Chapter Text
A familiar breeze hit Varka as he walked the paths he once patrolled many years ago. Memories of countless fights with treasure hoarders filled his mind as he reminisced on his past before he was the grandmaster. He let out a chuckle as he remembered a young Jean sending an enemy upwards for the first time with her anemo vision, not knowing that it would become her signature move. The ride from Nod Krai to Mondstat was relatively quick, and Varka thanked Barbatos for optimal winds for their sail home.
Anticipation was high as the long expedition around Tevyat was nearing its end as the city walls drew closer. Varka wanted to surprise the knights, his letter to Jean detailed a long term plan to slowly bring back the knights in his team but little did she and the rest of the city knew, they all arrived at the same time! - except for a few members who volunteered to continue gathering intel on the abyss in Nod Krai. Varka was no short fellow so he crouched inside a wooden crate in the wagon alongside the weapons used during the journey.
6 knights including the calvary captain, helped to haul the crate onto the ground outside the favonius headquarters. 3 knocks ,the rhythm Varka and another knight agreed on, lead to the box flying open to reveal the Grandmaster himself.
“HEY EVERYONE!” Varka yelled as pieces of the now broken wooden crate flew around him. His eyes adjusted to the light to reveal several knights including a very young spark knight and a very tired acting (now formally) grandmaster.
“V-Varka?” Jean gasped as those close by also took a second to register the man
“Who else?!” he let out a chuckle as people surrounded him with their cheers.
Festivities took over Mondstat city as Varkas team was reunited with their loved ones. His smile grew larger the more he watched family, friends and lovers reunite after the long time that has passed. He made his way towards his favourite tavern, Angel Share, for the taste of fresh Dandelion wine.
Many had the same idea as him, the tavern walls felt alive as the cries of his comrades drunkenly sung alongside the renowned bard with the two braids. Behind the counter, a wave of nostalgia hit Varka as he thought he saw an old friend but, in reality, it was his son with the same red hair as he once had running around the bar with his employee charles, steadily making drinks as orders pile up. The face of a young maiden he once helped walked to him with two glasses in hand.
“Sister Rosaria! Long time no see!” She handed him the best drink, dandelion wine, with the taste he longed for “ you know me so well haha!” with a quick swipe he took a huge gulp of his cup
“Welcome home” she smiled, a very rare sight on her.
“Whoo it was a long journey, did you know i had a drinking contest with the Pyro Archon herself! HAHA she even managed to outdrink me! I was so drunk that I forgot why I wanted to see her in the first place!”
“I never knew that someone could do that”
“Me neither Sister!”
As the night turned to dawn several stories have been told about their journey with members of his team butting in to add their perspective. Stories about the foes they fought and how very few left a mark on him both physically and mentally, most notably a man named Rerir. Varka often thought about Rerir and his story. How love, duty and fate leads a man into such insanity. He feels a sort of sorrow when he remembers how desperate the man was to find his lost love and how he was fated to be enemies with his fiance.
Soon the sun started to rise and the once lively tavern turned empty with little remaining past out. After helping people who were far drunker than him return home, Varka returned to his home close to the headquarters, the place was spotless as before he left he made a joke to Noelle about enlisting her help to keep it clean while he was away, he sighed and muttered “ she works too hard, I should have made it clear it was a joke”
Despite this, He was grateful for the tidiness as he passed his luggage and only managed to make it to his couch before passing out.
Little did he know that as quickly as he left, just as quickly did he return to his team in Nod-Krai,
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“KNOCK KNOCK!” jolted Varka awake. A small headache was swelling in his head after last night. He opened the door to reveal a party of three, Bennett, Fishcl, Oz and Razor.
“Well goodmorning to you three” he smiled as they hugged him. He reciprocated and gave the flying raven a small scratch on the head.
“Verily, good day to thee, most fair Varka. How fared thy journeys?” Fischl said being followed by her loyal companion “the Prinzessin says “Goodday Varka, how was your journey?”
“Yeah! Tell us! I heard you went to Natlan and I did too, I have my own story to tell, but that can wait for later" Bennett rubbed the back of his head
“Razor…missed Varka”
“Aw, haha Varka missed Razor” He said while ruffling Razors hair. “Alright then, how about i treat you three to a breakfast at the good hunter..just give me a minute to, freshen up”
“Uhhh.. grandmaster, it is late lunch.. Not breakfast” Bennett said as Varka shrugged
“That late, huh? Well let me treat you kids to a late lunch hah..just give me a minute!” He said as he closed the door to change into fresher clothes. He felt his face flush with embarrassment as he realised he probably should talk to Knight Jean about her current position. When he thinks about it, he realises how much of a help she has done with maintaining peace within Mondstadt despite being so young. One thing is for sure, she needs a break - he thinks as he opens the door to a scene of oz and razors Lupical friend have some kind of fight? As Bennett tries to come to a peace resolution. A warm feeling swells in Varka's chest as he realised that this is why he went on such a long expedition, for kids to have the freedom to be kids. He thought back to a young tinkering girl with pink hair from Nod-Krai. Despite her overflowing with talent she could not handle being alone with those sweets while Ineffa left for Natlan, if she had the freedom she would eat those Krumkakes til she couldn't move, wise call for him to have been there, he thought.
