Chapter Text
The heat was almost unbearable. It was harsh, beating down upon the figure of a girl as she wiped the sweat from her brow before lifting her chin towards the city that rose in the distance. She lifted her greatsword as she turned her focus back to the remnants of a hilichurl camp in front of her.
“A job well done!” she chirped happily, nodding firmly. “The Honorary Knight’s advice has most certainly helped.”
As her weapon vanished in a glimmer of light, she then cast her gentle gaze north towards Stormterror’s Lair. With her new destination in sight, she set off at a brisk pace, humming a light tune along the way. Most people would avoid such a place, and for good reason, but she had more important things on her mind.
“Let’s see,” she murmurs to herself, hand laid flat as she shielded her eyes from the sun, peering out into the distance. “The Honorary Knight was in need of some windwheel asters, so I might as well pick some while I’m here.”
Cheerfully, she searched the area, locating a few patches of the red flowers she needed. As she stowed them away in her bag, she pondered for a moment if these would be enough. After all, she could not recall if the Honorary Knight had ever stated exactly how many more she’d need to collect this week. There were several more patches she came across, delicately collecting the flowers before moving on to continue searching the area.
As the sun began to set and she picked one final clump of flowers, she decided it was about time to return home. Should the Honorary Knight need anymore, she could always return tomorrow and continue her search. On her way, she spotted a camp bustling with activity and she couldn’t help but stop to investigate. Even if she was a long way from Mondstadt, if these hilichurls posed any threats to the city, she would take it upon herself to deal with them here and now.
There weren’t many of them in the camp: one mitachurl, about five hilichurls, and a samachurl. The threat was, however, still very present. With her claymore in hand, Noelle approached the enemies, her precense quickly drawing their attention as the two hilichurls with crossbows took aim at her, the other three running to greet her. A smile tugging her lips, Noelle took up a firm stance, activating her Geo shield as the enemies came close, knocking them away as arrows bounced off harmlessly. She was quick to follow up with her burst, Geo energy flowing through her body and down her arms as her claymore became infused with the element, growing in size, length, and power.
The hilichurls right in front of her fell quickly beneath her blade and she hurried to close the gap between herself and the persistent archers as their arrows bounced off her shield once again. Before she could reach them, however, a wall of thorns sprouted from the ground, cutting her off abruptly. Annoyed by the samachurls’ interference, Noelle’s shield timed out as she turned to challenge her foe.
In that opening, the mitachurl decided to charge in, its wooden shield ramming into the poor maid as she was flung into the dirt. Pain exploded across her body, tears springing to her eyes as she struggled to pick herself up. Two arrows landed in the dirt, dangerously close to her as she managed to find her footing. The mitachurl was approaching her for a follow up attack, but she was too battered to find the strength to call upon her shield again.
“Go, Baron Bunny!”
Her body went rigid at the voice, a red, stuffed doll soaring through the air to land several meters away from the injured maid. It began to dance, drawing the attention of the remaining enemies. A hand grabbed her own, dragging the maid away from the camp and behind a large rock not too far away. “Amber?”
“Are you okay? I’m so glad I was in the area!” The Outrider for the Knights of Favonius was giving her a worried look, hands hovering as she seemed afraid to touch her. “How badly are you hurt? Will you be able to walk back to Mondstadt?”
“I… think I’m okay,” Noelle manages to get out. Her body was still sore and aching from the rough blow to her and her clothes and armor were now stained with dirt. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, Amber gave a weak smile. “I’m just glad you didn’t get hurt any worse than you did. You should be careful trying to take on an entire camp of enemies alone. You’ve got no one to watch your back if they flank you.” Then she shook her head, offering a hand as she stood. “Let’s just head back for now. Feel free to lean on my shoulder if you need it.”
Grateful for the aid, Noelle took her hand. The trek back to Mondstadt was horrible, her body protesting every movement she made as they took detours around groups of hilichurls in their way. As they finally passed by the Dawn Winery, the sun setting low in the sky, Amber’s insistence for the maid to lean on her finally wore the girl down enough to let the Outrider throw her arm across her shoulders, supporting Noelle’s weight.
“Say, what exactly were you doing all the way at Stormterror’s Lair?” Amber speaks up as they pass by Springvale.
“I was training in the area nearby when I remembered the Honorary Knight needed some windwheel asters,” she explained. “I suppose I was too careless… I need more training if I’m to pass the exam in the coming months.”
Amber chewed the inside of her cheek in thought. “You know… I don’t think the Traveler would want you to risk your own well being to get them some flowers,” she says gently. “But let’s make sure they get them. Next time you want to go somewhere so dangerous, why don’t you ask me to come along?”
“Are you sure that’s okay?” Noelle asks. “You’re a Knight, after all. Surely you have more important work to do?”
Laughing lightly, Amber shakes her head. “Don’t worry about my work. It’s a Knight’s duty to make sure the people of Mondstadt are safe, at the end of the day. Desk work and other field duty comes second.”
