Knights of Favonius Headquarters — Acting Grand Master's Office
Eula and Noelle stood before the desk, waiting for Acting Grand Master Jean's reply.
"You want to take a long leave?"
Jean looked at Noelle with a trace of doubt. "Did something happen?"
In Mondstadt, Noelle was the only one who treated her duties with the same diligence and devotion as Jean herself.
Asking for an extended leave was not something that should have come from Noelle's mouth.
"Yes."
Noelle nodded, her gaze firm. "I wish to follow a sword master and further my training. When I become stronger, I'll be able to contribute even more to Mondstadt and the Knights."
"A sword master? Who?"
Jean couldn't help but ask.
After all, the finest swordsmen in Mondstadt were currently Eula and Jean herself. Yet even they knew that the title of "sword master" was still far beyond their reach.
"Noelle, you haven't been deceived by someone, have you?"
Jean frowned with concern.
Noelle was sweet-looking, gentle, and shy by nature.
At this tender age, she was exactly the type most easily taken advantage of.
"Jean, look at this."
At that moment, Eula stepped forward from Noelle's side and opened her palm toward Jean.
On her fair, delicate hand, the tiger's mouth was clearly injured, faint traces of blood seeping out.
"Ah—Miss Eula… this is… was it because of me…?"
Noelle panicked at once.
She immediately bowed deeply to Eula.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to—"
"I know. I'm not blaming you."
Eula quickly helped Noelle up, then turned to Jean with a serious expression.
"This injury was caused when I blocked Noelle's attack during a spar."
"She only picked up fragments of that man's swordsmanship, and it was already enough to injure me."
"That sword master should be the real deal."
She paused, then continued calmly:
"Besides, someone with that level of strength—if they truly had ill intentions toward Noelle—could have simply taken her by force. There'd be no need to ask for her consent under the guise of taking a disciple."
"Mm… that makes sense."
Jean nodded slowly. "If there's such an opportunity for growth, it would indeed be a shame to miss it."
With Acting Grand Master Jean's approval,
Noelle finally obtained her long leave.
An indefinite one.
She could return to the Knights only when she felt she was strong enough to stand on her own.
After handing over her maid duties,
the next day, Noelle arrived as promised at Cider Lake—the very place where she had first met Lin Mo.
"Have you thought it through?"
Lin Mo sat fishing by the lakeside, not turning his head.
Noelle quickly placed both hands before her abdomen and bowed slightly.
"Thank you for valuing me, Lord Lin Mo."
"If you don't mind… please allow me to become your student and learn swordsmanship by your side!"
"…Alright."
Lin Mo stood up from the sandy shore and turned around.
"From today on, I'll be your teacher. Master and disciple—one heart, one path."
From that day onward,
Noelle entered a hellish regime of inhumane training.
Running laps around Cider Lake with heavy weights was considered trivial.
Climbing Cape Oath under full load was nothing worth mentioning.
There was also scaling Dragonspine in a swimsuit,
and soaking in frozen lakes—cruel trials she had never even imagined.
Yet no matter how harsh it was,
Noelle endured.
Because she remembered what Lin Mo told her on the very first day she became his student.
Under the setting sun,
he laid bare the difference between her and Eula in a single sentence.
"You and Eula are alike in one way—both of you rely on your Vision's elemental burst to unleash overwhelming power in a short time."
"But the difference is this."
"Eula has explored the wilderness alone since childhood and has long enjoyed ice baths in Dragonspine's frozen lakes."
"Her strength and endurance far surpass those of ordinary people."
"So even without activating her elemental burst,"
"she can still rely on swordsmanship alone to display formidable combat power."
"But you're different."
"Geo Visions are special."
"The stronger the bearer's vitality and endurance, the more power the element bestows."
"So your only path is training—"
"or, in the future, seeking out artifacts to enhance your vitality and stamina."
"Trust your teacher."
"As long as you persist and strengthen your body,"
"even Eula—another greatsword user—won't be able to defeat you."
Those words were etched deeply into Noelle's heart.
Within a single year,
she traversed every corner of Cider Lake.
She ran no fewer than fifty full circuits across Mondstadt's lands.
Dressed in light clothing, she reached the summit of Dragonspine—the Skyfrost Nail—three times.
At the foot of the mountain, she submerged herself in icy waters over a hundred times.
At last—
Without having learned a single formal sword technique,
she relied purely on her hardened physique.
With her elemental burst activated,
she defeated the mighty Frostarm Lawachurl of Dragonspine.
In the years that followed,
the grueling training never ceased.
She would also use the wishes Lin Mo granted her, asking him to take her to other nations to challenge powerful foes.
For example—
with Lin Mo's assistance,
she defeated the formidable elemental entity, the Geo Hypostasis.
The basalt pillar it left behind granted her elemental power comparable to the Hypostasis itself.
They also embarked on long journeys.
They crossed into the closed nation of Inazuma, reached the thunder-shrouded Seirai Island, and obtained the Husk of Opulent Dreams artifact set.
With the artifacts' support, her stamina surged dramatically, further amplifying the power bestowed by her Vision.
Lin Mo even sought out the leader of the oni—the mighty Arataki Itto.
Following Lin Mo's instructions, Noelle challenged the powerful oni warrior to a duel.
After winning,
she earned the weapon that suited her best—
the supreme greatsword, Redhorn Stonethresher.
Finally, on their return journey to Mondstadt,
they encountered Liyue civilians who had accidentally triggered ancient ruin mechanisms.
One Ruin Hunter and two Ruin Guards—
enough to slaughter hundreds of villagers.
At the critical moment,
Noelle descended like a god.
Wielding a golden Geo greatsword,
she annihilated the three mechanical monsters in an instant.
Before the villagers could even react,
she and Lin Mo had already departed Liyue and returned to Mondstadt.
Yet Noelle's power—
that divine, descending figure—
was forever etched into the hearts of the Liyue villagers.
Some even compiled biographies specifically for that "nameless female knight."
That day, disaster fell from the skies.
The Princess of the Geo Lord descended, wielding a golden blade.
In the blink of an eye, three colossal machines were destroyed, and the people were saved from ruin.
Memories surged through Noelle's mind.
Tears shimmered in her wide eyes as she gazed at Lin Mo.
"My lord! Have you truly forgotten your student, Noelle?"
Lin Mo had no intention of admitting it.
If Noelle still possessed these memories,
it meant she was already capable of standing on her own.
The fledgling eagle that once followed at his side
could now soar freely across the skies.
"I'm sorry,"
Lin Mo shook his head gently.
"I really don't remember you."
"I… I don't believe you!"
Tears welled in Noelle's eyes.
"My lord! I'll use the five wishes you owe me—
I wish for you to remember me, to remember everything we went through together!"
Hm?
There's… such a thing?
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T/N:
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