GI Chapter 19: Kraken!

Jean Gunnhildr

***

The size of the feast Springvale conducted was simply enormous. Mona was missing out on something in her bed. Orion could imagine the astrologist eating extras just to save up on dinner’s money. She would probably be very regretful when she hears about the feast in the morning.

Jean approached the head of the hunters— Draff, who was busy instructing the chef about how to preserve the tenderness of the game he hunted today.

“Draff, can I have a few moments of your time?”

“Oh, if it isn’t our Acting Grand Master Jean. Can we do that later? The meat will go cold, and cold meat never tastes good!”

The blond swordswoman shook her head in denial. “I’d have to decline your generous offer. These reports need to be finished as soon as possible to reward the adventurers—”

Before she could elaborate on her job, or the job her subordinates were supposed to do, a group of children surrounded her.

“Acting Grand Master!”

“Show us your sword!”

“Show! Show! Show!”

“No, leave the sword! Come eat with us!”

Shouts of different children encircled Jean. Even the villagers persistently invited her to the merry feast. In the swirl of enthusiasm, Jean couldn’t say no anymore and had to comply with them.

Noelle smiled warmly when Jean yielded and agreed to join the feast. It was easy to see how much the maid admired Jean.

“Where is Fischl though?” Orion asked, deep emerald eyes searching for the archer in the crowd. “Can’t find her.”

“Oh no, she could have wandered around. I’ll go fetch her!”

The maid knight made a mad dash down the slope, disappearing from his sight within mere seconds.

Orion shook his head. ‘Where does she get this energy from?’

He grabbed a chair, to sit down, and watched the kids bother Jean while scratching Makoto’s chin, and making her purr in sheer delight. It wasn’t long before the trio of the maid, fake princess, and the raven returned.

“Rejoice! O Knight, the Prinzessin unearthed the cryptic crystals of darkness and doom.”

“Mein Fräulein is referring to the meteor fragments I discovered nearby.”

The pair of Fischl and Oz did something worthy of their senior investigator title.

‘Scouting, fighting, translating, and well, talking, Oz knows it all. What a versatile familiar.’

“Did you try anything on the meteorites?”

Fischl shook her head. “Katheryne’s pious pleas echoed as I reached out to the cryptic crystals of darkness and doom.”

“Mein Fräulein—”

“It’s okay, Oz. I understood the gist of it.”

“Sir Orion…” the raven acted as though he was moved, almost to tears. “I can’t help but imagine a world where Mein Fräulein’s kind—”

“Ozzie, go fly—watch out for Ursa.” Fischl shooed the raven away and broke out of her character again, a bit flustered. With a light blush on her fair cheeks, Fischl walked into the crowd with Oz following her closely like her shadow.

The party indulged in the various delicacies whipped up at the hands of the best chef in the village of Springvale. Noelle went off to do the maid-like chores for the villagers. When Draff brought out barrels of grape wine, Orion got minor flashes of his old friends puking everywhere. Without any intention to watch the chaos drunk people caused, he took his share to a chair.

Two figures approached him from behind.

“Fischl,” he called without turning to look at them. “You can’t be sneaky like that.”

The self-proclaimed princess flinched, almost dropping the salad in her hands. “I-I, the royal blood is numb to celebrating my prosperous victories with my loyal subjects. I shall walk hither the sunset with my retinue.”

“I am not lonely.” Orion looked over his shoulder with a wane smile. “I just feel suffocated in noisy places.”

“It’s not like that, Sir Orion. Mine Fräulein was lonely there. It’s better to be around Sir Orion than strangers… who don’t treat Mine Fräulein with respect,” Oz muttered the last part with a bitter sigh.

Orion had already seen the ‘respect’ Fischl had received when he first came to the village. No one was listening to her even though they were under great peril. Maybe, it was the fact that they couldn’t listen to her, as her chuuni language was beyond their understanding.

Orion said nothing and grabbed a chicken drumstick from the assortment of dishes while gazing at the mystifying sprawling greenery of Mondstadt. Fischl silently sat on the chair, beside him, and ate with rather graceful manners.

After putting the dish aside, Orion leaned back on the chair and closed his eyes in the warmth of the sun. He did want to investigate the site Fischl mentioned, but he wasn’t going there without Mona. The astrologist had proven herself against Ursa, that she was a formidable individual. It was better to have Mona just in case Ursa decided to avenge his broken horn.

Fischl and Oz looked at each other.

“Oz.”

“Shhh… Mine Fräulein, I didn’t see how Orion fought Ursa. It must have been a grueling battle for all we know.”

“That might be so. King of Raven, guide me to the shadows.”

Taking Orion’s platter, Fischl carefully took a slow step without letting her feet rustle the grass. Slow and methodical, Fischl managed to not stir a noise that could wake up Orion.

Orion opened his eyes and smiled at their backs.

‘Stupid kids.’

***

Unfortunately for Orion, his nap ended prematurely when a group of kids surrounded him and enthusiastically chatted and blabbered about the way Orion flew on the dragon and speculated about his Vision. The admiration in their voice was very much like the kids from Earth discussing their favorite fictional character or something along the lines.

‘Let me have some peace of mind.’

Orion picked up the young guy staring up at him from his lap with starry eyes.

“Don’t disturb someone’s sleep or.” Orion made a vicious smile, enough to frighten the children. “A giant Kraken will rise from the spring and destroy the village with its writhing tentacles!”

“I-Impossible! Mother said a fairy protects the village from the spring!” a boy protested, looking intimidated by his made-up story.

“Oi, stop!” Mona’s voice came from his back. She took the kid away from his lap and handed it to a boy. Folding her arms, she subjected Orion to her signature frowned look. “What in the starry world, Orion. I’m away for an hour and you’re terrifying kids with your tales!”

Orion shrugged. “Blame ‘em for ruining my nap.”

Mona turned to the children with a glare. She shooed the children as if they were being a nuisance. “Silly fledglings, go back to your parents, or I shall call upon the Kraken with my Hydro Vision.”

The children cowered and fled back to their home, running away in fright.

Mona switched sides faster than a shrewd politician. “Oh, Orion. Jean wants to meet us. You want to sleep more?”

“What about you? I thought you weren’t going to wake up before evening.”

She apparently slept for one hour instead and looked more energetic than him.

Mona’s lips curled up. “It’s a skill one cultivates after countless sleepless nights.”

“It’s nothing to be proud of.” Orion shook his head, feeling like Mona woke up early from the excitement of receiving Mora. “Let’s see what Jean has to say.”