"Hmm… Very interesting."
A young man with bright teal eyes with three dots in each iris, pale skin, and pale blond hair reaching below his shoulders. A star-shaped mark on his neck. Wears an indigo collared shirt, with a long white coat with a black hood on top for insulation from the cold. There are chains on said coat, connected over his hip and ending at the lower back.
He has a sash-like piece of leather with silver designs on it, and black shorts. He also wears embellished thigh-high boots with silver accents, black gloves till just past the elbows, and a bit of skin peeks out on his arm before his short-sleeved coat covers the rest. He wears his Geo Vision right below the collar of his shirt.
"Anything I can learn about this Delusion, Albedo?"
Naofumi was in the Knights of Favonius headquarters, in Albedo's office. The two were neutral friends seen by others. But if the two were alone even for a bit, both of them would talk to each other about anything in the world, like how Albedo is still learning what Naofumi's world has compared to Teyvat.
When Albedo was told by the Grand Master about Naofumi's real origin he was very interested to meet a person from a whole different world. Wondering what kind of knowledge a different world processes and he wasn't disappointed in the least. Like how Naofumi's world was built up without having elemental powers, Visions, gods, or anything with Ley Lines.
Albedo was astonished by how humans of Naofumi's world manage to live and survive their own battles with war and very destructive weapons. All with their own beliefs even if there was no proof of gods truly existing. And he sweats when he hears about nukes.
When Naofumi spoke to him about the nukes, Albedo immediately thought of Klee's mother, Alice. Her own bombs were already destructive enough that she nearly destroyed the ancient city that was once Mondstadt thousands of years ago. And Klee was just like Alice with her explosive bombs on lakes with fish.
He didn't want to imagine if Alice had managed to create a nuke with the same destructive power that could destroy an entire city.
"This Delusion contains the remnants of a dead god, a Pyro god, whose identity we don't know, as there is a chance the fallen god came from Liyue. There are also other effects, as it has similar abilities to Vision, but maybe stronger. But it also has a great side effect. It can drain your vitality.
Draining your very life to aging so much faster than an ordinary human body. And with the recent reports, I've gained that when we interrogated that Pyro Fatui Skirmisher, he showed signs of aging, and his health was drained. His hair even has white strands. If these are what the Fatui processed when using elemental powers, then it is the reason why they are as strong as they are seen."
Naofumi was stunned by this information, an object containing the remains of a god, no wonder the shield didn't fully register what it had just absorbed. Albedo had a look of curiosity on his face as he looked at the green gem.
"You mention the legendary shield didn't fully unlock anything?"
"Yes. The shield didn't know what a Delusion was until Kaeya said the name. Even if the name was changed the equipment bonuses are still locked away. Do you think I need to absorb different types of these?"
Albedo didn't say anything, Naofumi noticed that his expression changed a bit when Kaeya was mentioned. Which made Naofumi wonder if Kaeya did know something about the Delusion, he could ask Albedo right now. But Albedo spoke, stating his own opinion.
"While these Delusions are dangerous to the common people, it is clear that these should not be held by anyone, or else they will be affected by their effects. Maybe your shield can possibly unlock something that could either resist the Delusions or make them unharmful. From what I was able to gather, my Vision can resist the effects.
So maybe it is obvious that you need to absorb the other types. If this were made for Pyro, then it is clear that it can also hold other elements. After all, there are reports of other Fatui members having different elements."
Naofumi nodded. He looked at the Delusion in Albedo's hand; it interested Albedo, and Naofumi knew he would ask if he would keep it for further research. But before either of them could say anything, a knock was heard from the door as a cheerful voice spoke out.
"Big brother Albedo! Klee is here to see you!"
With no hesitation or even saying anything, Albedo threw the Delusion directly at the gem of the shield. The shield absorbed it back into Naofumi's inventory as Naofumi himself knew who the voice belonged to and understood why Albedo just did that. Albedo quickly double-checked to ensure that whatever was considered dangerous was put away.
Once he was finished he opened the door and greeted a little girl.
"Hello Klee, come inside."
"Thank you Big Brother Albedo! Oh! Big Brother Naofumi! Yay! Both of my big brothers are here! If only Big Brother Kaeya were here, then I could see all of my big brothers!"
A little girl with pale skin, light red eyes, pale blonde hair tied in pigtails with a prominent cowlick, and elf ears. She wears a red coat with a darker red embellishment and keyhole shapes in the hem over a white dress and shorts, as well as a fluffy scarf with a pom-pom, gloves, knee socks, boots, and a brown backpack that reminds Naofumi of one back in Japan.