“Alright!” he claps his hands, drawing the groups attention to him as they silently forgo their argument.
Along the way to good hunter he runs into Albedo with the little Klee - he wonders where during may have gone off to. Maybe he is with that guy with the hat? Hat Guy?
“Why, if it isn't our Chief Alchemist and our Spark Knight!” he said as he crouched down too Klee's level as she braced him into a hug.
“Mr Varka, Klee hasn't seen you in FOREVER! Klee has made so many drawings of Dodoco and uhh…fish and of Lisa and hmm..Many more!” she gleamed
“I hope that the fish you drew were none of the fish you blasted..” Klee avoided eye contact as he raised an eyebrow “well…I have also made plenty of drawings that i cant wait to show you! I will come visit you soon”
“Why not now?” she questions
“For we shall feaste at mealtime.” Fischl interrupted as Oz translated “she means ‘because we are going to have lunch”
“Awwwh Klee just finished eating” her shoulders deflated as Varka stood up to lower his head to talk to Albedo
“Its nice to have you return ,Grandmaster. This city has missed you and so have the knights” leave it up to Albedo to give him a hint.
“Hah! Dont worry i will visit the headquarters after this.” they waved each other off as they departed.
The familiar sight of people chatting and getting served by Sara. Despite all he saw and fought, Monstadt stayed the same. Bennett couldn't wait another second to tell his journey to Natlan and how his bad fortune cured itself overnight when he entered Natlan, the place of his birth.
“Dont worry Grandmaster! Mondstastd is still my home!” he added.
As Razor and Fishcl (alongside her trusty translator Oz) told their stories, he was still attentive but Varka couldn't stop thinking about what a homeland means. Bennett has two, Natlan and Mondstatd and yet chooses Mondstatd over a place where his bad luck flips and makes him lucky, he certainly has an adventurers spirt with how willing he is to endure his badluck with his team - he was born to be a leader, just like Varka. Varka loves his homeland, the landscapes, the people and the wine are what makes Mondsadt feel like home. When a child is too far from home for a long time, they are bound to forget and romanticize the past, did he glamourise and forget parts of Mondsatd? Is being home fulfilling to him? He shrugged off the thought as it was too much to unpack while he ate his Sweet Madame - a meal he ate whenever he was too tired to cook after a long day as the grandmaster.
As he did the night prior, Varka carved his journey into a tale that captivated all those who passed by, drawing in another crowd. Sweet Sara had to juggle new orders coming in and listening to his story. Each scar told a new story, a new battle that tied nicely in the bigger narrative. He did - of course - leave out a few Favonius only details. Time quickly passed as he realised that more knights, who likely just finished their shifts, joined to listen - including a certain Dandelion Knight ,who probably been the most excited for his return. He wraps up his story as he makes his way towards Jean. Due to the size of the crowd, mny have questions which he jokenly assures will be answered after a “quick word with the almos formally acting grandmaster”
“I hope you have been well” she politely says
“You did a good job kid, maintaining the place.” he compliments Jean as she truly has maintained the city just as he asked.
“Thank you grandmaster, i assume you know what matters i would like to discuss with you”
“Hah! No need to be so formal! How about this, you take a break for a week and afterwards we shall discuss the steps forward”
“ A break?” she looked puzzled at this
“Think of it as an order, i know how stressful the job is, so i suggest that you take full advantage of this!” He patted her shoulder
“But what about briefing you? How would you know what is currently happening?” She questioned
“You and I both know that being a grandmaster is, sorta, winging it? I trust that you already written a report and if i have questions i will simply ask others on duty” He reassured her “ why dont you start your break with some of that pizza from the Cat’s Tale you enjoy?”
She sighed as a silent acceptance as he patted her on the back “Thank you for what you have done in my stead, Mondsadt is lucky to have had you as their acting grandmaster and also as their Dandelion Knight - i can not guarantee that this wont happen again, nevertheless you have done what all great knights do.”
He left her as she smiled. He made his way closer to the crowd when someone entered his mind.
“Hello Varka!” A familiar voice belonging to the angel Nicole entered his head. A little bit startled his eyes darted looking for her
As he turned his head rightwards he felt a tap on the left shoulder leading to strange mix of motion.
He was faced with a pleased smile across the face belonging to the enchanting angel named Nicole. Without thinking he bowed his head as said “ I will never get used to you speaking in my head! It is truly amazing how you do that!”
