//------------------------------// // 21.5- Hilfe // Story: The Chalk Prince and the Clover // by FrostTheWolf //------------------------------// “So, you said you said you had some news for me on what we were looking for?” Venti, the carefree bard, asked his friend as they were now approaching the border between Mondstadt and Liyue. After their trip to Liyue Harbor, the god of chaos named Discord had some news to share about their current endeavours. Though, Discord wanted to wait until they were closer to Mondstadt first before sharing the news. That and with the amount of times that the two had encountered travelers on the road, he wanted to not have their conversation be overheard by anyone that just happened to be passing by. “Yeah, that’s right,” the god of chaos replied, “I have some good news and some bad news on that front. Which one did you want to hear first?” “Well, let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first. Your trip couldn’t have possibly been that horrible now, could it?” the bard asked optimistically. “Actually, it was,” Discord deadpanned, “Not only did I not find anything at the border, but the director used the trip over there and back to try and give sales pitches for her funeral parlor to people that were passing by. Seriously, how she can be so upbeat about trying to pitch services for a funeral home is beyond my understanding… and back where I've been living at, it’s usually me who everyone else has trouble understanding.” “That… is a rather unusual predicament,” Venti replied as he crossed his arms, “Though, you did say that there was some good news, so your trip wasn’t all for nothing now, was it?” “Well, aren’t you the optimistic one.” “Someone has to be,” Venti smiled, “Now, let’s hear it.” “Well, the good news is that I did happen to find out where they are,” Discord replied, “Remember that copy of myself that I sent to see if they ended up in another world? Well, turns out it actually found something. When I went to check in on it, it found the little one… the spark knight, I think you called it, running through a marketplace.” “Oh really?” the bard asked, even more intrigued now, “Well, where did you find them?” “In the world that I arrived in after leaving Teyvat behind,” the god of chaos replied, “It’s called Equestria. Rather peaceful place, that’s for sure. Though, getting them back here in one piece is probably going to be more of a headache than we originally thought.” “How so?” “Are you forgetting about the effect that the Abyss has on humans?” Discord reminded him, “Prolonged exposure could lead to who they were before being twisted into something their friends and family no longer recognize. I believe the last time a human ended up in the Abyss, they ended up becoming one of the Harbingers for the Tsaritsa after being stuck in there for a few months. Last I heard, they take a bit too much pleasure if they have to take part in combat.” “So… what you’re saying is, we need to come up with something that could grant them safe passage?” “There’s more to it then that, so I’m going to try and keep it as simple as possible,” the chaos god replied, trying to think of the best way to explain it so that he would have his friend understand what he was talking about, “My copy also found out that this Albedo guy was working on something, possibly as a means to return back here. Though, that isn’t going to be enough… Are you familiar with the phrase ‘from Point A to Point B’? Because getting them home is going to be much similar to that if you ask me.” “Really? How so?” the bard asked, trying his best to understand even with his friend trying to not sound too complex. “Well, if what they’re working on is Point A, then we need to come up with a Point B in order to ensure their safe return. Otherwise, they’ll end up just floating aimlessly in the void,” Discord told him, “It could be possible for us to make it… however, we lack materials. And I doubt that anyone in Mondstadt would be open minded to help not just a bard, but his friend that comes off more like a freeloader than someone you can trust.” It was at this point that Discord and Venti could see the Dawn Winery and where the god of chaos asked a question. “Would you happen to know anyone that could… well, lend a hand and not be too nosy about it? I’m pretty sure that Jean lady said that if word got out, it would cause a panic.” That only had the god of freedom smirk as he looked back towards his friend, “You know… there is one person that comes to mind.” “Traveler, Paimon, What a surprise! How have you been?” Much to Discord’s surprise, when he thought that he was going to be able to meet ‘Mondstadt’s Honorary Knight’, he thought it would be some brave man in shining armor. Instead, he found himself looking at a blond haired teen that wore a scarf of every anime protagonist and a pixie of a traveling companion, “Tone deaf bard? What are you doing out here by the Thousand Winds Temple? Paimon thought that you would be at the Angel’s Share like you always do… and who’s the crazy eyed looking guy right next to you?” “Crazy eyed? That’s a lot coming from someone who’s pint sized Emergency Food.” “HEY!! Paimon’s NOT-” Before Paimon could continue, that was when she realized something, “Wait, how do you know that Paimon’s been called that before? We haven’t seen your face around here.” “I have my ways.” Discord smirked. “That… doesn’t really tell us anything,” The honorary knight replied back. “Anyways,” Venti soon interjected, “I wanted for you to meet an old friend of mind. This here is Discord. I know that you might have some questions, but my friend needs some help and we don’t exactly have a lot of time.” “Are you just giving us work because you’re too lazy to do it yourself? Sheesh,” Paimon grumbled. “Actually, there’s a bit of a story to that. Why don’t we take a moment to bring you up to speed first?”