The morning sun rose over Mondstadt, casting a warm golden glow across the rolling hills and verdant fields that surrounded the city. The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze, their shadows dancing across the landscape. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of wildflowers and the faint tang of the sea from the distant coast, a reminder of the freedom that Mondstadt so cherished. The city itself was slowly waking up, the cobblestone streets coming alive with the sounds of merchants setting up their stalls, children playing near the fountain, and bards strumming their lutes, their melodies a celebration of a new day. The towering statue of Barbatos loomed over the plaza, its stone wings spread wide, a silent guardian watching over the city as the wind whispered through the streets, a gentle breeze that carried the promise of adventure.
Ying had woken up that morning with a slightly lighter heart, her mental collapse from the previous day's second creation video beginning to fade like a bad dream. The humiliating spectacle of her arrest by the Knights of Favonius for her scandalous "decorations" at Mondstadt's sacred landmarks had left her petrified—literally and figuratively—but the resilience of a Traveler was not to be underestimated. By the time the sun had risen, Ying had managed to pull herself together, her golden eyes regaining a spark of determination as she brushed off the lingering embarrassment. However, the whispers and giggles of the townsfolk as she passed through the plaza were a stark reminder of her tarnished reputation, and she knew she needed to get out of Mondstadt for a while to avoid further scrutiny.
"I can't stay here—not with everyone talking about… that," Ying muttered to herself, her voice a mix of frustration and embarrassment as she adjusted her scarf, her Anemo Vision glowing faintly at her waist. Paimon hovered beside her, her starry cape fluttering in the breeze as she nodded in agreement, her tiny hands clasped together. "Yeah, let's get out of here before someone brings up the 'Armstrong Cyclotron Armstrong Cannon' again!" she said, her voice a mix of panic and exasperation as she darted around Ying, her cheeks puffed out with indignation.
Ying had heard of a commission in Qingquan Town, a small settlement nestled in the hills to the north of Mondstadt, known for its clear springs and peaceful atmosphere. It was the perfect place to lay low for a few days, far from the prying eyes of the city's gossipmongers. Rumor had it that Xiangling, the fiery chef from Liyue, was currently in Qingquan Town, gathering ingredients for her latest culinary experiments. Ying figured she might run into her old friend, and the thought of Xiangling's cheerful demeanor and delicious cooking was enough to lift her spirits. With a determined nod, Ying set off for Qingquan Town, her blonde hair shimmering in the sunlight as she left Mondstadt behind, the wind at her back carrying her toward a much-needed respite.
Meanwhile, in Mondstadt, Xander had decided to extend his stay in the city, his plans to return to Liyue put on hold as he soaked in the customs and culture of the land of freedom. The recent events—the expulsion of the Fatui, the resolution of the Wind Dragon crisis, and the chaotic second creation videos—had left him intrigued by Mondstadt's resilience and spirit. He wanted to experience more of the city's charm, to wander its streets, sample its wines, and perhaps exchange a few words with the local girls, his charming smile and A-level aura making him a magnet for attention. "A few more days in Mondstadt won't hurt," he said to himself, his voice filled with amusement as he adjusted his cloak, the Shadowfang Blade at his side glinting in the sunlight. "Let's see what else this city has to offer."
But Xander's plans for a leisurely day were quickly derailed when Jean, the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, approached him with a request. The Knights were swamped with work in the aftermath of Mondstadt's recent troubles, their resources stretched thin as they dealt with everything from rebuilding efforts to investigating lingering Fatui activity. Jean stood in the plaza, her blue cape fluttering in the breeze, her Anemo Vision glowing at her waist, her blonde hair catching the sunlight as she spoke with a mix of authority and concern. "Xander, I need your help," she said, her voice steady but tinged with worry as she clasped her hands together. "Klee needs someone to look after her for a couple of days—I can't keep an eye on her with everything going on, and I'm worried she'll get into trouble."
