Genshin: Teyvat's Wandering Demon (Rewrite)

-4400 words-

The carriage wheels creaked against Mondstadt's cobblestone streets, each rotation bringing Tayden closer to an unknown fate. Sunlight pressed against the thick fabric covering the carriage's entrance. Even though he knew the fabric blocked the sun, something deep inside him still felt like the light was trying to burn through, to reach him.

Kaeya sat across from him, one leg casually crossed, his posture relaxed as he enjoyed the journey to Mondstadt. His single visible eye gazed out the carriage window, or more like a small hole in the fabric meant for ventilation, taking in the scenery.

'I thought a trip to a new nation would be a little more exciting than... this' Tayden thought. But there was one thing that he was certain about 

'This still beats the cave though'

The carriage stopped abruptly. Kaeya wasted no time getting up, his hand already on the fabric covering the entrance. "Wait here." as he walked out of the carriage. He had said it with a tone of authority that surprised him. Looks like he is actually on edge about sending him into Mondstadt. 'Why does everyone I meet always look at me weird?'

Tayden would have chuckled at Kaeya's words if the situation weren't so tense. Where exactly was he going to go? Sunlight was basically liquid death for him, and this carriage was his only safe space.

Then the realization finally hit him, 'Wait, so I'm basically stuck in this thing then… shit'

His enhanced hearing caught every single detail of the conversation outside. Kaeya was talking with someone, Gate guards if he had to guess. Their voices carried that mix of professional courtesy and underlying curiosity that he was starting to get used to.

"Captain Kaeya." one guard said, surprised at their Cavalry Captains sudden appearance. But the man quickly regained his composure, befitting that of a knight and addressed his superior with respect. "What brings you here?"

Kaeya's response was smooth, almost lazy. "Transporting a guest to headquarters."

A pause. "A criminal?"

Another pause. "Not quite."

'Not quite?' Tayden's mind immediately started spinning worst-case scenarios. Prison cells. Torture chambers. Experimental rooms where they'd poke and prod at him until they understood what he was. The possibilities were terrifying.

Ok he was probably overthinking this but still.

'The fuck you mean not quite?! I have been a very cooperative guest!'

The fabric lifted once more, and sunlight immediately seeped into parts of the carriage, Tayden instinctively pressed himself against the far wall of the carriage, his body recoiling from the sudden light. Kaeya looked surprised at his sudden movement and then raised an eyebrow, but other than that he said nothing as he stepped back into the carriage and closed the fabric covering the entrance.

Then Kaeya pulled out a bundle Tayden hadn't seen before. Thick peach colored robes. Tinted glasses that looked surprisingly sophisticated. Finally, an extra piece of fabric that could serve multiple purposes, probably to cover up his face. 'This looks like an outfit for exploring a desert.'

His hands then grasped over the glasses, "Sunglasses?" Tayden muttered, turning the item over. The craftsmanship was impressive. 'I thought this was supposed to be some medieval fantasy world. How do they already have sunglasses?'

Kaeya's smirk was infuriating. "Put them on."

Tayden looked at Kaeya with an eyebrow raised so high it threatened to disappear into his hairline. "These will actually block sunlight?"

"Almost definitely."

"'Almost' definitely? What the heck is that supposed to mean?!"

Kaeya offered nothing more than an enigmatic smile.

'This guy really ticks me off..' Tayden sighed, wrestling with the layers of fabric. The robes were well made, heavy enough to provide complete coverage but designed to allow movement. Whoever made these understood functionality.

As he adjusted the clothing, pulling the tinted glasses over his eyes. 'I swear,' he thought, 'this man does not meet any standard of what I consider a proper knight.'

The glasses were surprisingly high quality. The world outside transformed. He would have expected this level of craftsmanship from his own world, but definitely not from here.

Kaeya watched him, that single eye never wavering. "Comfortable?"

Ok he was doing this on purpose. "Comfortable is a strong word," Tayden muttered. "Slightly less terrified might be more accurate."

A soft chuckle escaped Kaeya. "We'll nothing I can do about that."

The carriage stopped once more. Kaeya then opened the fabric again and motioned to Tayden, who had already put on all the clothing. "We need to go on foot," Kaeya said, looking back at Tayden. "Carriages can't get us up the stairs, unfortunately."

Tayden definitely was not a fan of walking under broad daylight. But, he knew better than to get on Kaeya's bad side. This man was already creepy when calm, he did not want to see what he was like when angry. So he reluctantly walked towards the entrance and was about the go outside.

The moment Tayden stepped out of the carriage, he was greeted with a sight that left him speechless.

