A/N: About to bully Cifera
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Heading down the new stairs, still glittering from polish, and through the newly cleaned halls of headquarters, I find most knights avoiding me while others nod in respect. I am still unsure why, but I can only nod back, returning the favor.
Leaving the building and entering the training grounds, a breeze brushes my face. The peeking sunlight falling on my skin makes me smile, and the shifting dirt under my shoes gives me a steady foothold.
I see Varka standing in the middle of the training field. He seems lost in thought, staring at the Mondstadt Cathedral, barely visible over the high walls.
I walk up to him and ask, "Daydreaming?"
"Kind of. I'm just thinking about what will happen to Mondstadt after I leave with the expedition team. How will Jean handle it? Will there be issues with the Fatui? Will other nations take advantage?"
"I doubt other nations will interfere. The Fatui might do some damage, but they won't target Mondstadt's overall well-being. And Jean is arguably a better leader than you," I answer, considering my future knowledge.
"I see. Anyway, you mentioned last time that you knew some specific secrets about the Wild Hunt in Nod-Krai, which has been acting up recently," says Varka, ignoring the quip about leadership.
"Yes, that's true. I'm unsure how much I should inform you of, but here are some general details."
"One: the Wild Hunt is a manifestation of one of Khaenri'ah's Five Sinners' power.Two: the reason the Wild Hunt has been able to gather strength is because fragments of that sinner's body are being collected by another.Three: that individual is after the Moon Marrows—protect them at all costs.Four: if given the chance, do not attempt to obtain the Iridescent Moon Marrow unless the second is already gone."
I finish, smirking at my success in being informative yet cryptic.
Varka has already taken out his notepad. This is the greatest information dump I've given him so far. Previously, I had only really focused on Khuvakki, the fact that Sandrone is a Harbinger open to collaboration, and that the Wild Hunt is far more intelligent than most assume—something that should be treated less like an uncontrolled force and more like a strategist.
With my honestly far-too-spot-on information, I hope that I can, through Varka, mess with Dottore. Keep him busy dealing with his goals, and raise the odds that his fragments won't target me, my mom, or maybe even the passengers in the meantime.
If I get to tattle about Dottore's scheme in Sumeru to someone who can affect it, even better—but that'll be when the opportunity occurs.
"Anyway, I initially wanted to just do some training with you, but I thought it would be nice to have Cifera fight beside me and learn to coordinate with her," I speak up as Varka remains lost in thought, since I refused to share anything more specific.
"I see. Alright. Then how about I get a squad to face you?"
"Well, that sounds plausible. Not an impossible challenge, but also not really easy," I reply, thinking it over.
Varka then picks out four of the early arrivals and whispers something to them, which looks like it fires them all up.
Several hours later, as expected, four people lay at my feet while Cifera rubs against me, even though she's the size of a tiger right now…
Wait. Sorry. Hallucination.
It's actually me sitting on the ground, leaning against Cifera, who is also wiped, while the knights look perfectly fine.
How? Well, simple. We were sparring with wooden swords. I have little to no actual battle experience, and I don't have the stat boost of my Lost Companion.
Cifera initially dealt with the knights easily, then got bored and decided it was nap time instead of helping me.
That's how my inexperienced ass got stuck fighting four experienced, well-trained knights who are planning to go to Nod-Krai soon.
Needless to say, I got destroyed—especially since they weren't holding back at all, unlike previous situations where it was just for sparring purposes.
Now I find myself sitting there, leaning against Cifera's frame.
Lazy damn cat…
Wait. I've got an idea.
I stand up and head back to headquarters despite the physical pain, knowing it'll go away soon enough.
I scour the halls looking for Varka until I run into him at the knights' blacksmith.
"Hey, Varka," I call out.
He turns, a question in his gaze.
"Well, I remember the armor. I want to use it again. Also, I want to see if I lost any strength from it," I say, rubbing the back of my head.
The smithy freezes. I hear hinges squeal, and all heads turn toward me.
I continue, "If I can move without too much difficulty in the armor, then maybe those weights can be added. You know, the ones you said you chose not to put on."
"…Right. Okay. Did you hit your head on stone or something?" Varka asks, looking at me like I'm insane.
Probably because I am.
Simply put, I didn't enjoy having my ass handed to me when, prior to this, I'd been the one doing it. I don't have the time to gain experience, but I do have the opportunity to gain absurd strength at relatively low cost.
"If only that was the reason," I reply a minute late.
"I see."
Without another word, Varka heads toward the training field. I follow, exiting through a different door this time.
About ten minutes later, we arrive at the storage site for the armor—the one that weighs a quarter ton by itself.
"You do know that even half the weights double the total weight, right?" Varka asks, still eyeing me strangely.
