#C: Servatrix

[wintercrystal]

The Sky and the Sea

AN: Happy Valentine's Day!

Content Warning: It's a slowburn start, Female Reader, Reader/mc is not really nice here?, Traveler Aether, Golden Boy what the reader/mc calls Aether as she doesn't know his name, shenanigans between Traveler, Paimon and Reader/mc happens.

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You stare out into the vast blue sea. It was a nice day, sun out, not too warm. You, reluctantly, sat beside the blonde after much insistence (through patting the spot next to him until you gave in.)

It had been a few weeks since you met him, he was the quiet type but so nauseatingly nice through his gestures.

Granted, you were a quiet one too, but you thought that talking would be a hassle and you two were communicating just fine through body language and sand drawings.

Though his clothes did look...different, out of place, hmm. 

You continued staring into the distance until you heard him tugging at something and looked over to see what it was. As he reeled it in, a white thing flew out of water connected to the end of the fishing line and crashed into you. 

You groaned in pain from the impact, holding whatever the blonde fished up. You down at it, only to discover it was a little girl with white hair, unconscious but breathing. The blondie came over to you two, quickly removing the fishing line. You look at each other then back at her. 

Soon enough, the girl woke up, coughing and taking deep breaths. Once she composed herself, she floated out of your arms, surprising both you and the blonde. 

She looked at you both, “Thank you so much for saving Paimon! She would’ve drowned if it weren’t for you!

You two just stared at her in silence.

“...Can either of you understand what Paimon is saying?” she asked nervously.

“Yeah” was the answer you and the blonde gave at the same time.

‘Wait.’ Your shocked expression turned to meet his equally shocked face. 

The white haired child looked in-between you two, growing more nervous by the second.

“YOU CAN TALK!?” 

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“Wait a minute! Let Paimon get this straight! You both didn’t talk the entire time you’ve known each other because… you thought you wouldn’t be able to understand each other,” Paimon exclaimed, after learning about the nature of your companionship and a bit of your situation.

“A little, I don't know much about this world’s… language or if she spoke it. So…” Golden Boy trailed off. Then Paimon’s attention switched to you. 

You sighed, “I just thought he was shy, or something. His clothes give away that he’s not from here and I wasn’t about to have a one-sided conversation with a complete stranger.”

This time, Paimon sighed.  

“You’re also an ‘outlander’?” Golden Boy said questioningly, eyeing your clothes. 

You nodded with a smirk, “Perceptive, aren't you? I've been here long enough that I can switch between languages easily.”

The blonde's questioning expression morphed into a slightly worried look.

“Ugh, It’s relatively easy when you have a competent teacher, Golden Boy. We just need to find one for you…”

“Ooh, Paimon can do it!” She exclaimed, “Paimon knows a lot so she can help the Traveler learn and guide you to through Teyvat.”

“Hmm, at least don’t have to search far then. And got a guide to boot,” you hummed, but on the inside you’re just glad you don’t have to teach the Traveler.

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Despite your inner doubts, the Traveler has picked up the language easily and quickly. He has applied and practiced his speaking skills… on you. It was uncomfortable to say the least, especially the first couple of tries. 

Luckily that only lasted a week or so, but now, it's time

You told Paimon and the Traveler that you’re going to head to check the place out. But really, you wanted to give them room to discuss their plans while you thought over your own plans as you walked .  

You stopped when you spotted Anemo crystalflies around the Anemo Statue, fluttering around. You slowly swam to the statue, you carefully reached out your hand to them.  ‘Maybe if I…'

A crystalfly fluttered closer to you. Just as it was about to land on your hand, you heard someone calling your name, scaring not only the one you reached, but all of them. 

You looked in the direction of the sound and deadpanned as you recognised the culprits. Paimon laughed nervously while Golden Boy looked away guiltily. You rolled your eyes at them as they caught up to you.

“Sorry about that…” Paimon said. You chuckled sardonically, “Don’t worry about it, I was planning to stay here if you took any longer,” You look at the Traveler, “So you’re ready?”

He nodded as walked up and touched the statue. The next couple of seconds could only be described as both expected and unexpected to you. 

The orb(?) on the statue’s hands glowed as a teal orb with the Anemo symbol came out of it and approached the Traveler. It went into his chest and changed the black ornaments to a teal colour.  

You stared at the statue then at the city in the distance, tuning out Paimon and the Traveler. ‘It’s peaceful today, wonder when it will be ruined?’

…

You broke out of your daze but didn’t turn to face your companions.

“...What are you thinking about?” Golden Boy asked.

“About… your goal,” You said. He stayed silent, signaling to continue, “Paimon and I said we would help with that, but I have a different approach to it. That requires us to split up for a while."

The Traveler’s eyes widened at the last sentence, with Paimon’s “What?! Why?!” following. 

You sighed, “Finding your sister is far from an easy goal, almost hopeless, almost. I’ll attempt to track her down while you go to Mondstadt to ask around.”

You turn to face them, “This going be nigh-impossible, considering how long it could have been. If we split up, we'll have a better chance to find any traces of your sister. When I find something substantial, I’ll come find you, I promise."

“But…” Paimon started but couldn’t finish her sentence.

“It's okay. Believe it or not, I keep my promises,” you said with a confident smile. You began to leave but the blonde grasping your wrist gently.

“I promise to do our best as well. Just… be careful, We'll be waiting,” He said, eyes shining with sickening hopefulness.

You looked at him and gave an amused chuckle. 

“Okay.”

And with that, you departed from your companions, inwardly wishing they don't do something stupid in Mondstadt, like becoming a wanted criminal or something.