Xander raised an eyebrow, his grin widening as he leaned back against a nearby wall, his tone teasing. "Me? Babysitting Klee? I'm flattered, Jean, but are you sure I'm the right person for the job?" he asked, his voice filled with amusement as he crossed his arms, his vibrant blue aura shimmering faintly around him.
Jean's expression softened, a small smile tugging at her lips as she nodded. "From what I've seen in the broadcast room, you seem to have a knack for handling children," she said, her tone earnest as she glanced at Klee, who was currently chasing a butterfly near the fountain, her red hat bouncing with each step. "I trust you to keep her safe—and out of trouble. Please, just for a couple of days."
Xander chuckled, his grin softening into a genuine smile as he pushed off the wall, his cloak billowing behind him. "Alright, Jean—I'll take care of the little spark knight," he said, his voice filled with confidence as he gave her a mock salute. "You can count on me."
Jean's shoulders relaxed, a look of gratitude crossing her features as she nodded. "Thank you, Xander—I owe you one," she said, her voice filled with relief as she turned to Klee, calling her over. "Klee, you'll be staying with Xander for a couple of days, okay? Be a good girl and listen to him."
Klee's eyes lit up, her tiny hands clapping together as she bounced over to Xander, her red hat tilting slightly to the side. "Yay! Klee gets to play with Big Brother Xander!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she tugged at his cloak, her Pyro Vision glowing faintly at her waist. "Are we going on an adventure? Klee wants to fry fish!"
Xander laughed, his voice warm as he ruffled Klee's hair, his tone playful. "An adventure it is, little one," he said, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he glanced at Jean, who was already walking away to attend to her duties. "Let's head to Falcon Coast—it's the perfect spot for some fish-frying fun."
And so, Xander and Klee set off for Falcon Coast, a stretch of sandy beach along Mondstadt's northern shoreline, its golden sands framed by towering cliffs and the endless expanse of the ocean. The sun was high in the sky by the time they arrived, its rays glinting off the waves, the sound of the surf a soothing rhythm in the background. The air was salty and warm, carrying the scent of seaweed and the faint tang of fish, the beach dotted with small crabs scuttling across the sand and the occasional slime or hilichurl wandering too close to the shore.
Klee's eyes sparkled with excitement as she ran up and down the beach, her tiny boots kicking up sand with each step, her red hat bouncing as she chased after lizards and crabs. "Ooo, Big Brother Xander is the best! He brought Klee to the beach to fry fish!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy as she darted around, her Pyro Vision glowing brightly with her enthusiasm.
Xander watched her with a fond smile, his cloak billowing in the sea breeze as he set up a small campfire on the beach, the flames crackling to life with a flick of his wrist. "Let's have some fun, Klee—but let's be careful, okay?" he said, his tone gentle but firm as he kept an eye on her, his senses alert for any signs of trouble.
Klee's antics quickly drew the attention of a few short-sighted slimes and hilichurls that wandered too close, their curiosity piqued by the tiny girl in the red hat. A pair of Hydro slimes bounced toward her, their gelatinous bodies shimmering in the sunlight, while a group of hilichurls armed with wooden clubs shuffled closer, their grunts echoing over the sound of the waves. Klee's eyes narrowed, her tiny hands reaching for her satchel as she grinned mischievously. "Hmph! Klee will show you what it means to know the Mandate of Heaven!" she declared, her voice filled with determination as she pulled out a bouncing bomb, its surface painted with a cartoonish fish design.
Xander raised an eyebrow, his grin widening as he stepped back, his tone teasing. "Go for it, Spark Knight—let's see what you've got," he said, his voice filled with amusement as he crossed his arms, his vibrant blue aura shimmering faintly around him.
Klee tossed the bomb with a gleeful giggle, the explosive arcing through the air before landing at the feet of the slimes and hilichurls. The bomb detonated with a loud BOOM, a burst of Pyro energy erupting in a fiery explosion that sent the enemies flying, their bodies disintegrating into a shower of elemental particles. The shockwave kicked up a cloud of sand, the heat from the blast shimmering in the air as Klee clapped her hands together, her laughter echoing over the beach. "Take that! Klee is sent by the Heavenly Principles!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with pride as she struck a dramatic pose, her red hat tilting slightly to the side.
