Genshin Impact: I'm a Slime

"Alright, alright, Acting Grand Master Jean, please be gentle."

Venti dangled in mid-air, testing the waters by wiggling his legs, looking pitifully at Jean as she carried him and Famas out of the tavern like a pair of chickens.

"Amber lives in the dormitory on the second floor of the Knights of Favonius headquarters. Think carefully about what you want to say to her."

Jean set Venti down first, then placed Famas in Venti's arms.

Just as Venti's feet touched the ground, a strong gust of wind swept by, bringing with it a thick cloud cover that darkened the already twilight skies of Mondstadt.

"Huh? Is it going to rain?"

Jean looked up at the sky. Because of Dvalin, the weather in Mondstadt had become increasingly unpredictable.

"Was that you, Barbatos?"

Famas, perched on Venti's head, whispered.

"Ehe, if it rains heavily, we won't have to apologize right now."

Venti whispered back to Famas.

As if reading their minds, Jean shifted her gaze from the sky to Venti, who was grinning mischievously.

"You're going, rain or shine!"

————————————————

"Coming, coming! It's so late, is there something urgent?"

About ten minutes later, the sky had completely darkened. At the Knights of Favonius headquarters, on the second floor, a drenched Jean and Venti stood at the door of Amber's dormitory, looking like soaked chickens. Only Famas, who had been hiding in Venti's hat, remained completely dry.

Even though it was late at night, the voice from the other side of the door showed no signs of weariness or displeasure.

Hearing the faint knocking, Amber, the Outrider who had been struggling to sleep due to the thunderstorm outside, immediately became alert. Without making the visitors wait more than ten seconds, she appeared at the door with her usual cheerful and sunny demeanor.

Amber was always full of energy and sharp senses, but the tear stains on her face showed that, in private, she still felt guilty about losing her Vision.

"Huh!? Acting Grand Master Jean and… a bard? Why are you both so soaked? Come in, quick!"

When Amber opened the door and saw who was knocking, her expression shifted from seriousness to relief, then to nervousness and fluster.

"Acting Grand Master, have you found any clues about my Vision? I've recovered, and even without my Vision, I can still work…"

"Here, take it."

Jean casually shook her hair, pulling out Amber's Vision from her pocket. Her tight-fitting clothes, damp from the rain, clung to her skin, clearly outlining her figure, a sight that even made Amber's heart race.

"Acting Grand Master Jean, you're so…"

Amber, too focused on Jean's impressive figure, didn't even notice her own Vision in Jean's hand.

"Don't focus on such strange things, Amber."

Jean said helplessly, then waved the Vision in front of Amber's eyes.

"My Vision!"

Seeing the familiar feather design, a sense of connection surged through Amber. She exclaimed excitedly, taking the Vision from Jean.

"Thank you, Acting Grand Master Jean! Where did you find it?"

Amber held her recovered Vision, inspecting it over and over to confirm it was indeed hers, then carefully hung it on her waist. She touched it again to make sure it was securely in place.

"Let them explain it to you. I'll borrow your bathroom, Amber."

Jean casually took the towel and spare pajamas Amber handed her and walked into the dormitory's bathroom.

Famas, still on Venti's head, quietly released Pyro energy to help Venti evaporate the water droplets.

Venti obediently tucked his hands between his legs, steam rising from his body as his wet strands of hair gradually dried and fluffed up.

"Ahem, Miss Amber, it's like this…"

Feeling the warmth spreading through his body, Venti relaxed a bit and began explaining why he had stolen her Vision.

"So… for Famas' recovery, we needed more Visions, but…"

Venti stood up, concluding, "We're really sorry for the trouble we caused you!"

Famas also jumped up, waving his little hands.

After hearing their explanation, Amber smiled gently. She skillfully used her Vision to light the fireplace, warming the room, then walked to the table to prepare some hot drinks.

"It's okay, I understand."

Amber whispered as she took out four cups.

"Amber, you're the most understanding little angel I've ever met!"

Venti gestured animatedly toward Amber, just as Jean, now in pajamas, emerged from the bathroom.

"Looks like you've already been forgiven by Amber?"

Jean sat back on the sofa, casually flipping her hair over her shoulder as she watched the flustered, red-haired Outrider.

Amber brought over a tray with four cups of warm milk, handing them to Jean, Venti, and Famas.

"Yes."

Venti took the warm milk, grinning at Jean.

"Hmm… is that someone related to you in the portrait, Amber?"

After taking a sip of milk, Famas suddenly noticed a portrait on Amber's wall. It was a middle-aged man with a beard, his eyes filled with adoration, standing next to what looked like a younger version of Amber.

"Yes, that's my most reliable grandfather. Would you like to hear his story?"

The crackling sound of burning wood filled the room as the group sat around the sofa on this sleepless rainy night. Amber began sharing the story of her grandfather, whom she was so proud of.

Amber's grandfather had once been a mercenary leader from Liyue Harbor, responsible for protecting a caravan that traveled across the continent. During one escort mission, the caravan was fiercely attacked by a pack of monsters, and only her grandfather managed to escape, saved by a physician from the Knights of Favonius.

Unable to face returning home, her grandfather joined the Knights of Favonius to repay the physician's kindness.

Within the Knights, her grandfather established the Outrider unit, personally training and leading them on missions.

Not long after, he also met the love of his life in this foreign land and started a family.

But one day, long after, Amber's grandfather left his knight's insignia and sword at the Knights' headquarters and disappeared without a word.

After his departure, the Outrider unit, which had relied heavily on him, lost its backbone and became disorganized and sluggish.

After several unsuccessful missions, the Outriders' status became increasingly marginalized. Although the unit retained its structure, it was essentially defunct.

The knights either transferred to other departments or retired. The Outrider unit eventually dwindled to the point where it could no longer carry out daily patrols.

To make matters worse, some viewed her grandfather's departure as desertion, which only added to the difficulties faced by the remaining Outriders.

"It wasn't until the fiery knight Amber appeared that the Outrider unit was revitalized."

Venti, holding Famas, who was still drying his clothes, praised Amber for her efforts in protecting Mondstadt.

"Oh, stop it, little bard. I just did my job."

Amber, wearing light red pajamas, smiled with her eyes closed, enjoying Venti's praise. She swayed back and forth on the sofa, clearly happy.

"We'll keep an eye out for any news about Amber's grandfather!"

The fire in the hearth grew dimmer.

The four of them chatted late into the night.