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There is a god that sleeps beneath a tree.
You didn't quite believe Paimon when she told you this. But here you were, and in front of you is a god who sleeps beneath a tree. Well, more like far from you. A knight is guarding the way towards the supposed god which you can't even see from this distance. You meant to go to the city of Mondstadt first but maybe asking a god itself for help is more useful, so you and Paimon had completely skipped over the city to go to Windrise. You pause a few meters away from the knight posted, unsure what to do next.
You're impressed by the size of the oak tree in the middle of Windrise though.
"Paimon told you that the Anemo God sleeps all day!" Paimon says, knowing fully well that you didn't believe her in the first place. "I'm the best traveling buddy for a reason!"
"Sure," you say. The last time you encountered a god it didn't end well and you had your doubts. You stand corrected, though, and you can easily admit to it. "Sorry, Paimon."
"Hmp! You hurt Paimon's feelings, you know," she pouts.
"I'll cook a sweet madame just for you," you offer. "I'll even buy some spices to add when we get to the city, you get the top choice."
"Nevermind! You're completely forgiven!"
You laugh. Paimon is as easy to please as ever.
"Hey, what are you laughing for!" she exclaims, more of an observation than a question. And more indignant than questioning.
"Well-" you begin, ready to explain yourself.
"Hey, you! Stop right there!" someone interrupts. You and Paimon turn to the source of the voice. Which is up. From the sky. You have a feeling you're the only one who finds this surprising.
"May the Anemo God protect you, stranger!" the girl with a red top greets when she lands, a wing-like contraption folding behind her back. She has dark hair and bright, amber-colored eyes. "I am Amber, Outrider for the Knights of Favonius. You don't look like citizens of Mondstadt. Explain yourselves!"
Oh. You should've expected that you wouldn't get to see a nation's god that easily. You find it fitting for an amber-eyed girl to be named Amber, though.
"Hello, we're not looking for trouble," you say as you introduce yourself and Paimon. "We're traveling partners. She's also my emergency food," you nod towards Paimon.
"We've been traveling partners for two mo- hey! I take back my forgiveness!"
Amber looks lost on what to do next after your errant comment. You think that it was funny but, then again, she's not used to you and Paimon's dynamic.
You sigh and offer her a small smile. "Sorry, that was an inside joke between me and Paimon," you explain. "We're here to ask help from the Anemo God."
"Oh," she says. "Uh, strange yet respectable strangers-“
"That sounds so fake!" Paimon calls out, quick to defend both you and herself.
"Do you have something against the type of language usage prescribed by the Knights of Favonius Handbook?!"
You hold in another sigh. Paimon finally found someone who was as easily offended as her. Or maybe just as energetic as her. Despite the raised voices, there's no true annoyance present.
"Ehem!" Amber regains her composure. "Well, look. You've come at the time when Mondstadt is at its busiest. The Anemo God isn't accepting visitors at the moment but you can try again when the festivities pass and die down."
"Busy?" you ask.
“Festivities?” Paimon asks at the same time.
"Yup! You've come right at the start of the Windblume festival. Well, a week before it starts. You're lucky, suspicious travelers. Mondstadt is beautiful around this time with all the flowers."
"Oh,” from this distance, you do see an explosion of colorful little dots surrounding the Anemo God when you squint a bit. Although you don’t know what a Windblume stands for, you can recognize festive decorations when you see them. “I see."
"I'll escort you to the city. It's not far from here. I'm surprised you and Paimon missed it."
You didn't miss the city but-
"Paimon and the traveler wanted to talk to the Anemo God as soon as we could."
"Huh, what did you want to talk to him about?"
"The traveler got separated from their sibling during a really, really long journey. Paimon is here to help them."
"Oh, looking for your family," Amber trails off, her smile faltering for a second before shooting you and Paimon a brighter, encouraging smile. "Okay! Let me finish my other stuff first, and then I can help you put up posters around the city."
“Knock, knock. Jean, darling, you should really be resting. You’ve been hard at work all day.”
“Oh, you’re still here? Forgive me, I didn’t notice the time.”
“Of course I’m still here. And for a good purpose, too. Now I think it’s time to pack up and go home. Or do you plan to spend the night in your office again? You do know there’s a limit on how hard one should work, don’t you?”
“As the wind continues to blow, so too shall I continue to fight.”
“Ah, ah, ah. That line doesn’t work on me.”
“It was worth a shot. I suppose a break is warranted.”
“A break and a long nap.”
“Well-”
“No buts! What made you so busy this time?”
“Many things, as usual. Choosing who the Windblume Star should be this time, for one. I’m mostly concerned with a case Outrider Amber brought to me.”
“Oh? Is it the one with the missing sibling?”
“Yes, it is.”
“So close to Windblume too, poor dear.”
“I would do my best to help as much as I can, but the Knights of Favonius already have their hands full because of Windblume. Perhaps after the festivities die down I can open a formal investigation. For now, I’ve notified the Knights to keep a lookout. Amber had already started putting up posters.”
“I’ll keep an ear out in the library for gossip. But enough about work, I’m getting sleepier by the minute.”
