink." He handed Orion a glass filled with a rich, greenish liquid.

Orion took the glass and, without hesitation, chugged the drink in one go. He set the empty glass back on the bar and asked, "It's pretty good. What's in it?"

Diluc raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "You drank it all without asking what it is first?" Diluc smiled, clearly amused. "It's just apple cider. One of my favorites."

Orion looked around the tavern, then back at Diluc. "Isn't this a bar? And I'm actually surprised that you are the bartender here, after that 'little' night look"

Diluc chuckled softly. "It's a tavern, yes, but we serve more than just alcohol. And as for me being the bartender, I have my reasons." Orion leaned forward, resting his elbows on the bar. "Alright then, pour me one of your best wines."

Diluc shook his head. "I can't do that. I want your mind to be in the best shape possible."

Orion frowned. "I'm not a child, you know? You don't seem that much older than me. Or is there a specific rule for this in the city?" Diluc smiled. "No specific rule. I just want you to be in a clear state of mind today because there's a change of plans. We're not staying here. Let's go to my estate." Orion couldn't hide his disappointment. "Ugh, fine."

"Charles," Diluc called, turning to the dependable bartender who was restocking the shelves with bottles of wine and spirits. "I'm done for the day. I'm leaving the tavern in your hands."

Charles looked up, nodding as he placed the last bottle on the shelf. "No problem, Master Diluc. Everything is under control here. Enjoy your day."

Diluc hung up his apron and gave a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Charles. I trust you'll manage just fine."

…

Orion and Diluc arrived at Dawn Winery, the expansive vineyard stretching out before them. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the neatly arranged rows of grapevines. The air was filled with the sweet scent of ripe grapes and the distant hum of cicadas.

Orion took a deep breath, feeling an unexpected sense of peace wash over him. "I like the vibes of this place," he said, genuinely impressed.

Diluc nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's a place of tranquility. A contrast to the bustling city of Mondstadt."

They walked through the vineyard, the soft crunch of gravel under their boots adding to the serene atmosphere. Orion glanced around, taking in the sight of workers tending to the vines and the majestic winery building in the distance.

"Do you often come here?" Orion asked, curious.

Diluc nodded. "This is my home. It's where I come to find solace and to oversee the production of our wines. Dawn Winery has been in my family for generations."

Orion felt a pang of envy at the thought of such a rich heritage and a place to call home. "It's beautiful," he said simply.

Diluc led him towards the main building, its grand architecture a testament to the winery's long history. As they approached, a pair of large wooden doors swung open, revealing a cozy interior filled with the rich aroma of aged wine and polished wood.

"Welcome to Dawn Winery," Diluc said, his tone formal yet warm. "Let's head to my study. We have much to discuss."