"No, I didn't. But thank you for telling me," I say, smiling back with the brightest and purest smile I can muster.
It takes another ten minutes to put the armor on, then another five to attach the weights.
I can barely stand, but maybe that's for the best.
I confirm that I'm fine. Varka nods, then leaves, but not before saying, "If you enter the halls with that armor on, the repairs come out of your pocket this time."
The first hour is spent simply walking around the field. My muscles tear, then somehow reconstitute at a noticeable speed.
My breathing is heavy, and I genuinely wonder if this was worth it. As my body slowly adapts, I even start jogging.
The second hour is spent jogging until I'm able to run.
Unfortunately, someone opens a door as I'm running, and I barrel straight through it, knocking them over.
It takes a good eight meters to kill my momentum. When I turn around, I see a maid—Noelle—lying on the ground, clearly dizzy.
I walk over and help her up, leaning her against the wall.
After a minute or two, she notices me—or rather, the armor—and asks, "Grand Master Varka?"
I sweat-drop. "Ah. Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not Varka."
Her eyes widen. Then she remembers something important and bolts.
"Sorry about that! I really need to go somewhere right now! Apologies for taking up your time!"
I blink, then chuckle to myself.
The third hour, I try actual exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, squats.
A task nearly impossible in full armor. But since most of the weight is on the legs instead of the torso, it's technically doable.
At first, I can only manage three sit-ups, three push-ups, three squats, and three burpees before all strength leaves my body.
The fourth hour comes and goes. I keep going—stretching, jumping, hoping none of this backfires spectacularly.
The fifth hour arrives as the sun begins to set.
Varka shows up, accompanied by a blond, blue-eyed man in a white coat, a star marking his neck.
Albedo, most likely—though I can't confirm.
The armor is removed. Albedo gives me a checkup. Alchemy or not, he clearly understands the human body.
"You are… different," he says. "Elemental energy flows through you. All of it. You can't control it, but it heals you. I believe this is why you adapt so quickly to such absurd strain."
"Hah. Well, isn't that something new?" I reply rhetorically.
"I must ask—even if it's rude—may I collect some of your blood to study? You have the highest natural elemental affinity I've ever seen."
"Not for free," I answer. "Teach me the basics of alchemy first. And I'll agree, as long as you only study my blood while I'm present."
"That can be arranged," Albedo says.
"Also," I add, "my cat has potential but is extremely lazy. Could you design some weights for her? She can change her size freely. If she gets physically stronger, we both benefit."
Cifera turns her head toward me, eyes narrowed.
I smirk. "I definitely dare to."
I summon her back to normal size and grab her by the scruff.
What follows can be summarized as me ordering Cifera, for the rest of the day, not to disobey Albedo unless it involves blood or personal information.
Albedo agrees to help and leads her away.
I spar briefly with Varka afterward. I'm still weaker than him physically, but more agile and flexible.
I can't beat him in strength, durability, or raw speed—but I can outdo him in finesse and unpredictability, forcing caution.
I lose at a 1–4 ratio. He adapts fast.
I find myself leaving for home.
I then see Mom being cornered by some of Mondstadt's nobility. They try to reach for her, but quite loudly I ask, "WHAT. DO. YOU. INBREEDS. THINK. YOU. ARE. DOING?"
This makes them pause before several faces scrunch up and one of them speaks. "Boy, mind your own business before things get ugly."
I chuckle, then louder, and finally start laughing. "HAHAHA! None of my business? None of my business that you are harassing my mother?"
At this, some of them seem a bit off, likely thinking to back off until the leader calls out, "Seize him. He will be good motivation for this woman not to resist."
Hearing this, all pretense drops as I take "Lost Companion" out of my spatial storage and command, "Laika, get her out of there."
This has the small red 'lizard' that was around Arye's neck suddenly enlarge and grab Arye by her shoulders, lifting her into the sky and out of harm's way.
I then see several guards chase after Arye while I myself am being surrounded by several 'guards'—more like mercenaries.
I unsheathe my sword, ready to charge the ones circling behind me so that I can run after the ones chasing my mom.
That is until I hear, "WEAPONS DOWN!" I turn my head to the side only to find Jean and Kaeya with several knights who seemed to be out on patrol as well as one who is breathing heavily, likely a messenger.
Relaxing, I put my sword away, and the mercenaries, unwilling to have a confrontation with two vision holders and many knights, also back off.
The nobles and I are then brought in for questioning. It takes an hour, but I am released while the nobles are just fined a certain amount....
They aren't likely to leave this be, are they?
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A/N: I have been a little busy as University and family matters as well getting a job become more so important so apologies for the inconsistent updates.
Powerstones are appreciated.
Comments are more so.
Have a good day/night