Ode to the Wind [1]

"Am I... being kidnapped?" Lukas honestly asked while following behind the Knave.

"You're quite bold." However, his question was met with a warning from the Knave. "I do advise you to choose your words wisely."

"But to answer your question... No." She added as she stopped walking. She then turned around and looked at Lukas in the eye. "You are a child suffering from mild amnesia. As the adult who found you, it is my responsibility to see your care."

"Well that's true..." Lukas timidly replied and didn't retorted further.

'I'm definitely being kidnapped right now.' Lukas can now he sure of his situation. Looking at his captor, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly at his predicament. 'But hey, what can I do? It's not like I can run away from her...'

'Or can I...?' With this thought, Lukas nudged his glasses before immediately shifting his gaze and looking at their surroundings.

"Do try your best to behave and not leave my side, child." Just then, the Knave's words reached his ears. "If I caught you trying to misbehave... then I would have no choice but to discipline you."

"...yes." Lukas timidly replied in acceptance and didn't think of escaping further. He had accepted his fate. 'Kidnapped it is.'

Stuffing his phone back into his pocket, he followed behind the Knave as they walked through a dirt trail in the mountains.

It was a peaceful walk, unlike the one Lukas had yesterday. This time, he could actually hear birds singing in the distance and not the howls of Hilichurls.

Walking behind the Knave, Lukas' eyes couldn't help but glance over to her back.

'She's the succinct kind of person— direct and of few words...' He thought as he noticed the silence that always seemed to be present between them. 'However, despite that, it doesn't make her awkward at all...'

'It makes me... want to know more about her...' It was a dangerous thought, and Lukas knew quite well. 'But then again... attempting to know someone who can... evaporate monsters... is easier said than done...'

Remembering how swift the Knave killed those savage beasts, Lukas' fear of her grew even more. 'Yeah... It's best to not mess with her... It's better to just stay on her good side...'

Although Lukas doesn't like the fact that he was being kidnapped right now, faced with the might of the Knave, all he could do was not anger her in chance of surviving.

As they walked, while Lukas was in the middle of pondering in his mind, he suddenly remembered something.

He then decided to speak up. "Hey, Knave... didn't you say we were going to stop at Yilong Wharf? Can you tell me more about it?"

"And also... about the nations you talked about?"

Lukas didn't mind the silent walk that they had, but to learn more about this new world, he had to grasp the chance of obtaining new information. As such, risks were necessary.

Upon hearing Lukas' question, the Knave stopped walking and looked back at him with her eyes. As usual, a few moments of silence followed after as if she was in deep thought.

'Why does she always look at me then immediately think of something else deeply...?' Lukas was starting to see a pattern here. It was almost as if she was assessing him before taking action.

Soon, however, with the same cold voice, she answered him sincerely. "...Yilong Wharf is an area under the Nation of Liyue."

"Although it's not as prosperous as Liyue Harbor, it still holds great economic value to the nation."

"Hm? Why's that?" Lukas curiously asked. He wanted to learn every bit of information he might need.

Hearing his question, the Knave promptly replied, "It's because Liyue Harbor is where the Golden House is located— where Mora, the money all the seven nations use— are minted."

"Huh... All the seven nations use one currency... Wow, doesn't that mean that they're completely reliant on Liyue?" Upon hearing the Knave's question, Lukas' mind started churning. He then habitually grasped his chin while contemplating. "Wouldn't that mean that Liyue can have full control over the other nations if they were to start picking who to distribute Mora and who to not?"

"...an astute guess." The Knave commended Lukas for his insight over the matter. "What you say is true— if power-hungry people were to get hold of the Golden House and start using it for their own agendas, very few would be able to stop them."

"However, there's one thing that you do not know."

'Don't keep me hanging then!' Lukas complained inwardly. Still wanting to learn more, he continued. "What is it?"

The Knave paused for a moment before closing her eyes as if she was pondering over something. A moment later, she opened them and said, "It's because of the God of Contract's agreement."

"So long as Liyue exists, their contract with Morax— the Geo Archon and the God of Liyue— remains intact. Wherein Mora would be equally distributed amongst the nations."