Attached to her bag is her Pyro Vision, as well as a furry, woodland animal-shaped pom-pom. She also wears a large red newsboy cap with a pin featuring a clover insignia and two white feathers. This is Klee, the Spark Knight.
"Hey, Klee! Didn't run into trouble during this week?"
"Err… Klee may have blown up a lake again, but Klee already did her time in solitary confinement so it is no longer a problem!"
Naofumi sighs as he recalls the day he officially met her. It was actually a day after Klee accidentally blew up Bennett. He was just exiting the library when he spotted her sneaking out of her room. When she spotted him she froze, then she suddenly sprinted off.
And not even 10 seconds later, a knight, who apparently was supposed to guard the door to solitary confinement, had just come back only to see the open door. The knight began freaking out as he spoke to Naofumi, who was the only person in the hallway of headquarters if he had seen Klee.
Naofumi told him she quickly ran out, and the knight sighed as he muttered to himself that he'll have to inform the Grand Master about Klee sneaking away again. This tells Naofumi that it wasn't the first time Klee sneaked off to escape her punishment.
So Naofumi decided to help the knight in searching for Klee as it took a few minutes to find her. And boy he was glad he did because he was informed that Klee loves blowing up lakes just to eat the fish that were cooked in the explosions. He had found her before she began to throw her bombs on the lake.
When he called out to her, Klee turned and noticed, to her, that it was the same person she had seen back at headquarters. She jumps, realizing she was caught, before realizing something about Naofumi. Sure she never saw him before, but she recognized the legendary shield.
It looks exactly like the one she heard her mother had told stories about, as well as showing Klee a picture of the legendary shield. Her eyes lit up as she asked if Naofumi really is the Shield Hero. Naofumi was taken aback as he never would have thought that someone, like a little elf girl, would know who he was and his shield.
Naofumi still remembers the conversation between them.
"How do you know that I'm the Shield Hero? Nobody in Mondstadt, except for Eula, knows about the legendary shield."
"Really? Mommy told Klee everything she knew about the Shield Hero. He is kind and compassionate towards people, and acts tough for those who need help. Mommy also told Klee that the last Shield Hero was chosen by the shield itself, does this mean you're the new Shield Hero, Mr. Shield Hero?"
Naofumi wonders just how much Klee's mother truly knew about the Shield Hero, so he asks Klee if she could tell him about what her mother told her.
It was quite a conversation between the two that Naofumi got a good idea about Klee. She is just a little girl who is just a little kid who wishes to enjoy all kinds of fun in Mondstadt. But one of the fun things involves blowing lakes up. Still, she is quite smart for a kid, knowing how to make bombs which she learned from her mother, Alice.
A woman who is on a famous adventure along with Klee's father around Teyvat. She wrote three magazine series, Teyvat Travel Guide, about Mondstadt, Liyue, and Inazuma. Klee has the Mondstadt version, which she gives to Naofumi, as she told him that her mother told Klee to give the magazine to Naofumi in case the Shield Hero shows up in Mondstadt one day.
Klee even did a small cheer as she fulfilled the task her mother instructed her to do. And with that, she attempted to blow up the lake as part of her celebration, only for a bomb to fall to the ground as it activated by itself.
Naofumi quickly realized what was about to happen and put himself between Klee and the bomb as it exploded, creating a small crater. The smoke cleared as Naofumi, with the Knights of Favonius Shield equipped, tanked most of the explosion. His clothing took a hit but thankfully not too much.
He was shocked by how much destruction was in that one bomb, and was also surprised by how he was able to survive it with his high defense. Klee also realized what had happened. She began crying, apologizing to Naofumi for her carelessness, and said that she would be turning herself in.
Klee said she couldn't believe she attacked the Shield Hero, and that if anything happens to him then it will cause the waves to have more destruction and give the enemy the advantage. When she said this, Naofumi asked her about the waves and the enemy while calming her down, telling her that he was alright.
Klee explained how she heard the Shield Hero protects the world from invading monsters coming from a red sky, red skies that come every month in certain places. The enemy of the waves is the one who is making the waves appear that so many people had to deal with, and the legendary weapons are their stopgaps of preventing the waves from reappearing from days to weeks, to months.
Naofumi was very shocked to hear about this, as he continued to listen more, only to be caught by the Master of the Knights, Jean, who had found both of them. And since she noticed the marks of the explosion and some burnt marks on Naofumi's clothing she escorted Klee back to Solitary Confinement.
This led Klee to still feel guilty of harming Naofumi, even if it was not intentional but she still willingly went back to headquarters and stayed there until her time was up. But she wasn't alone, Naofumi joined her as he told Jean and Varka that he wanted to keep Klee company and ensure that she didn't truly harm him.
