The Adventurers' Guild was as active as ever.
Voices overlapped as adventurers discussed their plans, some preparing to leave while others returned from completed commissions. The constant motion gave the place an energy that was hard to ignore.
Henry made his way toward the commission board, scanning through the requests with quiet focus. Most were straightforward—clearing monsters, gathering materials, escorting caravans.
Before he could make a choice, a voice called out to him.
"Hey! You're looking for a commission too?"
Henry turned to see a blond boy jogging toward him, goggles resting on his head and bandages visible across his arms. There was an easy energy about him, something straightforward and honest.
"I am," Henry replied.
The boy smiled. "Great! I'm Bennett."
Before he could say more, the girl standing beside him stepped forward. She carried herself with composed confidence, her long blonde twin tails framing a calm but intense expression, while a raven perched nearby as if observing everything at once.
"The Prinzessin der Verurteilung has already claimed the commission in this realm," she declared, her voice layered with theatrical weight. "Those who wish to stand beside her must prove themselves worthy."
Henry regarded her for a moment, then stepped forward instead of answering. Before Fischl could react, he took her hand with deliberate confidence and brought it up slightly, lowering his head in a smooth, practiced bow. His grip lingered just a fraction longer than formality required, his thumb brushing lightly against her gloved hand as he spoke.
"In that case," he inclined his head, "I'm Henry. It would be my honor to serve you, Your Highness… though I didn't expect Mondstadt's most striking presence to be this captivating up close."
Fischl froze. The words, the tone, and the way he held her hand all at once broke straight through the rhythm of her persona. The composed, theatrical expression faltered as a visible flush spread across her cheeks, her golden eye widening before she quickly looked away.
"I… Y-You…" she stuttered, the formal cadence slipping for a brief moment as the words refused to come together.
Oz's wings shifted slightly as he watched the exchange unfold.
"My lady," he noted, "it appears our companion is not merely playing along, but actively courting you."
Fischl's head snapped slightly in his direction. "Oz!" She pulled her hand back a little too quickly this time, her composure slipping again before she forced herself upright, chin lifting as she tried to recover her usual bearing.
"The Prinzessin der Verurteilung…" she began, only to pause for half a second before continuing, "…acknowledges your… enthusiasm."
The faint hesitation gave her away more than anything else. Oz's tone grew even more entertained. "A rare sight indeed. My lady finds herself at a loss for words."
"I am not!" Fischl insisted immediately, though the color on her cheeks deepened rather than faded.
Henry straightened, watching her with quiet amusement but saying nothing further, as if he had already made his point.
After a brief pause, Fischl cleared her throat and turned slightly away, regaining what dignity she could.
"You may accompany us," she declared, her voice returning to its usual grand tone, even if it lacked some of its earlier certainty.
Bennett blinked between them, completely lost.
"Anyway," he said, "like Fischl just said, we've already picked up a commission to clear a Hilichurl camp outside the city. You can come with us if you want."
After a brief pause, he scratched the back of his head, his smile turning a little awkward. "I should probably warn you… things don't really go well when I'm around."
Should I join them? He weighed what he knew about Bennett, but concern never really took hold.
Unpredictable… but that's exactly where the opportunity for adventure is.
Stepping forward, he gave Bennett a firm pat on the shoulder, his expression calm.
"I don't mind. It sounds like good experience."
Bennett's face brightened immediately.
"Alright! Let's go!"
The journey out of Mondstadt was calm, though not without small interruptions. Bennett managed to stumble more than once, recovering each time with an awkward laugh, while Fischl walked ahead with composed confidence, Oz occasionally commenting on things only she seemed to fully follow.
Henry observed them quietly.
This was his first time meeting either of them, yet their dynamic was easy to understand. Bennett's easygoing, social nature—with that slight awkwardness that never really left him—contrasted sharply with Fischl's dramatic presence, and somehow it worked.
By the time they reached the Hilichurl camp, the sun had climbed higher.
The camp itself was simple—crude wooden structures and scattered enemies, nothing out of the ordinary. A few mitachurls stood out among them, flanked by hilichurl shooters while the rest lingered closer to the huts like fighters.
"Let's handle this quickly," Henry said as he brought out his claymore, settling it into a horizontal hold with practiced ease as he slowly walked toward them.
Bennett surged forward, his movements wild and unrestrained, while Fischl precisely controlled Oz from a distance and fired electro arrows from her bow simultaneously.
Henry joined them, adjusting to the weight of his new weapon as he moved, carefully timing each strike. He stayed mindful of his distance from both Oz and Bennett, aware that the combination of elemental reactions and Bennett's unpredictable luck could trigger an overload at any moment.
Together, their coordinated efforts quickly overwhelmed the Hilichurls, bringing them down with a series of well-placed blows.
And just as quickly as the fight had ended, the ground beneath them shifted.
Henry felt it before it happened—a subtle instability underfoot that gave him just enough time to register the danger. Without warning, the earth gave way beneath them, and all three dropped. They landed in a hidden underground passage, dust rising around them as loose soil settled from above.
Henry pushed himself up, brushing dirt from his clothes as he surveyed the space. It extended far beyond what the surface had suggested. Another camp—larger, denser, more dangerous—lay before them.
I was wondering when this kind of thing would happen, Henry thought, as his gaze shifted towards bennet.
Fischl stepped forward, her voice steady. "Fate has guided us to a deeper trial."
The fight that followed demanded everything they had. The confined space forced tighter movements, and the sheer number of enemies made it difficult to control the flow of battle.
Henry adjusted quickly, swinging his claymore with precision to control the space while staying in sync with Fischl's calculated ranged support.
Suddenly Bennett vaulted into a backward flip, and the moment his feet touched the ground, a red symbol radiated outward across the battlefield.
Henry immediately recognized it as Bennett's in-game ultimate. The surge of energy coursing through the field invigorated both him and Fischl, sharpening their reflexes and making it feel almost effortless to keep up with the relentless Hilichurls.
When the final enemy fell, silence settled over the underground camp. Near its center, a chest sat invitingly. Bennett rushed forward, anticipation clear on his face, and opened it. His expression froze.
Henry stepped closer to inspect the contents, only to find the crate filled entirely with cabbages, packed tightly together with no sign of anything else of value.
Bennett's shoulders slumped, the disappointment plain on his face. "…Ah… not again," he murmured.
Henry exhaled quietly, a mixture of amusement and acceptance, then placed a hand on Bennett's shoulder. "You can take the commission reward. I only came here for the experience."
Bennett looked up, surprised. "Really?"
Henry nodded.
The reaction was immediate. "Thank you! Seriously!" Bennett said, his earlier disappointment already fading.
Fischl inclined her head slightly. "Your generosity shall not be forgotten."
"What Mein Fräulein means is that she is impressed… and that she quite likes you," Oz added.
"No! I do not mean that, Oz!" Fischl's cheeks flared red once more, her composure slipping.
Henry shook his head lightly, a quiet smile tugging at his lips, then waved at them as he headed toward his shop. For him, the fight had already served its purpose. If today had proven anything, it was that adventure with Bennett would never be boring.
---
Drop stones.
I am releasing this chapter even though the power stones haven't reached target.
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