Chapter 1: Helping out at the Library

“Here’s today’s results.” I handed Katheryne the commission slip, with the notes of my labor.
Unlike the……unique situation I’d had with Amber a month ago, it had been rather quiet in the areas I’d been reporting on.
There was apparently still rumors of unusually dangerous Hilichurls and beasts near the Brightcrown Canyons, but beyond that strange cave, nothing I’d found suggested it was true.

“Thank you for your hard work!” Katheryne stated, as she took the slip, and compared it to the pay guide she had.
This job would ensure I could have some time off now, since I’d finally been able to afford an improved Windglider. I’d been taking reduce pay since the cave, since most of my kits had been ruined by the intense pyro energy, and the Guild was happy.
Outside of the Oceanid samples, most of my other samples had been ruined, with my notes and the discovery of that cave being the only reason I’d still gotten paid.
The Guild had been apologetic, since I had been trapped for atleast a week, but they couldn’t pay the full price for jobs that weren’t properly finished.

Katheryne was still staring at the payment guide, seemingly confused about something.
“Is there something wrong?” I asked. She was normally known quick and efficient dealings, so her taking a while was concerning me.

My comment seemed to ground her back in reality.
“My apologies.” She said, preparing a payment pouch. Before handing it to me, she pulled out a different book than the two I knew of, and pulled out a slip.
“I have just been informed that I am to give you this urgent assignment, worth roughly a week’s pay.” She whispered, as she put the slip in my hand with the payment.

“Something urgent?” I asked, starting to be concerned. Unlike the Adventurers, Surveyors didn’t get special assignments.

“Oh not at all. I was just going along with the instructions on the slip. Ad Astra Abyssoque!” She smiled brightly, my concern turning to confusion.
I repeated the slogan, which was how I knew she was ready to deal with the next Adventurer. Moving to the side, I pocketed my pay, then checked the slip.

Please come to the Knight’ of Favonius’ library as soon as you receive this note – Lisa Minci

I was certain that this ‘Lisa Minci’ could only be the librarian of the Knights.
Which just made me even more confused.
Unlike with the Alchemists and some of the Mages who resided in Mondstadt, I couldn’t even recall the Knights’ Librarian ever actually requesting the services of a Surveyor before. From what I knew of her, despite her being a well renowned Mage, she was happy just looking after the Library.
So why did she need my help?
Maybe it has something to do with that cave? But you’d think she’d get all the information she’d need from Amber……
Not being someone to turn up a week’s pay for one job, I made my way to the headquarters of the Knights of Favonious.

——————————————–

As I entered the splendid area that was known as the Library of the Knights of Favonious, I made the decision to come here more often, on my days off.
I might not read for pleasure as much as i did when I was younger, but I recall the Alchemists also came here for research, which meant I might be able to find books that would help my Survey work.
I noticed a witch in a purple dress off to my right, who matched the few things I knew of the Librarian, and headed over.

But she noticed me first.
“Oh hi there, Cutie.” Her voice both a lure and a promise, her purple and white slim-fit dress displaying all her assets.
“Have a seat, I just need to organize a few things, then we can get to work.”
Why are all the Vision Bearers I’ve met connected to the Knights so Archon damned attractive?
Something I had failed to tell Amber, was that despite our best efforts, I hadn’t quite purged all the Pyro energy. Atleast, that was my belief. It was the only thing that explained why my eyes had started constantly straying whenever I dealt with a Vision Bearer. And it was only Vision Bearers, oddly enough.
When Eula had come to rescue us, and helped ‘purge’ us of the pyro energy, it had been hard to keep my eyes (and hands) off of both her and Amber. Yet dealing with the usual people in my day to day life didn’t even interest me. They were still ‘normal’ to me.

Like how my eyes now strayed to the armored maid who was now cleaning near us. I had never had these impure thoughts about Miss Noelle, who everyone knew and adored.
But the idea of having her by myself kept trying to force itself into my mind.

“Noelle, can I have a moment of your time?” Lisa called out, brandishing some small cards, similar to the slip I had received.

“At once, Lady Lisa.” The Maid of Mondstadt quickly finished her sweeping, before coming over to Lisa’s desk.
“How may I help?”

“Is Klee still here?”

Noelle shook her head. “Last I saw, she was spending time with Mister Albedo.”

Lisa smiled an inscrutable smile.
“Even better.” She handed Noelle the first note.
“Please give this to Miss Fischl, and if she agrees, lead her to the private study room behind my private lab. I have a feeling what she’ll learn in there will help with a ……’problem’ she’s been having lately.”
She then handed her the second note.
“And this is for you, after you close the library and escort everyone but Miss Fischl out. Feel free to read it before, if its to your fancy.”

Taking the notes, Noelle quickly read both of them, as she was known to do to ensure the message would get to its recipient, in case she somehow lost the note.
A furious blush spread across her features.
She began sputtering, unable to articulate her thoughts. I had no idea what the blush was for, but I’d seen what happens when she was given conflicting orders.
“I-“

“Your going to close the library and escort everyone out?” Lisa said coyly, bypassing Noelle’s idiosyncrasies by giving her something clear to focus on. I’d seen this trick used before.
It was a clever way to untangle someone’s brain, and allow them to get on with tasks. Master Albedo often used it with a lot of the newer Alchemists who weren’t ready for solo work.

Noelle’s gaze focused, looking from Lisa, to me, to the notes, to Lisa again.
“Yes, right. Closing the library, escorting people out, give Miss Fischl the note, then prepare the lab.”

Lisa raised a finger coyly to her lips. “Don’t ruin the surprise now.”

The normally pale Noelle was now a bright shade of reddish-pink, and quickly departed, earning a delicious giggle from the Librarian.
“I do enjoy teasing her.” She said, before turning to me.
“Thank you for your patience. Now, I’ve heard you had a strange encounter with elemental energy out in the Brightcrowns?”