Xander laughed, his voice warm as he clapped his hands, his tone filled with admiration. "Well done, Klee—that was quite the show!" he said, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he watched the last of the elemental particles fade away, the beach now clear of any threats.
With the enemies dispatched, Klee turned her attention to her favorite pastime—fish-frying. She ran to the edge of the water, her tiny boots splashing in the shallow waves as she scanned the ocean for the perfect spot. "Hmph, let's try Klee's new deep-water fish-shaped bouncing bomb!" she said, her voice filled with excitement as she pulled out a new explosive from her satchel, its surface painted with a cartoonish fish design, complete with googly eyes and a goofy smile.
Xander watched with a mix of amusement and curiosity, his tone playful as he called out to her. "A deep-water bomb, huh? Let's see how many fish you can catch with that one," he said, his voice filled with encouragement as he sat down on a nearby rock, his cloak spread out beneath him.
Klee nodded, her tiny hands gripping the bomb as she hurled it into the sea with all her might, the explosive sinking rapidly beneath the waves. It descended to a depth of more than ten meters before detonating with a muffled BOOM, the shockwave blasting a vacuum on the seabed that broke through the surface, sending a massive column of water shooting tens of meters into the air. The sea water fell back to the beach like a torrential rain, accompanied by a cascade of fish of all shapes and sizes—bass, cod, even a few unlucky crabs—most of which had been fried to a crisp by the bomb's fiery explosion.
Klee's eyes sparkled with delight as she ran to collect the fish, her tiny arms laden with her haul as she brought them back to the campfire. "Look, Big Brother Xander—so many fish!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy as she dropped the fish onto the sand, her red hat bouncing with each step.
Xander grinned, his voice warm as he pulled out a bottle of barbecue sauce from his system space, its label marked with the logo of Wanmin Hall in Liyue. "Nice catch, Klee—let's make them even tastier," he said, his tone filled with enthusiasm as he began to prepare the fish, skewering them on sticks and brushing them with the secret sauce before placing them over the fire. The flames crackled and popped, the aroma of grilled fish and tangy sauce filling the air as the fish cooked to a golden brown, their surfaces glistening with the savory glaze.
Klee watched with wide eyes, her tiny hands clasped together as she bounced on her heels, her Pyro Vision glowing faintly with her excitement. "Klee usually just eats the fish after frying them—but this smells so good!" she said, her voice filled with anticipation as she waited for the fish to finish cooking.
Xander handed her a skewer, his tone gentle as he smiled at her. "Here you go, Spark Knight—try this," he said, his voice warm as he watched her take a bite, her eyes lighting up with delight as the flavors exploded on her tongue.
Klee gnawed on the fish with gusto, her cheeks bulging as she savored the taste, her voice muffled as she spoke. "Mmm! This is so yummy! Klee loves the sauce!" she exclaimed, her tiny hands reaching for another skewer as she ate with bright-eyed enthusiasm, her red hat tilting slightly to the side.
Xander chuckled, his voice filled with amusement as he began to prepare some crabs he had caught earlier, their shells a vibrant red as he cleaned and roasted them over the fire. "Let's try something new, Klee—how about some crab meat?" he said, his tone playful as he peeled the shells for her, revealing the tender, succulent meat inside.
Klee's eyes widened, her tiny hands reaching for the crab meat as she took a tentative bite, her expression shifting to one of pure delight. "Crab meat is delicious! Klee didn't know it could be so good!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder as she grabbed another piece, her tiny fingers sticky with the juices as she ate with gusto. She usually avoided crabs because of the hassle of shelling them, but with Xander doing the work for her, she was in heaven, her face soon covered in a mix of crab juice and barbecue sauce, turning her into a big, painted mess.