So he was given permission to join Klee in Solitary Confinement and let's say it was more like a room for Klee than something solitary. Then again the amount of hours she stays there does seem tedious.
So Naofumi got to know Klee better like how she got to know Naofumi, to the point where he gained another little sister. It made Naofumi wonder if Klee knows Diona. Still, he was able to learn how to make explosions with things like gunpowder and other ingredients she uses.
Even unlocking a few shields. Klee even mentions that she'll make an explosive shield for Naofumi one day as she is aware of the copy system without him telling her. That's how much she knew of the Shield Hero from her mother.
Anyways…
"Is there a reason why you wanted to see Albedo today Klee?"
Klee did a thinking pose for a moment, until she made an expression that she recalled something.
"Oh! Master Jean has told Klee to find Big Brother Albedo, as he is needed in the office of Grand Master Varka. I wasn't told what it was about, but she sounded very serious, so Klee hoped that he was in his office."
Naofumi and Albedo look at each other for a moment, did the Grand Master want Albedo for something he might know? Albedo turned back to Klee as he nodded.
"Very well, perhaps the Grand Master must have found something important. If you excuse me, Naofumi, I must leave. Could you watch over Klee while I'm talking with the Grand Master?"
"No problem, hopefully it is related to the situation with that one Fatuus."
Albedo nodded as he hoped it was, especially with the whole Hilichurls situation, Mondstadt doesn't need another problem against enemies. He left his office while Klee approached Naofumi as she gave him a hug.
"Klee is very happy to see Big Brother Naofumi! Klee has something to tell you! The shield Klee is making is halfway done, but needs a little improvement. It will be so powerful that it will make the bad guys tremble before it!"
Naofumi just chuckles as he is thankful for her helping to unlock the Bomb Shield that reduces small damage from explosions. It doesn't seem much, but it was helpful when having to deal with exposed barrels. Or with Pyro Slimes colliding with Electro Slimes.
"Big brother, Klee heard that bad guys were threatening the city outside. Master Jean said I cannot leave the city until everything has been solved. One of the knights said they had a lead, but it was quickly hushed by Big Brother Kaeya. Do you happen to know why the bad guys are doing this?"
Naofumi said nothing at first, before kneeling to at least try to be the same height as Klee as he spoke.
"It may have something to do with me as the Shield Hero. But that is only one possibility. Out of anyone in Teyvat, only you and your mother know the knowledge of the Shield Hero."
Klee nodded, even as a little girl, she knew the importance Naofumi had because of the legendary shield.
"I doubt these bad guys even know me because the last wielder was 1,000 years ago. But that doesn't mean they weren't informed of my recent involvement. The bad guys out of the city are plotting something that they are putting them there like waves. I even bet… That…!"
Naofumi suddenly realized something: the number of Hilichurls in certain places. The battle from an hour ago felt like a wave. Could it be that… The Abyss Order is the enemy making waves of Hilichurls!? If that were the case, then it would be plausible.
The Abyss Order existed in Teyvat long ago, after the disastrous cataclysm that Naofumi had heard about that impacted the whole world. But at the same time, not everything, as nobody in this generation knew the reason why.
And that the Abyss Order is using the Hilichurls to disturb humanity as the order itself is doing. Maybe this is what is happening in Mondstadt, this was the day of the month when they planned to attack the city!
Naofumi needs to tell the others about this; maybe this was why he was summoned as the Shield Hero to push the Abyss Order back from Mondstadt to have fewer problems like they have right now with that Fatuus. Naofumi stood back up as they looked at Klee.
"I need to go to the Grand Master's office, I just realized something. Are you okay with staying with Lisa? Or maybe Amber?"
He could have gone to ask Sucrose, but she wasn't at the headquarters right now. So his best options were Lisa or Amber, both of whom are in headquarters right now.
"I wish to see Miss Amber, I wanted to see her Baron Bunnies!"
Naofumi smiled as he led Klee to another room where Amber was. She didn't look busy, just thinking about the situation. But she was also working on her Baron Bunny. The moment she saw Naofumi her expression became cheerful.
"Hey Naofumi! Oh! Hello Klee. Let me guess, you need me to watch over her?"
It didn't take long for Amber to know why Naofumi was here. Naofumi just chuckles before turning serious.
"If you don't mind, I think I realized why the Hilichurl situation is happening and I need to speak with the Grand Master."
Amber saw the seriousness of Naofumi as she nodded and guided Klee to a spot where she could watch her. The two of them had a little conversation before Naofumi began to head to the Grand Master's office. He just hoped that Varka would believe him and would give his support to fend off the Abyss Order.