Chapter 34: The Hero and the Maiden

"Ahem, Amber, could you, could you please stand up first?"

Chen was no fool. By connecting the events, he quickly understood why Amber was acting this way. However, the current situation hardly allowed him to offer the girl any comfort; many gazes in the plaza were already fixed upon them.

"Hm?"

Amber blinked, following Chen's gaze to look around, only to realize that everyone nearby was watching them. Many faces wore soft, maternal smiles. Those who knew Amber looked at the pair with undisguised amusement. Tales of heroes and beautiful maidens had always been popular fodder for gossip, especially in Mondstadt, a land where poetry and legend flourished. It was hard for the onlookers not to let their imaginations run wild.

"Ah!"

Finally realizing just how close they were, Amber gasped, hurriedly pulling away from Chen and taking two steps back.

"I, I..."

The usually enthusiastic and outgoing girl was now blushing so deeply she looked like a ripe tomato. She couldn't finish her sentence, and even her delicate earlobes were flushed a deep red, as if they might bleed.

"Ahem." Chen coughed lightly, hoping to find a topic to shift the focus. Coincidentally, he had been meaning to ask Amber who had assisted him in fighting the Stormterror. In his mind, someone capable of intervening at such a critical moment—and whose power was also Anemo—must be from Mondstadt. Someone with such strength should be well-known, and as a Reconnaissance Knight, Amber would surely know who it was.

However, before he could speak, a steady sound of applause echoed nearby.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

"To possess the strength to battle a dragon... Amber, where did you find such a powerful ally?"

The three turned toward the sound to see a handsome, dark-skinned man with an eyepatch walking over. Chen noticed his attire; he appeared to be a knight as well.

"Eh? Who are you?" Paimon, seeing a stranger, asked first.

"Kaeya? Why are you here?" Amber’s question answered Paimon’s.

"Heh, greetings. I am Kaeya, Amber's colleague."

Kaeya introduced himself simply. His amicable attitude, however, caught Amber by surprise. Based on what she knew of him, Kaeya would typically be wary of a powerful stranger with an unknown background entering Mondstadt during such a sensitive period.

She could not have known that while Kaeya had indeed intended to test Chen, seeing her throw herself at him—and sensing her deep worry and care—had changed his mind. After some consideration, he abandoned his plan. He reasoned that Amber, as a Reconnaissance Knight, had keen instincts; her judgment of character was usually spot-on. Plus, with Chen having just helped Mondstadt repel the dragon, it was safe to assume he bore no malice. Furthermore, looking at Amber, who knew if this man might one day become a son-in-law of Mondstadt? It was better to keep things harmonious with such a powerful ally.

After briefly learning what happened, Kaeya thanked Chen for saving Amber and helping drive off the dragon. He then stated that Acting Grand Master Jean had sent him to invite the hero to the Knights of Favonius headquarters for a talk. With Kaeya leading the way, the group headed toward the headquarters. Meanwhile, word of what had occurred began to spread through the crowd.

***

Europe, Country D, Berlin, Catholic Church branch, Knights of Favonius division, Amber’s dormitory.

The sky had grown dark, and shadows cloaked the earth, dimming the room. Amber made no move to turn on the lights. She lay slumped over her desk, pouting as she watched the light screen standing before her. The flickering images danced across her face and cast shadows on the wall, the silence of the room making the scene feel even more profound.

At one point, seeing something on the screen, a blush crept across her delicate face. Eventually, the crimson spread, and heat seemed to radiate from the top of her head. Unable to bear it any longer, she buried her face in her arms.

"Agh! What is wrong with me? Why am I reacting so strongly to a character in a game?!"

She hadn't left her room all afternoon since returning. She had skipped training, instead repeatedly watching those few clips. For Amber, who had always been a diligent and recognized top student, this was impossible. Yet, here she was, all because of a video—or rather, because of the person in it.

She had watched the Stormterror sequence countless times, yet every time, the indescribable flutter in her heart refused to be suppressed. Amber wondered if she was ill; how could someone feel such intense emotions for a person they knew didn't exist?

Yes, Amber, her teammates, and everyone else who had seen Chen in trailers or episodes took it for granted that he was a virtual character meticulously crafted by the Shengshi Corporation. Otherwise, it was impossible to imagine that such a perfect, naturally formed face could exist in reality. Even the world's top plastic surgery teams couldn't sculpt such a face, could they?

Amber thought this, then couldn't help but peek out from her arms, her finger tapping to freeze the frame where the youth appeared alone on the screen. She lay there, motionless, watching him as time seemed to stand still.

"If only you could appear in this world, just like me..."

In the darkened room, the girl’s soft, longing whisper echoed, filled with yearning and melancholy.