GI Chapter 25: Weapon Choice

“Oh, ask anything,” Jean said, looking eager to help out Orion.

“I need a weapon…” Orion scratched the back of his head while he eeked out his request. The fight with the Cryo Slimes was a reminder of his lack of cumulative power against elemental lifeforms. His fists could barely do so much, he needed a professional tool— a weapon, to concentrate and enhance his power, delivering precise damage.

“What type of weapon?” Jean asked in an inquiring tone. “The armory has swords, bows, polearms, and a few greatswords.”

Orion scratched his chin in contemplation. He was well-versed with fists, owing to his martial arts training back on earth, but not so much with swords and polearms. His novice archery skills were unreliable on the battlefield at best and plain garbage at worst. Greatswords, the weapon Noelle used, was perfect for him. A simple and effective smack to end a fight.

Practical and simple.

His mage build had to wait until he learned more about the book or grimoire esque thing Mona used. If he could even use the book that is.

“Decide fast,” Mona urged as she leaned towards Orion, flashing her fair cleavage. Her petite bust bounced and swayed even with the slightest of her movements, making it hard for Orion to look straight at her most of the time. “The stars are on the horizon. Please, I don’t need another sleepless night.”

As much as she loved the starry skies, she would refrain from camping out in the woods.

Orion turned towards Jean, who stood with her arms crossed under her chest, patiently waiting for his response. “I’ll take a greatsword and a bow, if it isn’t too much to ask for.”

Jean lightly shook her head as though denying his worries. “I’ll fetch them right away.”

While Jean went to the armory, Lisa picked up a stack of books from her reading table and approached the bookshelf. Humming a sweet melody, she shuffled back and forth in a lively rhythm and swiftly placed the books back in their original places.

Fischl stood in front of a bookshelf, her hands on her hips as her eyes quickly scanned the books, in nigh inhuman speed.

Meanwhile, Orion conversed with Mona until Jean returned with a shining new weapon.

A white recurve bow with the frame of oak wood and a bowstring enchanted with alchemy and magic. Platinum golden wings made of metal adorned its handles. The exotic-looking bow was then handed to Orion.

“The Favonius Warbow… it’s the standard bow issued to the greatest unit of archers of the Knights of Favonius,” Jean introduced Orion to the bow. “It used to be the prized companion of the archer scouts known as the Outriders.”

‘Outriders?’ The familiar word brought a thoughtful look to Orion’s face. He picked up the bow in his grip and aimed at the star in Mona’s witch hat.

Lisa approached the pair with a charming grin. “That's not an apple, Cutie.”

“And I’m not a noble,” Orion retorted back and plucked the bowstring. “Or Cutie for that matter.”

“It has special enchantments to protect the fingers. A joint creation of the smiths and alchemists of Mondstadt,” Lisa said as she leaned on Mona’s back.

The Favonius Warbow was only given to the archers after years of service, as a symbol of experience and authority, signifying their elite status at the knights’ order. For Jean to break the rules for Orion showed her sincere gratitude that she held towards the outlander. Not that Lisa was going to point it out.

“You went all out, huh,” Orion muttered and gripped the bow. The expertly crafted bow snugly fitted in his hands, giving him a sense of comfort he did not think he could feel while holding a weapon. “Thanks for this though. I’ll return it in the near future.”

“Which greatsword are you giving to Orion by the way?”

“The Favonius Greatsword.”

“Jean—”

“It’s alright, Lisa. I’ll get their approval later.”

Lisa showed a slightly concerned face at Jean’s indifferent answer. The Favonius Greatsword couldn’t be issued without the combined permission from both the Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius and the Seneschal of the Church of Favonius. However, Jean was determined to give this greatsword to Orion. Because she saw in him the shadow of a bygone legend.

The Lion of Light Arundolyn.

the legendary Former Grandmaster of the order of knights created his own art of greatsword and longsword. He was once famed as the strongest person of Mondstadt even though he wasn’t blessed with a Vision. Jean saw similar potential in Orion. No martial artist she ever met could go toe to toe with a Mitachurl in a physical duel, much less kill them in one strike.

Mona scowled when Lisa squeezed her hefty chest behind Mona’s head. She stepped out of Lisa’s way to escape from the grasp of her heavy bags of flesh. “A bow should cover the aerial targets, Orion. Your fists are more powerful than a blade! What’s more, our task doesn’t involve combat. Let’s leave the sword for later?”

“What if we ran into Ursa again?” Orion asked. “

“We’ll beat it again.” Mona patted her diminutive chest, a confident grin adorned her face. “In the worst-case scenario, I’ll teleport us out of danger.”

“Haste won’t do, Cutie Astrologist,” Lisa admonished Mona like how a parent would admonish their child when they were in the wrong. “Unknown dangers lurk in the shadows of Mondstadt. Utmost preparation is a must for making an expedition safe.”

Mona tried to rebuke, but she couldn’t overpower Lisa’s sound argument, so she decided to remain silent, grumbling under her breath. That’s how Orion got to witness Jean single-handedly hold a greatsword bigger than herself. She leaned the sword against the table with a striking clack sound and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“The Favonius Greatsword.”

A greatsword exceeding two meters in length. Like the bow, the greatsword had platinum gold decorations. The blade was black with elegant engravings and had platinum golden edges.

Orion clutched the hilt and heaved the greatsword with ease. He swung the sword a few times without breaking a sweat. The greatsword covered a massive radius with every slash to knock back a number of opponents. As he put down the sword, the dull black gems embedded at the bottom of the blade caught his eyes.

“Cutie, those gems will light up after it absorbs the elements from the world. When that occurs, bring it to an alchemist to ascend it to the next level. It’s a proven way of harnessing the full power of elemental weapons.”

Orion asked a few more questions about the process. Lisa happily sated his curiosity with simple, down-to-earth explanations, the charming grin never leaving her immaculate face full of mature allure. The process required Mora, special alchemy materials, and a few special ancient materials found in special ‘domains.’

‘Truly, the best girl.’