The First Footprint

Naoise had been walking towards Mondstadt for about six hours already. That was the first thing that made him realize he wasn't in a game, but an actual, real world. After all, even in those games with stupidly big maps it took around an hour to travel from corner to corner. He begged that teleportation was available, since it would make his life easier. It wasn't like he couldn't walk the distance –matter-of-factly, he wasn't even tired–, but it was annoying to walk for hours on end without doing much of anything, bar enjoying the scenery which, even if beautiful, was quite repetitive.

Just when he thought that he might die out of boredom before reaching Mondstadt, Naoise heard the sound of fighting in the distance. He had no idea how he could hear such a sound from what he guessed were six or so kilometers –not really knowing how he had guessed the distance either–, but he had, and he was surely going to head that way. After all, anything would be more entertaining than just walking. Even a fight. He also had a more sound reason to head towards the fight, which was to test his new strength and his new body.

—"But really now, I just want to do something fun"— he thought as he rushed towards the scene. He could tell that he was faster than Usain Bolt –and that was without using any power behind his physical body– because of how the trees blurred as he ran past them. When he finally reached the area where the fight was taking place, in about six minutes, he couldn't help but grin widely. —Now that is someone I know—

Her movements graceful, as if they had been practiced over and over, countless times. In spite of carrying a huge greatsword, so beautiful it could only be wielded by her without being tainted, her movements were similar to those of a dancer, smooth and flowing.

Her attire was relatively complicated to describe, consisting of a black, leather maillot wich changed into a white cloth covering her bust and extending to her sleeves, which ended in a wide frill. She wears a blue tie and blue thigh-height socks with black details, and black boots that reached her thigh too. Tying everything together was her blue cape with a white underside, tide in the front with her vision, shining in the icy-blue color of the Cryo element.

Eula Lawrence, The Spindrift Knight, Dance of The Shimmering Wave, Captain of the Knights of Favonius Reconnaissance Company. Those were many titles for a lone person, but she deserved each and every single one of them. Not only because of how hard she worked, but because of everything she endured to get to where she was.

After spending a few seconds thinking about the amazing character that he had just seen in the flesh for the first time, Naoise had two thoughts. First, help her with the Abyss Mages she was fighting –even though she didn't need any help– and how her maillot fit her perky derriere perfectly. Eula was most definitely a bombshell.

—Well, time to get dirty— Naoise said out loud as he summoned Beowulf on his hands and feet. Rushing to the scene, powers he had no idea about appeared on his head, together with a Vision shining in a white light and a tribal symbol that resembled a sun inscribed in it.

With nothing but a thought, Naoise turned into a flash of light and appeared in front of one of the Abyss Mages, feeling extremely excited. If he was something, then that was fast. In his mind, something just... clicked.

—Light is present everywhere.— Naoise said as he hit the Abyss Mage's barrier with a roundhouse kick charged in Lys element. The barrier in question, made of the Cryo element, reacted in a weird way, making the light that shot out of Naoise's bounce around in it, while slightly melting. Ice not only melted with the heat that light gives off, but also reflects it. For some reason, Naoise's light didn't carry any heat whatsoever, but that didn't matter. Naoise decided to call this reaction –very originally, at that– Reflect, unique between Lys and Cryo.

(A/N: I will upload a guide on all Elemental Reactions that happen with Lys after this chapter so you guys don't get confused. It will be on Auxiliary Chapters, so please do check them out once in a while, since I will upload some info in there when I feel the need to, like with these mechanics.)

—Light gives birth to sight, and to colors.— He continued his speech as he punched the barrier, effectively breaking it with his shining fist. Once that was done, he simpy stomped on the fallen Abyss Mage's throat, effectively ending it's miserable life. —Light was before anything else existed.—

Turning around, he saw that Eula had already finished dealing with the Pyro Abyss Mage, her blade piercing its chest. Moving closer to her as he unsummoned Beowulf, Naoise took in just how beautiful her pale, white skin looked, decorated by her yellowish purple eyes, which created an incredible contrast with her light blue hair. For some reason, in spite of being in front of such a beauty, Naoise didn't feel bashful at all. If anything, he only admired her beauty even more.

