Chapter 15: Wind Gliders

"So Lumine what do you want to do in Mondstadt," Amber asked Lumine

"I'm trying to find my brother."

"Your brother?"

"Lumine got separated from her brother from a really, really long journey. Paimon is her travel buddy helping her find her brother."

Amber hung her head down feeling sad for Lumine "Oh, looking for your family huh… don't worry I'll help post posters around the city to help you find him."

"Thank you, Amber."

We all arrived and entered Mondstadt, Lumine and Paimon took in the view and marveled at the city's landscape

"Welcome to Mondstadt Lumine and Paimon," Amber said cheerfully

"Finally no more having to camp outdoors! But… the city doesn't seem to look too cheery." Paimon said

"It has been like this ever since I arrived in Mondstadt. You can blame Stormterror for that."

"Jun is right, because of Stormterror everything has been put out of place for a while now. Our crops are getting damaged and with every attack, a few get injured leaving the Knights of Favonius to protect and care for them. The hilichurl camps are also getting closer but with the help of Jun here we don't have to worry much anymore."

"That's awful… but what is this about Jun I here," said Paimon

"Jun here has been clearing out the camps near Mondstadt giving us Knights more time to help the people of Mondstadt."

"Wow~ you're amazing Jun."

"Don't worry about it. The city has helped me a lot when I first arrived. I'm just showing my gratitude and it makes for good training."

"Don't humble yourself too much Jun. You have helped Mondstadt more than you know."

"Thank you, Amber."

Hearing what Amber said makes all that I have done worth it. Seeing her smile is enough of a reward for me

"Before we go to the Knights of Favonius headquarters I have a present for you Jun and Lumine."

"A present what for?" Lumine tilted her head

"Hey, why doesn't Paimon get a present."

"It's your welcome present to being in Mondstadt and as for Paimon it is because the present is useless for you Paimon but don't worry I'll treat you to Mondstadt's local delicacy, Sticky Honey Roast."

"Oh~ Sticky Honey Roast."

"C'mon let's head to Mondstadt's high ground."

We all went to the high ground, it had A giant Barbatos statue in the same pose it did from the statue of the seven, and behind it was where the church was located

"So the present I wanted to give you both is a wind glider. Outriders use them to ride the wind, and the people of Mondstadt love using them too. I wanted to bring you two for you to experience right away."

Amber presented two wind gliders, and Lumine got the same one she had in the game. It has black feathers and dark gray engravings with a green cross in the center. I was surprised by mine it had black metallic engravings with bright red and blue falcon feathers

"I wanted to give you this for a while Jun, sorry for taking so long," Amber said with her cheeks red, and looking into her eyes I saw something else besides her sincerity

"Thank you, Amber, I'll be sure to treasure this."

I gave her a hug and she made a cute squeak. She felt embarrassed but after a few seconds, she gave in and hugged me as well. We have lived together for a while now and I have seen the way she looked at me. I can see that making this wind glider is not easy to make, I would be stupid for not realizing her feelings. I have seen enough shows to know that. I also cannot stop lying to myself. I have to face her sooner but I cannot keep stalling. I will tell her as soon as I can.

We both hugged for a few minutes feeling this was right. Amber wouldn't let go and I also didn't want to but we heard someone speak to us

"Wow~ you two must be really close to hug for that long."

Realizing we had hugged a bit too long we looked who spoke and we saw Paimon with a very smug look

"I-I-It's not like that Paimon were are just friends!" said Amber trying to hide her embarrassment

"Oh really~ that look on your face says otherwise."

"Paimon!"

I look at this scene with a wry smile and Lumine spoke to me

"Are you two together?"

"Uh, no when I first arrived she was the one who helped me and I didn't really have anything on me besides my clothes she took me in and I have lived in her house ever since."

"So you're not together?"

With a blush on my face, I whispered to Lumine "Soon I hope"

Lumine gave me a knowing smile. Amber had enough of Paimon's teasing and she composed herself

*cough* "Alrighty let's get back to the wind gliders. You two stand on the edges over there. When you jump make sure to keep the wind glider steady and let it do all the work.

Me and Lumine stood on the edge and Amber counted down

"3…2…1… Go!"

Me and Lumine jumped and we were both gliding. It was a smooth experience, I felt relaxed as the wind breezed through me, and seeing the view pass by was exciting. We both landed near the fountain area and we saw Amber there waiting for us. I guess being the gliding champion is not given to her for nothing

"You're amazing you two, you were both naturals. A lot of people crash on their first try and panic. But you two did it as if it were second nature."

"It was nothing I'm used to similar experiences," Lumine said

She must be referring to her flying when traveling to different worlds of course using a wind glider would be easy. For me though I got used to using Flying Falcon flying through the sky so heights were not as scary as before

The sky suddenly darkened and strong winds started blowing.

*Roar*

We looked up and saw Stormterror flying across the sky. He flew through Mondstadt occasionally destroying some rooftops. The people panicked and ran away screaming trying to go inside buildings for safety. The knights were trying to guide people to safe locations

*Roar*

Stormterror roared and created a giant tornado in the middle of Mondstadt. Seeing this we ran away to get away from being consumed by the tornadoes. Unfortunately just like in-game Lumine got caught by the tornado and was blown toward the sky

"Lumine!" I tried to reach out to her but I was too slow