Of all people to run into first, it had to be her.
Yeah… she did come here often—Windrise, under this old oak tree. It was her quiet place, somewhere to breathe when things got too heavy.
When Vale had fallen asleep earlier, she must not have noticed him lying there in the grass. But now that he was awake, stretching and blinking against the sunlight, she definitely would.
He heard soft footsteps brushing through the grass, then a pause—like she'd just realized she wasn't alone.
A calm, curious voice broke the silence.
"…Someone's here?"
Her eyes landed on him. She blinked, a little surprised.
"Oh—sorry," she said quickly, her tone calm but polite. "I didn't realize someone was here."
Vale sat up straighter, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah. I… kind of dozed off here."
Jean gave a small nod, her expression softening. "Understandable. It's quiet here."
She glanced toward the statue, then back at him. "I usually come here to take a short break. Guess I'm not the only one who finds it peaceful."
"Yeah," Vale said, a bit awkwardly. "Didn't mean to take your spot."
She gave a faint smile. "You're fine. Windrise has enough space for both of us."
The wind moved gently through the leaves above them. For a while, neither said anything. Just the quiet sound of the breeze, the grass, and the faint rustle of Jean's cape.
Jean's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer. There was something in the way she looked—calm, but observant.
After a bit of silence, she spoke. "You're… not from around here, are you?"
Vale blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? Uh, what makes you say that?"
Jean tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing just a touch—not suspicious, just thoughtful. "Your clothes. And your accent, maybe. You don't quite sound like anyone from Mondstadt."
Vale scratched his cheek, forcing a small laugh. "Ah… yeah, I get that a lot. I'm, uh—" he hesitated, his mind racing. "—from… Liyue. Just traveling, you know?"
Jean nodded slowly. "I see. You must've come a long way, then."
"Yeah, pretty long," he said, trying to sound casual. "Guess I was more tired than I thought. Ended up passing out under this tree."
Her expression softened again. "It happens. The breeze here makes it easy to forget how long you've been sitting."
Vale smiled faintly. "You're telling me. I could probably fall asleep again if I tried."
Jean gave a quiet chuckle. It was small, but genuine. "Maybe wait until I leave first. I'd hate to be responsible for someone oversleeping in the open."
"Fair enough," Vale said, smiling a little wider.
For a moment, they both looked out across the open field—dandelions swaying under the fading light.
Then Jean glanced at him again, still curious. "So… a traveler from Liyue, resting in Windrise. That's quite the distance. Are you here for something specific?"
Vale shifted slightly, brushing some grass off his pants. "Uh… I'm Vale," he said, keeping his voice casual. "Just… Vale. That's what everyone calls me." He avoided giving a last name, letting it sound ordinary.
Jean nodded, as if accepting it without question. "Vale," she repeated softly. "A simple name… suits you, somehow."
They moved toward the riverbank, the oak tree stretching its shade across the ground. Vale lowered himself to sit on the soft grass beside the flowing water, and Jean settled a little apart from him, her posture straight but relaxed, her hands resting lightly on her knees.
For a moment, all that filled the air was the gentle babble of the river and the distant rustle of leaves. Vale's eyes followed the current, thinking how different this world felt from what he'd known—but he didn't dare speak of that.
Jean's gaze drifted toward him, calm and measured. "You look like someone who's seen a lot of places," she said carefully. "I can't tell why… just a feeling."
Vale let out a small, almost sheepish laugh. "I… guess you could say that. Seen a lot, yeah. Been around more than I probably should've." He gestured vaguely, not elaborating.
Jean tilted her head, curious but not pressing. "Traveling can teach you a lot," she said. "Sometimes more than people expect."
Vale nodded, staring at the water. "Yeah… more than people expect." He hesitated, then added with a faint smile, "I've got stories, I suppose. Things… well, things most wouldn't believe."
Jean's expression softened just slightly. "I've learned that people who travel usually have stories worth listening to. Even if they can't—or won't—tell everything."
Vale turned slightly toward her, hesitating for a moment. "Uh… I just realized—I didn't even ask your name," he said.
Jean glanced at him, calm and composed, with the faintest hint of a raised brow. "You don't know me," she replied simply.
Vale's mind flickered. Of course I know you… but… well, he thought, shaking his head slightly.
"Right… yeah, fair point. I… don't know you, then," he said aloud, keeping his tone casual.
Jean stayed silent for a few moments, her gaze drifting to the river as if considering something. Vale watched her quietly, sensing the subtle deliberation in her calm posture.
Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but clear. "You can call me… Vennessa."
Vale blinked, inwardly noting the subtle choice. Of course that's not her real name. Why bother lying? He shook his head slightly, forcing a casual expression. "Vennessa… alright," he said aloud, letting the name settle in his mind.
Jean—shifting slightly, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear—added casually, "I live in Mondstadt, just a normal knight of the Knights of Favonius. Nothing… extraordinary."
Vale offered a small, polite smile, playing along with her carefully constructed identity. "A knight… that explains the calm and… well, the presence. It suits you."
Jean gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile, but didn't comment further. Instead, she leaned back slightly on her hands, watching the river flow, letting the silence between them stretch comfortably.
After a long pause, he decided to speak, keeping his tone light. "So, Vennessa… do all knights find quiet spots like this, or is this your… secret corner?"
Jean's eyes flicked toward him, calm and steady. "Some do," she said carefully, "though most are too busy with duties. I… like to come here when I can. Helps to clear the mind."
Vale leaned back against the oak, watching the sunlight ripple across the river. "You ever hear stories about a traveler who… well, stumbles into places he's not supposed to?" he began, a faint smile tugging at his lips.