Xander laughed, his voice warm as he wiped her face with a cloth, his tone gentle. "You're a mess, little one—but I'm glad you're enjoying it," he said, his eyes gleaming with affection as he watched her eat, her round belly growing rounder with each bite.
Klee rubbed her stomach, her expression one of contentment as she leaned back against a rock, her voice filled with satisfaction. "Mmm, Klee is so full—she can't eat anymore!" she said, her tone a mix of happiness and frustration as she looked at the remaining fish and crabs, her tiny hands patting her belly.
Xander smiled, his voice reassuring as he began to pack up the leftovers, his tone gentle. "Don't worry, Klee—we'll take the rest home," he said, his hands deftly wrapping the fish and crabs in a cloth as he stored them in his system space. "You can eat more when you're hungry tonight."
Klee nodded, her tiny hands reaching up to hug Xander as she smiled at him, her red hat tilting slightly to the side. "Big Brother Xander is the best! Klee had so much fun today!" she said, her voice filled with gratitude as she clung to his cloak, her Pyro Vision glowing faintly with her happiness.
The sun was beginning to set as Xander and Klee made their way back to Mondstadt, the sky a canvas of orange and pink as the first stars began to twinkle into view. The city was quiet now, the streets bathed in the soft glow of the lanterns, the air filled with the scent of night-blooming flowers. They arrived at the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius, where Jean was waiting for them, her blue cape fluttering in the breeze, her Anemo Vision glowing at her waist as she stood with her arms crossed, her expression a mix of relief and suspicion.
Jean's eyes narrowed as she looked at Klee, then at Xander, her voice tinged with doubt as she spoke. "You two are back—did everything go okay?" she asked, her tone cautious as she sniffed the air, the faint scent of grilled fish and barbecue sauce lingering around them. "I can't shake the feeling that you're hiding something from me…"
Klee's eyes widened, her tiny hands clasping together as she glanced at Xander, her expression one of nervous innocence. Xander met her gaze with a subtle wink, his grin widening as he turned to Jean, his tone casual. "Everything went perfectly, Jean—Klee was a little angel," he said, his voice filled with confidence as he ruffled Klee's hair, his vibrant blue aura shimmering faintly around him. "We just had a fun day at the beach, didn't we, Klee?"
Klee nodded vigorously, her red hat bouncing as she smiled at Jean, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Yup! Klee had so much fun with Big Brother Xander!" she said, her tone bright as she hugged Xander's leg, her Pyro Vision glowing faintly with her happiness.
Jean's expression softened, a small smile tugging at her lips as she looked at Klee's beaming face, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'm glad you had a good time, Klee," she said, her tone warm as she turned to Xander, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Thank you, Xander—I appreciate you looking after her. But… I can't help but wonder if there's more to this story."
Xander chuckled, his voice light as he waved a hand dismissively, his tone teasing. "You worry too much, Jean—Klee and I just enjoyed a little beach picnic," he said, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he glanced at Klee, their shared secret safe for now.
Jean sighed, her shoulders relaxing as she nodded, her voice filled with a mix of resignation and amusement. "Alright, I'll let it slide this time," she said, her tone gentle as she looked at Klee, her expression softening. "But next time, I'd like to join you—I could use a break, too."
Klee's eyes lit up, her tiny hands clapping together as she bounced on her heels, her voice filled with excitement. "Yay! Klee wants to fry fish with Big Sister Jean, too!" she exclaimed, her red hat tilting slightly to the side as she hugged Jean's leg, her Pyro Vision glowing brightly with her enthusiasm.
Jean laughed, her voice warm as she ruffled Klee's hair, her tone filled with affection. "We'll see, Klee—but as the Acting Grand Master, I have to set a good example," she said, her eyes gleaming with a mix of fondness and resolve as she glanced at Xander, her expression one of quiet gratitude.
As the stars twinkled in the night sky, casting a soft glow over Mondstadt, the city settled into a peaceful slumber, the day's adventures a reminder that even in the midst of chaos, there was always room for laughter, friendship, and a little bit of mischief.
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