—Are you alright, m'lady?— He asked while standing about a meter away from her. Eula just looked at him with a serious, no-nonsense expression on her face. When she opened her mouth, Naoise couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

—Well I have to inform you I am not, as you have gotten rid of one of my objectives, effectively taking away some of my merit.— She said with a holier-than-thou tone, clearly practiced throughout her entire life. Naoise just chuckled softly when he heard her next sentence. —Mark my words, vengeance will be mine!—

—Sure, I'll be looking forward to it, miss.— Naoise said once he finally stopped chuckling, all the while looking her in the eyes. Seeming to remember something, he opened his eyes widely and quickly introduced himself. —How rude of me to forget something as simple as introductions. I am one known as Naoise Lukssen.—

Eula looked surprised about his answer, but it only lasted for a milisecond. Then she looked at him from top to bottom, as if analyzing his being. Then she just harrumphed and tilted her head upwards, though she still was a bit shorter than Naoise. —The name is Eula, Captain of the Knights of Favonius Reconnaissance Company. Now please tell me why, in the name of Barbatos, did you come to steal my targets?—

—It is an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance, Eula, and for no reason in particular.— Naoise answered as he put a finger on his chin, pretending to be innocent. —I was on my way to Mondstadt when I heard the sound of fighting, so I simply decided to provide some unneeded aid.—

—Well I am glad you do know that aid was unneeded, so please do remember, I will have my vengeance.— Eula said, still acting like her high and mighty persona. —As for reaching Mondstadt, I suppose I can accompany you there, as my current mission has now been terminated.—

—It would be my honor to have the company of a beautiful lady such as yourself.— Naoise said with a small nod of his head. How come it was so easy to play it smoothly? He himself didn't know what came over him, but the confidence he felt surely wasn't his own. At least not before death. Still, he didn't dwell on it for long, quickly walking in the direction of Mondstadt with a silent Eula by his side.

*

A few hours later, in the gate to Mondstadt.

Eula and Naoise arrived close to evening, when the sun just began to set on the horizon. If it weren't for the fact that they just got to know each other, it would've been a really beautiful scene. Still, things quickly took a turn for the worse.

—So, Eula, any idea of where I can sta...— Naoise stopped talking mid sentence and immediately looked up into the sky. The sky, which had been clear for most of the day, had suddenly become extremely cloudy and stormy, and a strong wind current picked up. The trees rustled violently and a weird sound, similar to a cry of agony, could be heard in the distance, above the clouds.

—Oh no, not again...— Naoise heard Eula say before she ran off to who know where, probably to help some random civilians who would never thank her. Then, from the eye of the storm, a beautiful giant dragon decended. It's back was covered by turquoise fur, contrasting with its underbelly which was completely white. It's four wings were probably the most beautiful, of a dark blue color, shined with a cyan light, while it's tail ended in one huge, light blue feather.

It was amidst the chaos that Naoise noticed something weird. Either he arrived way earlier than he thought, or the Traveller didn't exist in this world. And as far as he knew, both were perfectly possible. Still, he couldn't just allow Dvalin to wreak havoc as he pleased, so he had to act himself this time. For some weird reason, he felt totally capable of dealing with the creature.

*Eula's POV*

I felt a bit sorry for leaving that guy standing like that, but he could take care of himself. Civilians... not so much. He was quite a funny guy though, and it felt nice being around someone who doesn't treat me like I was some sort of genocidal murderer. Alas, I couldn't help but think about how little that would last. He clearly wasn't from the area, but he would surely learn about the past of my family soon enough. Then, by pure peer pressure, he would probably begin treating me like a pariah too.

Sad, perhaps, but it was something I was used to. Which is why I would have my vengeance, even if I had to die for it. To all the people who hate me, I will make their lives safer and easier, so that they feel guilty for hating me. For those who help me and consider me a friend, I will value them and protect them, for they are the pillar that keeps me alive.

It was when I caught a child that was about to fly away that I saw an impressive visage. It was the same dash of light that I had seen earlier, but this time it was heading straight up, towards Stormterror. I knew that Naoise was strong –I could tell from how easily he dealt with the Abyss Mage–, but not that he was this strong.

I saw how the dash of light turned into him, with his weird gauntlets and greaves on his hand and feet, shining with that pure white light. That was when we all heard it.

—Solar Mirage!—

Suddenly, a white-ish aura surrounded Naoise. A milisecond later, he had disappeared from his place and was already dealing the dragon a blow on its back. Suddenly, there were at least ten Naoises hitting Stormterror. Just how fast was he? How strong was he really? And in spite of having these thoughts, the one thing I felt towards him was envy. Because he had just arrived and he would already be considered a Hero of Mondstadt, whereas I had been working for countless years towards being accepted –unsuccessfully.

I was brought out of my thoughts by a figure that fell from at least 120 meters high onto the hard ground of Mondstadt as if it was nothing. He stood up leisurely and stared at me with a sideways smile on his face. Then he opened his mouth.

—Your hero has arrived, m'lady— He said jokingly. And I didn't know how right he was until much later.