Amber POV
Ugh… my head hurts.
Where… am I?
I stared blankly at the lush forest in front of me, at the shrubs and the dappled sunlight slipping between the leaves, trying to piece together what happened.
I… was kidnapped.
Yes—by Hilichurls. I struggled to remember, but everything was foggy, scattered. A sharp ache pulsed behind my temples and… now here I was, tied to a tree.
For a few seconds, I just kept staring ahead, mind empty. My thoughts lagged behind reality. The rope digging into my arms was the only reminder that this situation was anything but normal.
For a moment, a dark thought crossed my mind. A wave of hopelessness washed over me.
"So… is this how it ends?"
I muttered it under my breath.
I still had so much to do—so many duties, so many promises. If only Acting Grand Mas—
Wait. A sound?
My eyes darted around immediately.
And the moment I saw what made the noise, my stomach twisted. My eyes narrowed on instinct. I found myself staring at a grotesque sight—an unfamiliar man, brutally beating Hilichurls one after another. Yes, I was a huntress, yes, I'd fought countless creatures before—but this was different. Something about this scene felt… barbaric. Too raw. Too savage.
Thank Barbatos my stomach was empty. If it wasn't, I probably would've thrown up right there.
But that man… why was he staring at the fallen Hilichurls for so long?
If I didn't say something, he probably wouldn't even notice me.
"Hey!" I called out.
He flinched and turned toward me instantly. A chill ran down my spine. For just one second, icy sweat prickled my skin.
Why? I had seen hunters do worse. Why did this man unsettle me so much?
…No idea. But he was walking toward me now.
He quickly knelt in front of me and started untying the rope. The difference between the person I'd seen moments ago and the one in front of me now felt… jarring. But he wasn't hurting me, so that was something.
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking straight into my eyes.
I tried to push out the image of him crushing those Hilichurls. My mental state wasn't exactly stable right now.
"…I'm fine. If you hadn't shown up… I don't know what would've happened."
Even if the smile I gave him was forced, I had to say something. We were both humans, after all.
"I just did what I had to," he replied.
Hearing that genuinely surprised me. How could someone stay so humble in a situation like this? Judging by his appearance, I never would've expected that kind of attitude. He even seemed… thoughtful. Bit by bit, I felt my earlier assumptions breaking apart.
Normally, I'd already have him figured out in my head.
But being kidnapped… it changes people. Makes them realize just how fragile everything is.
"No… what you did wasn't simple. I don't even know how to repay you."
I smiled, waiting for his answer. He studied my face for a few seconds, lost in thought. Then he quickly looked away, as if something weighed on his mind. After a moment of hesitation, he turned back to me and spoke.
"Actually… there is something you can do."
Curiosity stirred inside me. Of course he deserved something in return—but what would he ask for? I wanted to repay the favor properly.
He scratched lightly at his temple, avoiding my gaze.
"…I need a place to stay."
That… was not what I expected.
A stranger needing a place to stay? It was bizarre. And when I looked at him again—his clothes really were strange. I hadn't seen anything like them in Mondstadt. Even though the city was full of visitors, there was something undeniably foreign about him.
I sighed. I was overthinking again. If I didn't answer, it'd be rude.
"O-of course… I don't have a spare house or anything but… if you want, you can stay at mine for now."
Did I really just say that?
Archons, I could've smacked myself. I said it without thinking. Well… too late now.
I just hoped Eula wouldn't kill me for this. For some reason, a small part of me imagined her smirking about it… but maybe that was just my stress messing with me.
"Thank you so much. I won't forget it."
I looked up at him and inhaled silently. I was certain of one thing—he wasn't from Mondstadt. And I had to ask.
"…There's something I need to know. You're not from Mondstadt, are you?"
I surprised myself by asking, but he didn't react the way I expected.
My guess was probably right.
His presence felt foreign. There was something in his eyes—distance. Strangeness.
"No, I'm not," he said after a short pause. Then he smiled—an enigmatic smile I couldn't decode. "I'd really appreciate it if you could show me around… and show me where I'll be staying."
I brushed the dust from my pants and began walking. I knew this part of the forest well. Mondstadt wasn't far.
"Then let's go. Oh, and—" I turned to him with a smile.
"I never got your name. Sorry! I'm Amber, Outrider of the Knights of Favonius."
I extended my hand. My smile felt natural, warm. Our eyes met—and for a moment, everything felt still. Then, slowly but firmly, he took my hand.
"Nice to meet you, Amber," he said. "I'm Kane."
At that moment, I knew I'd made a new friend. Everything was happening so fast, so unexpectedly—but strangely enough, I didn't mind at all.
Kane POV
My real name wasn't Kane, but… in a world like this, starting over felt like the right thing to do.
Sometimes life throws something unexpected your way, and you either take the chance—or let it slip.
Anyway, Amber and I began walking toward Mondstadt. We talked along the way. Hearing her voice in real life, seeing her walk beside me—someone I'd only ever known through a screen—was surreal. More than once, the wind messed up my hair, and I had to fix it. And every time I did, I noticed her eyes drifting toward it.
"Does my hair look weird?" I asked without thinking.
"Oh—no, no! It's just… I wouldn't have expected someone with your style to have hair like that," Amber laughed.
So the same logic from my world applied here too. Then again, some male characters in Genshin did have longer hair. Whatever. That wasn't important right now.
"I see," I muttered. "It's just… I can never decide on a hairstyle I like. That's why I grew it out."
"I get it," she said with a small smile.
"How old are you, by the way?" she asked curiously.
"I'm twenty. You?"
"Ah… you're older than me," she said, a bit surprised. "I'm eighteen."
I already knew that, of course.
We continued talking. Amber was pleasant—cheerful, positive—but honestly… her constant energy was a little exhausting. Not in a bad way, just… intense. Still, she was good company.
There was something I'd been meaning to ask her.
The Traveler.
"Hey, Amber," I said. "Has anyone unusual shown up recently? Someone with blonde hair?"
The look on her face told me my question sounded strange.
"Blonde? Well… Acting Grand Master Jean fits that description. Do you know her?"
Jean?
No, that wasn't who I meant. But… the Traveler hadn't arrived yet.
Which meant the story hadn't started.
Maybe there was no Traveler at all.
I didn't want to consider that possibility.
"No, I don't know her," I replied awkwardly. "Just a random thought. Don't mind it."
She seemed confused, but she didn't push the topic.
Good. The last thing I needed was more questions.
As we walked, a strange thought crossed my mind. In the game, this spot usually spawned a group of Hilichurls that attacked you. But nothing happened.
Maybe I was overthinking.
Probably.
We kept moving. Mondstadt's architecture had always fascinated me—big windmills, stone walls, soaring towers. It always felt like home in the game. I hoped the real place would feel the same.
Soon, we crossed the famous bridge leading to the city. Six guards stood watch at the entrance. Their armor looked light but sturdy—leather layered with iron plates across the chest and shins.
I was busy observing them when Amber stepped ahead of me. She turned back, looked straight into my eyes… and smiled.
Despite everything, I found myself smiling back.
Behind us stretched the endless green forest.
Ahead—giant stone walls and the city molded by the wind.
"Welcome to Mondstadt, Kane."
Her voice was warm, bright.
And in that moment, a strange feeling settled in my chest.
I knew I didn't belong to this world.
Yet somehow…
Being here felt like coming home.