“Of course, let me finish cleaning up and then we can go. I’m sorry for making you wait, Lisa.”
You settle down in Mondstadt in a way you did not expect yourself to. You learn how to use a wind glider. You become a member of the adventurer's guild.
You befriend people. You learn what Windblume stands for.
Amber is as helpful as she was the first time you met. She’s straightforward and diligent, taking her role as an Outrider for the Knights of Favonius seriously. Despite that, she always has a smile for everyone and always makes time for the people of Mondstadt, you included. She’s the one who taught you how to use a wind glider. She had also helped you in putting up posters to find your twin and she somehow made a case for the Knights of Favonius to help you, too.
Jean, the acting Grand Master for the Knights, is dutiful. You can see she cares a lot for the people of Monstadt. She takes her role as the acting Grand Master with intense passion and grim determination, and despite seeing how busy she is with the piles and piles of paperwork on what you assumed was her desk, she agrees to help you find your sibling. You feel grateful to her, even though she has warned you that she cannot help you just yet with Windblume so close. You are thankful, still.
The knights you’ve met are helpful in their own way, too. Lisa, even if she’s a carefree librarian, had promised to keep an ear out for gossip. You don’t exactly believe that she’s just a librarian but she can keep her secrets. It is none of your business. And although she likes teasing you, you appreciate her help.
Kaeya the Cavalry Captain, laid-back as he acts, still remains sincere with his work. He has assured you he will keep an ear to the ground and you find yourself mysteriously charmed by him.
There are a lot of helpful people in Mondstadt. Kind, helpful people.
Becoming an adventurer just before Windblume is a, well, you don't exactly think it was a bad decision but it was a decision that meant endless commissions. Windblume is a time for Mondstadtians to take matters into their own hands thus resulting in a more than usual amount of commissions to be posted before the holiday. Katheryne had reassured you that you won't usually be this busy but you find the work to be fulfilling.
It is nice to get to know the people of Mondstadt, even though it is through menial work and lost items.
Through your work, you discover that the people of Mondstadt deeply love the Anemo Archon. It is apparent from the little gifts offered to the god you’ve delivered almost daily to both the statue found in the city of Mondtstadt and the numerous statues scattered throughout the nation, although rarely to the God himself. It could be seen with the prayers whispered to the winds, seeming almost second nature to Mondstadtians. To the care and respect the people offer to the Archon’s resting place despite his everlasting sleep, young or old. To the songs, the poems, the music. To the unwavering belief, the love.
In the short time you’ve spent in Mondstadt, the people's love for their God is clear.
Life in Mondstadt is peaceful and idyllic. The blessing of the Anemo God is ever present despite his slumber. The weather is always pleasant and the people are even more.
The people of Mondstadt are happy.
It doesn't stop you from becoming restless, especially when Windblume begins. No commissions mean no tasks for you to focus on. No tasks mean letting your mind wander and getting more anxious about finding your twin. The festivities are just festivities. It is hard to truly enjoy them when you find yourself missing your sibling. In every game and activity, you somehow find a way to connect it to your lost twin.
Paimon tries her best to cheer you up. It helps a bit, she’s your closest friend in this world, but your heart aches all the same.
“Do you think the Dragon of the East will visit the Anemo Archon during Windblume?”
“Of course, he will! He’s the Anemo Archon’s dearest, bestest friend. Like you and me! If I was the Dragon of the East I would visit you again and again and again, whether it's Windblume or not. And even if you were asleep all the time!”
“Well if I were the Anemo Archon I’d try my best to wake up! And then we can sing songs and play in the skies all day!”
“Do you think your mom would help us pray for the Anemo Archon? I think the Dragon of the East misses him very much. I would miss you if you were asleep all the time, too. It would be really boring.”
“Then let’s pray for Papa Toes to wake up. C’mon, Mom would be in the church around this time. Last one there is a rotten egg!”
“Hey, wait for me! That’s not fair, you didn’t count!”
“Last one there is a rotten egg!”
Your desperation culminates in sneaking to Windrise to see the Anemo God in the middle of the night. It is easier than you thought it would be, the knight posted in Windrise strangely missing. It is during the middle of Windblume so you assume he is tasked with something or another. Still, you find yourself kneeling before the Anemo Archon, just before the steps to the massive oak tree, the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero.
He looks peaceful, curled near the tree with dandelions surrounding him. Unreal, ethereal. The light of the moon and the shine of the stars make him truly… godly.
You clasp your hands together.
"Please," you say, dragged out of your lips for the winds to hear. For Barbatos to hear. You know gods aren't kind but you are desperate.
"Please," you repeat, weaker this time. Your voice shakes and Paimon is uncharacteristically quiet by your side. She places a hand on your shoulder as if to give you strength.
"Please," you whisper, hands clasping harder.
You are shaken out of your prayers by a powerful gust of wind, almost blowing you off your feet when you stand in response. Paimon squeaks in alarm. She is holding on to your shoulders tight, her fingers digging into your skin. A few strands of your hair are caught in her grip but that is at the bottom of your priorities when faced with the cause of the gusts.