“Ah, you’re right…” Noelle murmurs softly. “Goodness, how am I ever going to become a Knight when I can’t understand something so simple? Thank you, Amber.”
“Th-That wasn’t…” Sighing, Amber gives a weak smile. “In any case, you should take it easy for a couple of days. Let’s go and have Barbara take a look at you.”
As the girls passed through the front gates of Mondstadt, Noelle frowned at the Outrider’s words. “‘Take it easy’? Oh, but I can’t take a break! There’s only five months before the exam and I haven’t prepared enough for it!”
The walk up the many stairs in the city of Mondstadt was rough on the injured maid, but Amber helped her power through regardless, knowing Barbara would be able to help. “Aren’t you always coming to the library to study, though? And you’re quite strong on your own, Noelle. I hardly think you aren’t prepared for the exam…”
“Even so, I don’t think I’m ready yet,” the girl insists. “You had to remind me that the safety of the citizens comes first, after all. Surely that proves I’m not ready yet?”
They made it to the cathedral, pushing the doors open as they spotted the Hydro Vision wielder conversing with one of the other nuns. “Sure, you had to be reminded of that, but no one is perfect,” Amber says. “In the heat of the moment, important things can slip our minds, but that is why we have our companions there to remind us of what really matters.”
As they made their way closer, Barbara finally took notice of them, excusing herself as she rushed to their side. “Noelle? What happened to you?” she asks, hands extended to cast her healing powers on the maid.
“I seem to have overestimated my own capabilities and was horribly outmatched by the enemy,” Noelle sighs. “Thank you for your help, Miss Barbara.”
“Goodness… Do try to be careful in the future, okay? I’d hate for anything bad to happen to you.”
The girls bid the Deaconess farewell when she was finished patching up Noelle’s injuries, leaving the sisters to clean up the cathedral before turning in.
“Say, Noelle,” Amber began hesitantly as they paused by the fountain in the middle of Mondstadt. “You keep saying how you don’t think you’re ready for the exam and all that, so… why don’t I help you study and prepare?”
Noelle’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, grabbing Amber’s hands in hers. “Really? Do you mean it?”
“O-Of course!” Amber says confidently. “I’ll help you prepare for the upcoming exam! You’ll pass for sure!”
“Thank you so much, Amber,” she says. “I could hug you right now, I’m so happy.”
Flushing, Amber clears her throat. “Y-You can hug me if you want--”
Arms wrapped around the Outrider’s shoulders as Noelle embraced her warmly, a big smile on her face. Hesitating for a moment, Amber returns the hug, her face as red as her hair bow. “I’ll take it easy just as you insisted,” Noelle says as she pulls away. Her arms were still draped across Amber’s shoulders as she spoke. “I’ll be at the library bright and early! I can’t wait to learn all that you can teach me…”
Just as she’d promised, Amber found Noelle waiting for her in the library, already seated at one of the long tables with a stack of books piled up next to her.
“How long… have you been awake?” Amber asks as she descends the stairs, stopping a few feet away to frown at her friend.
Noelle sets the book in her hands down as she turns to smile at the Outrider. “Oh, only a few hours. Just since sunrise.”
“Did you at least get enough rest last night?” Amber sighs, walking over to stand by the table, picking up a book as she flipped it open, curious about the contents.
“I’m doing much better, thank you so much, Amber. But is it really alright for you to take time and help me?”
Nodding, Amber glances over to smile at the maid. “Of course! We’re friends, aren’t we? What kind of friend would I be if I just turned my back on you?”
Noelle returns the smile, humming in approval. “I see, I hadn’t thought of it that way before. But yes, you’re absolutely right. We are good friends, Amber.”
“Y-Yeah, just friends,” Amber mutters under her breath as she returns her attention back to the book in her hands. “By the way, what does a fantasy story have to do with the exam?”
The sound of wood scraping against the floor filled the air as Noelle stood quickly reaching over to snatch the book away and cradle it close to her chest, face red. “I-It was an accident! I'll put it away!” She turns and hurries off before Amber could say anything in reply.
Amber watches as she searches for the correct bookshelf, standing on her tiptoes to peer at the top shelves. The Outrider watched her curiously. The book had indeed been a fantasy story, but she’d omitted knowing that the main plot was also centered around romance. “Maybe she’s just a little shy about reading those kinds of stories,” Amber muses as the maid returns shortly.
The two of them take a seat next to each other, spending the next few hours going over different things that were likely to appear on the exam. Amber knew it changed every year, as one would expect, but she still hoped that every second they spent would help Noelle to feel more confident.
When noon rolled around, Amber was more than prepared to get up and go eat at Good Hunter, her wallet full of money ready to pay for the meal shared between them, but Noelle surprised her by pulling out two lunch boxes from a bag that had been laying at her feet, escaping Amber’s notice.