"The currencies that flow through this land are Morax's flesh and blood. For thus did he become the guarantor of the people's hard work, wisdom, and future. This is the trust he has placed in them. Betray it, and you taint his blood." She explained last.

'Dang that sounds so cool...' Although Lukas kept a calm face on the surface, he had to admit that he felt excited upon hearing the Knave's description. 'Also... A God? Hmm... Judging from her words, they don't seem to be just simple religious figures... But are physical beings...'

'So living Gods exists in this world, huh?' Lukas found this thought interesting. 'If there's a chance, I should learn more about them. Especially that God called Morax...'

'A god that produces currency... How interesting. If other Gods exist in this world, then that Morax would surely be the wealthiest out of all them!' Lukas thought to himself. He was almost certain that the God of Liyue was a wealthy deity.

"Thank you, Knave." Conjuring a smile on his face, Lukas smiled sincerely to the Knave. "I've learned quite a bit."

"Thirst for knowledge is always a virtuous trait." The Knave nodded her head. "If you're interested in learning more, then continue following me all the way back to the Court of Fontaine."

"There, other children under my care would satisfy your thirst for knowledge."

'Other children... Huh?' Hearing the Knave's words, Lukas' eyes mildly widened. Curious, he cautiously asked with a meek voice. "Other children... Do you work for an orphanage?"

"...you could call it that." The Knave spoke directly. She then turned around once more and started walking off. "If there's nothing more, then let's go."

Meanwhile, Lukas stood still for a bit as he started pondering deeply in his mind of the words uttered by the Knave. 'She's getting more and more enigmatic by the minute...'

'I wonder... Is it wise to follow her?'

No matter how much Lukas looked at it, the Knave was a shady person. Following her would surely drag him to some kind of unexpected predicament.

'Again— it all boils down to my limited choices in the situation...' Closing his eyes, he sighed softly. He then nudged his glasses before following behind the Knave as usual.

Once more, an awkward silence descended between them. Not one of them spoke and the trip became nothing but the silent walk of two people. Only the sounds of grass being stepped on from time to time can be heard.

The Knave continued to walk along the dirt trail without hindrance, whereas Lukas occasionally took photos of the scenery with his phone.

After what seemed like half an hour, though, Lukas' legs started feeling weak. He then found a tree by the road to rest on.

'I'm not physically fit for hiking...' Supporting himself by leaning on a tree, Lukas heaved deep breaths. 'Just how much longer would this walk take...?'

Raising his head, he looked at the Knave and saw her walking off without waiting for him. However, despite not looking back, Lukas felt as if she was keeping an eye on him.

Faced with such a feeling, he could only rest for a few moments. 'Dang it... I just hope that I'd have some good rest at that Yilong Wharf place or whatever...'

Reluctantly standing up straight, Lukas sighed heavily before continuing to walk behind the Knave.

Finally, after a long arduous walk, Lukas was finally able to see something on the horizon.

The both of them stopped atop a hill and looked at a certain direction. The Knave stood still while Lukas was behind her.

"Huff..." Panting heavily, Lukas looked at the direction the Knave was facing. "Is... Huff... Is that... Yilong Wharf?"

"Indeed," The Knave nodded her head in agreement. She then continued with the same cold voice she has. "Pick yourself up and follow me. We're almost there."

She then looked back at Lukas with her crossed eyes. "...or must I remind you of what would happen if you misbehave?"

Seeing those infernal eyes, Lukas shivered and quickly answered with a timid voice. "N-No ma'am..."

"Very good." Hearing Lukas' compliance, the Knave nodded her head and started walking off once more.

'Ha... Seriously...' Lukas was on the verge of tears the more he followed the Knave. 'Somebody... Anybody...'

'Save me from this woman...!' He screamed in his heart.

Meanwhile, inside the town of Yilong Wharf, on the side of the road, a person holding a wooden lyre sneezed. "Achoo!"

"Uhh...Huh?" The person, whose nose was slightly red as if they just had an allergic reaction, looked around in curiosity.

"Did a cat pass by?"