Above you is a dragon. It is enormous, blue, and glowing, shadowing the great tree itself.
You find yourself properly intimidated.
The dragon only snorts and creates another gust of air, warm this time, that makes it harder to stand tall. But you hold your ground, Paimon cowering behind your back.
You feel your knees shake but you remain standing.
“Move,” it says, voice deep and booming. Away from the Anemo God, you presume. It is a command that you hurry to follow. The dragon watches you as you take a step back and you watch it in turn. It may be foolish of you but you do not want to take your eyes off an actual breathing, living, talking dragon.
It feels like forever before it takes its glowing, burning eyes off of you. It lands as soon as there is enough distance between you and the Anemo God.
It curls around the Anemo God. Protective. Vigilant. Its gaze returns to you.
"Leave," it orders.
This time you do not follow the order despite Paimon's attempts to pull you away. You meet the dragon's burning, burning eyes head-on.
It may be courage. It may be stupidity. It may be desperation. But you miss your twin and you are willing to stand against an actual dragon for the small, tiniest chance of finding your sibling.
"Please," you say with a steady voice, not betraying what you really feel, "let me stay."
The dragon only stares at you, its eyes never leaving yours. It puffs out a breath not unlike a sigh, maybe finding something in your stare that you cannot name but convinces it to your cause. Hopefully. Paimon yelps in fear when it moves closer to you, opening its mouth.
Or perharps not.
You suddenly find yourself being carried in a dragon's mouth like a mother cat does to its kitten. Or a dragon preparing to swallow you whole. Paimon is very alarmed by this point but she does not leave your side, her tight grip on you impossibly getting tighter. You are just as alarmed but you do not trash in fear that the dragon will actually eat you.
And as quick as the dragon had picked you up, it deposited you surprisingly gently beside the sleeping Anemo Archon.
You immediately lose your balance when you hit the ground despite the unexpected gentleness. You find yourself sitting beside the Anemo God.
Huh.
The Anemo God is more beautiful up close, you note hysterically. Robed in white and wings curled against himself, he looks like a breathing painting.
You glance at the dragon, entirely unsure what to do. Paimon is hiding under your hair, still gripping your shoulders in a white-knuckled grip. She's stunned into silence, too.
The dragon only curls around you and the God, a wing sheltering you both. Or perhaps, ensuring you do not escape.
Those sure are a lot of wings.
"Sleep," the dragon orders. "I will deal with you when the sun dawns."
You look back at Paimon. She shrugs.
"Paimon?" you ask, unsure what else there is to say.
"Paimon thinks that if a dragon says that we should sleep then we should probably follow the dragon's order," she whispers, both in fear and in incredulity.
"Alright," you say. Not much else you can do, really. You don’t have a death wish.
You summon your pack. You do not think that the dragon will let you set up camp next to its god but your pack is a great makeshift pillow. You prop yourself as far away as you can from both the dragon curled around you and the god. It isn't very far, from the dragon or the god, but you give yourself an A for the effort. Paimon slots herself into your arms as soon as you've made yourself comfortable. Her weight is reassuring.
"Wake me up if the dragon decides to eat us," you whisper to her.
"That isn't funny!" Paimon whispers and exclaims at the same time. "You should know that Paimon almost peed her pants when the dragon picked you up. Paimon thought you were going to get eaten!"
"That's why I'm telling you to wake me up when the dragon decides to actually eat us," you say nonplussed. "Sweet dreams, Paimon."
"Paimon is going to have nightmares about this," she grumbles. "Paimon hopes you have nightmares too."
You laugh quietly. Despite what she said, there is no true anger behind her words. You squeeze her gently, both in reassurance and in comfort.
Paimon pats one of your arms. "Paimon doesn't mean that," she concedes. "Goodnight," she says, fondness apparent.
"Goodnight."
“Will you be visiting the Anemo Archon?”
“Whatever for?”
“Ohohoho, you cannot fool me. The flowers bloom and fade, people come and go, the tide rises and falls. Just as these things happen, you will be found by his side each year right on time.”
“...He and I have a contract. I plan to see it through.”
“Contracts cannot be used to define friendship, nor measure sentiment, old friend.”
“So just what can we use to measure the weight of our emotions? The world has changed much since then, and all that was once familiar has faded into memory.”
“I do not mean to say these things to offend, I say these words to offer comfort. If it is meant to be that he wakes with your help, then he will wake.”
“I could only hope. We will have to wait and see.”
There is a God that sleeps beneath a tree. A nation waits with bated breath for the wind to return. You find yourself waiting, too.
What you didn't expect was when you opened your eyes after a restless sleep was being face to face with the God.
An awake, yawning God.
The first rays of dawn are gentle on his skin, surrounding him like a halo. His wings stretch up, up, up. They reach up to the skies like it yearns to fly.
Huh.
"That was a refreshing sleep," he says, punctuated by another yawn. He gives you a smile. "Ah, Traveler, we meet again!"
You only stare in disbelief.
“What name do you go by, this time?”
There is a God that sleeps beneath a tree. Somehow, you’ve managed to wake him.
“You don't remember me?” he asks. “Ah, well. It is nice to meet you, then!”