“I could hardly invite you to assist me and not provide lunch for you,” she said with a bright smile.
As Amber watched her friend uncover the lunches, she had to lift a hand to cover her face, cursing herself silently at how warm her cheeks were at the simple gesture. Amber recognized the dish in front of her, the specialty pancakes Noelle would often make for the Knights to snack on during breaks. Lifting her gaze to the maid, the genuine smile on Noelle’s face made Amber’s heart race as she dug in, distracting herself with food.
The rest of the afternoon continued as she’d expected: pouring over more material and reviewing them in hopes Noelle would be able to pass the exam later in the year. As the day came to an end, the girls finally got up and began putting books away, piling them high in their arms as they replaced each one where it belonged. The last thing Amber wanted was to be greeted with a less than happy Lisa the very next day, passively threatening the Outrider for leaving such a mess to clean up.
“You’re a big girl, aren’t you? Surely you can clean up after yourself, then.”
Biting back a shudder, Amber put away the last book, returning to the table to find Noelle collecting the notes she’d written down throughout the day. As Noelle bent over to reach for a paper far away, Amber paused when she noticed a small charm hanging from the girl’s waist, recognizing the bunny shape. “Is that… Baron Bunny?” Amber asks aloud as she comes closer.
Noelle turns to her, looking a bit confused at first before realization hits her and she glances down at the charm. “O-Oh, yes! Ever since you taught me how to make Baron Bunny, I ended up making a small one to carry around for good luck!” she says. As she spoke, she unclipped it from her waist to hold it up between them, presenting it to Amber. “Doesn’t it look cute?”
“Yeah, you are…” Amber says. Several seconds pass before she realizes what she said, the confused tilt of Noelle’s head only adding on to the panic that seized Amber’s heart. “Y-You are so right!” she recovers quickly, laughing awkwardly. “So right! It’s absolutely adorable!”
“I’m so glad you think so,” Noelle beams, brushing right past the obvious mistake. “Oh, but I don’t think I can make the big ones properly anymore…”
Amber frowns, hand over her chest to slow her pounding heart. “What do you mean?”
“Well… Not too long ago, the Traveler helped me out with my training. While we were out defeating monsters, I threw out a Baron Bunny I made in hopes it would act as a decoy, but…” The maid sighs as she clips the charm back at her waist. “It didn’t work at all, not as a decoy nor did it explode… I fear I may have made a mistake somewhere in the creation process.”
“I’m sure you didn’t make any mistakes,” Amber reassures. “I’m certain it didn’t detonate because you don’t have a Pyro Vision like I do.”
Noelle crosses her arms, frowning. “Do you reckon so?” she asks softly, worrying her bottom lip. “Oh, since you’re here, do you mind teaching me again?”
“Right now?” Amber asks.
The maid nods firmly, turning back to the big bag she’d brought with her today. “I’m sure I have some materials on hand… Here we go!” Much to Amber’s surprise, Noelle did indeed have the materials they needed: fabrics, stuffing, needles, and thread.
“A-And you just carry this stuff around?”
“I always keep things on hand in case I need them,” Noelle says, pulling out two chairs for them as she sits down, patting the empty one in invitation. “And since it’s so heavy, it makes for good training.”
Amber laughs weakly, amazed by everything she was hearing. “The more time I spend with you, the more and more I want to know about you,” she admits. “Okay, now pay attention. I’m going to go over this step by step again, so don’t blink!”
Just as she said, Amber went slowly, step by step in the process of stitching together her signature Baron Bunny. Noelle’s eyes rarely left her, watching closely as she copied each and every step. It didn’t take them long to succeed, two matching Baron Bunnies sitting in the girls’ laps as Noelle lifted hers into the air, smiling up at it. “How does it look, Amber? Do you reckon it will work this time?”
“Of course it will!” Amber says firmly. “We can test it out tomorrow if you’d like?”
Noelle turned to her, giving the Outrider a sleepy smile as she hugged the Baron Bunny close. “Really? Do you mean it? I’d love for you to help me some more…”
Giggling lightly, Amber stood to gather up their supplies, stowing the extra materials away in Noelle’s bag as the maid continued to look at her Baron Bunny, quite pleased with the result. “Are you ready to-- oh…” Amber paused when she turned back to Noelle, noticing her eyelids had slid shut. Covering her mouth with one hand to smother a smile, Amber quietly walked away, returning to the library soon enough with a warm blanket in hand as she laid it across the maid’s shoulders. She took her seat again, laying her arms on the table as she watched the girl sleep peacefully. “I’m sure you’ll pass the exam, no issues…”
Later that evening, when Lisa returned to the library to close up for the night, she couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of two girls snoozing away at one of the tables, leaning against one another with their chairs pushed together. Retrieving another blanket, she draped it across Amber, smiling at the two as she gently patted their heads before leaving them for the night…