“My apologies if it frightens you” She twirled her hair as Varka shook his head
“Nothing can frighten me” he said
“Hah! Of course, nothing can scare the brave Knight of Boreas” She teased “I listened into the stories you shared and, my, it piqued my interest. Let us have tea soon, maybe in a few days? I see you have many duties to attend to, as do I” She was worried to sound too excited so she added the last part, as it was true that she had duties to deal with, which was just checking in with Mondsatd, for both Hexenzirkel and personal matters regarding her seelie friends.
“Sure! I am not so sure how busy I will be but I will always make time for the dear angel who aided me” He added not wanting to sound too eager, he did want to speak more with her, not just about his travels but rather learn about and from her. He was in awe at the vast amount of knowledge he had and wondered why they couldn't speak now..until a citizen, who also listened to his stories, asked a question about Il Captiano, the Fatui harbinger he met. Before being led away he said “I should be awaiting you soon, maybe we can meet in 2 days time?” he asked.
“Two days works out perfectly! Till our next meeting” She smiled, and seemingly vanished from the crowd. Varka knows she prefers to observe but he hopes that she would participate soon as she has way more interesting stories to tell than him.
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Nicole's relationship with Mondstadt is a mix of adoration and resentment. She admires the people's strength and desire for freedom and their willingness to fight for their ideals, however she resents one of the four winds spirits that inhabit a small part in Wolvendom. He reminds her of a forgotten era, forgotten by all except her. She thinks back to the angel named Koitar, a heaviness grows in her heart as she remembers what Koitar's punishment was and how it affected the rest of her race. ‘The Heavenly Principals can be cruel’ she thinks as she remembers the fate of Koitar, slowly forgetting herself and left to play the lyre for herself and the wolf to hear. Nicole is wary of how much love can transform beings, Boreas gaining the ability to gain human speech due to Koitars love and how love devolved angels in seelies. An angel's duty is to love all creatures of the world equally as they were the guides to humanity, if you love just one then how can you treat all equally? There is a practicality in that rule , however it simplifies how complex beings express their emotions. Nicole decided to be a silent observer of the world - never letting herself get too attached to one being - sure she has helped numerous beings who were in need of guidance but always kept her distance.
She appreciates Mondsadt city walls as she leaves, she believes that when in Mondstadt do what Mondstatians do as she allows the wind to take her to wherever it decides. On her walk she did notice something rather..odd? She has travelled all over Teyvat countless times for centuries - she prides herself on knowing every nook and cranny across nations. However, there is something that is just off! As she walks even further from the city her eyes are darting alongside the road but they are simply not there. She ventures into the forest to investigate further only to find something that causes shivers down her spine.
In front of a domain, close to wolvendom, four seelie courts stand. Each looks as if they are corrupted by abyssal energy and each seelie which lives in them is devoid of their blueish hues, leaving them a light gray. Nicole runs to inspect further and finds that both the court and the seelie that occupies it are both fading away. One court is cut across its wings, however there was no trance of it falling off. As she kneels and touches the side of another, a crack spreads across the court causing it to crumble to the ground. She felt her heart break as she tried to gather pieces to repair it, just as she was doing so, the pieces turned into a purple dust that faded away as the wind whistled by.
She sat there for hours trying to understand how this happened? Is it caused by something? If so, what? How long has it been occurring? Is it only in Mondstadt? Or does it spread across different nations? Why Seelies? Have others noticed? Her chest rises and falls rapidly as she feels her heart speed up and her throat grow tighter. ‘Calm down’ she repeats in her head as her hands find the floor in an attempt to pull herself to reality. She feels the moss that has grown in between the stones as she closes her eyes and allows the quiet of her surroundings to lower the noises in her head. She eases as her breathing slowly goes back to normal. The final question she asks herself is ‘Are the rules of Teyvat changing?’
She brings herself up and brushes her clothes off as she tries to figure out how to prevent this from happening to more seelies. Whenever a change occurs within this world, Nicole sees it as her responsibility to guide beings who are curious towards the truth. However, she has never seen, heard or learnt about this phenomenon occurring in all of Teyvat's history. What to do? This is a matter that concerns herself, concerns her history and concerns her friends who have found themselves becoming a seelie. As she walks towards the main road she sees the wolf spirit, whom Koitar loved, he looks restless - she doesn't remember him looking this angry, maybe it is because she hasn't seen him in a long time. That reminds her, she has tea tomorrow with the Knight of Boreas, she realises they didn't confirm a time. She decides that she will go to the headquarters in the morning, she is too tired and her thoughts are too out of order for her to see Varka.
She retires herself to bed but her mind is restless as it reminds her of distant memories of when she was an angel, oh how eager she was! She was told that her power was great and strong by her angel companions. She remembers the grand sanctuaries in hyperborea, often she tries to avoid these thoughts but tonight she lets it cover her in its comforting memory. Even if hyperborea is swallowed by the sea, she will never forget her home and those who once lived alongside her.