After a while, you're engulf in the shadow of a giant dragon flying over you. Sensing unnecessary trouble ahead, you went in the other direction to continue your pursuit.

You will find the information this land has to offer, hidden or not.

After all, you made a promise and you are a woman of your word.

[turangalila]

Guillaume Dufay (c. 1400 - 1474)

— Magnanime gentes laudes / Nexus amicie Musa — Moribus et genere / Virgo, virga virens — Fulgens iubar ecclesiae dei / Puerpera, pura parens

[MS {alpha}.X.1.11 (Modena B; ModB) Biblioteca Estense, Modena, Italy]

— Magnanime gentes laudes / Nexus amicie Musa

CANTUS Magnanimae gentis laudes patiare, Minerva, Augeat usque suum nuntia fama decus. Vox Pegasea locum mundi percurrat ad omnem: Cognoscant Dachus, Teucria, Parthus, Arabs, Quam fortes animos, quam ferrea pectora quamque Egregios sensus, optima Berna paris. Viribus armorum cuius res publica florens Consilio veterum multiplicata manet. Cultrix iustitiae, communis pacis amatrix, Quae tua gloria sit, maxima Gesta docent. Alleluia, alleluia.

CONTRATENOR Nexus amicitiae Musa modulantem Camoenam Magnificetur, enim nil sine pace valet. O quando iungi potuisti, Berna, Friburgo, Quanta mali rabies impetuosa ruit! Optima cum vobis communia vota fuere, O quibus, o quantis utraque functa fuit! Vivite felices! praeclara Sabaudia pacis Auctrix, servatrix foedera vestra probat. Praegenitum Ludovicum comitemque Philippum Cernitis: en magnum pondum amicitiae! Alleluia, alleluia.

TENOR Haec est vera fraternitas

— Moribus et genere / Virgo, virga virens

CANTUS Moribus et genere Christo coniuncti Iohannes, Huc ades affluerque iube dictaminis amnes. Excercet plebs ista choros tibi, carmina pangit, Angelicos tangit coetus cantando decoros.

Carne viror, sed mente rubor, sunt haec tibi dotes, Corde nitor, sermone decor, caeli scala pontes. Virginitate fruens, niveo candore notate, Te laudant olei profuse corpore guttae.

CONTRATENOR Virgo, virga virens, vires virtutibus affer Arteriisque pluens cantorum guttura profer, Ut bene coniuncti concordi voce canentes Astra sonent caelique boent hoc nectare fontes.

Pectora, Christe, tua nimio veneranda decore Discipuli pectus tetigit pietatis honore; Pectore discipulus domini caenando Iohannes Incubat et lenes dulcis sopor occupat artus.

Circumfulsit eum rerum cognitio clara Ut Patris hic filium cognovit origine mira. Ecstasis haec felix, haec visio certe beata, Qua nexus cuiusque patet cognitio tanta.

Gaudeat ecclesia, laetetur chorus et omnes Laetentur populi per climata cuncta beandi; Divio, divitiis nunc afflue, Divio dives, Huius et obsequiis plus donativatque vives. Amen.

TENOR Virgo est electus a domino.

— Fulgens iubar ecclesiae dei / Puerpera, pura parens

CANTUS Fulgens iubar ecclesiae dei, Peccatorum salus promptissima, Si precibus quibuscumque flecti Queas, nobis da, virgo beata, Ut omnes qui tuae mysteria Purificationis colimus Post temporis huius curricula Sublimemur sanctorum sedibus.

Quae semine viri peperisset, Mulierem lex quondam cogebat, Ut ad templum purganda veniret Partum ferens; lex haec non urge bat Mariam, quae virum non noverat. Illa tamen pro nobis omnibus Legem tulit, ut nos quos amabat Sublimemur sanctorum sedibus.

Quod purgari non indignaverit Huius festo monstrat ecclesia Per cereum, quem tunc quisque gerit Luce enim qua fulget candela Per splendorem vitae in Maria Concorditer omnes ostendimus, Ut per sua tandem precamina Sublimemur sanctorum sedibus.

O igitur virtutis exemplar, Virginum lux, gloriosa virgo, Decus nostrum et, ut verum loquar, Viva virtus, pulchra pulchritudo, Sanctitatis excellens ymago, Humiliter a te requirimus, Ut post mortem cum dulci gaudio Sublimemur sanctorum sedibus.

CONTRATENOR Puerpera, pura parens, Enixa regem saeculi, Tibi non fit orba parens Ritu mens: vales saeculi Vitam reddere, nonnulli Salvati sunt hoc limite; Das haec merito tituli: “Fili, peccata remitte!

Eia, virgo lapsu carens, Charta qua Ditem expuli, Annuisti legi verens Solvere legem; et pulli Turturum tis infantuli Exmonstrant oblati vitae Lucem; prome quod intuli: “Fili, peccata remitte!”

Larga mater, lux oriens Omen dedit opusculi, Cum Simeon non moriens Amplexatur hunc: “oculi Numen vident” et servuli Tenore dat verbum: “mitte!” Ad Christum dic: “te protuli: Fili, peccata remitte!”

O igitur virgo clemens, Quae nos omnes redemisti, Domus dei, gemma fulgens, Dulci porta paradisi, Dic nunc, quaeso, tuae proli, Quem lactasti tuo lacte, “Istis qui serviunt tibi, Fili, peccata remitte!”

TENOR Virgo post partum quem genuit adoravit.

_ O Gemma Lux Huelgas Ensemble ~ Paul Van Nevel (2000, Harmonia Mundi – HMC 901700 )