The city was nothing like the concrete jungle he'd grown up in. Windmills spun lazily against a backdrop of stone buildings that seemed to grow organically from the landscape. Cobblestone streets wound between structures that looked both ancient and meticulously maintained, their stone walls adorned with climbing vines and hanging flower baskets. 'What in the Breath of The Wild is this?! This place is so beautiful!'.

People were walking around the city, doing their own thing like it was any other day. Some glanced up at the carriage and at him, but he thought it was fair since he did look very strange in this robe that covered every inch of him.

Massive stone archways framed street entrances, their surfaces etched with intricate designs that seemed to tell stories of their own. Wooden balconies jutted out at impossible angles, connected by narrow bridges that created a three-dimensional maze above the street level. The entire city felt like a living, breathing entity.

The sound struck him next. Unlike the constant drone of traffic he was used to, Mondstadt buzzed with a different kind of energy. Street vendors called out, their voices mixing with the distant chime of windmill blades and the occasional musical note from a street performer. 'Is that a.. Oh my god its an actual bard! So cool!' People here moved with a sense of purpose, not like the frantic rush of his old world.

He stopped mid-step, mouth slightly open, completely transfixed. Though you couldn't see it under the mountain of fabric that covered him.

Kaeya's amused chuckle broke through his wonder. "Wow, looks like you really don't know what Mondstadt is."

Tayden blinked, suddenly aware of how obvious his amazement must have been. "I've never seen anything like this, its way different than my home." he muttered, trying to regain some composure.

"First time seeing a city as grand as this?" Kaeya's voice carried a hint of pride, but there was genuine curiosity beneath it.

"I guess you could say that," Tayden replied

As they continued on their walk, Kaeya commented on some of the city's famous landmarks, kind of like a tour guide. He found it pretty amusing, really.

Some of the locals waved at Kaeya, who responded with a friendly wave. But, it seemed like most of them looked at him right after with suspicion. A mother even brought their child to her other side, the side opposite of him when they walked past. 

As they climbed, he caught side of the Knights of Favonius headquarters, a massive stone structure that seemed to blend seamlessly with the cities vibe, but it definitely looked far more reinforced than any other building he has seen. Banners bearing the organization's emblem fluttered in the breeze, deep blue and white catching the sunlight.

Tayden's enhanced senses picked up on small sounds. Even through the thick walls, inside the Knights' headquarters, a subtle symphony of voices reached his ears, a constant murmur of overlapping conversations. The sheer volume of chatter surprised him, painting a picture of a bustling organization far more active than he'd initially assumed. It seemed he might have judged the Knights too quickly clearly, most of them weren't like... Kaeya.

"You're staring again," Kaeya commented.

Tayden cleared his throat. "Just looking at the place."

The final set of stairs approached. Wide, stone steps carved directly into the mountainside, each step worn smooth by countless footsteps. Knights in their distinctive armor uniforms moved up and down, creating a constant flow of activity.

As they reached the top, the massive doors of the Knights of Favonius headquarters stood before them.

'Welp' he thought, 'here we go.'

The grand entrance of the Knights of Favonius headquarters loomed before Tayden, its massive wooden doors intricately carved with symbols that he had no idea how to decipher. 'Now that I think of it, how am I speaking their language but not able to read what they write?'.

He brushes off that thought for now as he and Kaeya stepped inside. The contrast between the bustling interior and the tranquility of the city outside was striking. Knights, squires, and staff moved through the expansive halls with a fluidity that made it feel like they were cogs in a machine.

The architecture within was as impressive as the city itself, a harmonious blend of stone and wood, with high ceilings that were made of marble, or at least he thought it was. 'So this is what real knights are like' Tayden couldn't hide his amazement and looked around the headquarters like a lost child. That reaction getting a chuckle from Kaeya that made Tayden quickly regain his composure.

"You should take off those robes now, there's no sunlight in this part of the building. Also it would help make knights not look at you like you're some criminal." Kaeya said as he walked past him. Tayden quickly took off his robe and glasses, putting the robe over his shoulder and clipping the glasses on his shirt. 

'Wait a second, I'm still wearing Geralds shirt…' Tayden winced as he realized that. He made a mental note to return it to him when or if he goes back to Springvale. He shook his head and quickly caught up to Kaeya. 

As they walked, he noticed some knights throw some glances at him, but nothing more than that. That was until he saw two figures walk towards them. A girl with brown hair and… red bunny ears? 'Wait no, those aren't real.' She had this huge smile and bubbly presence, each of her steps beaming with energy. Another woman with sky blue hair walked next to her, she was more… mature than her bunny themed friend.

But that train of thought was immediately pushed away from his mind when his instincts sensed her overwhelming strength. 'Tayden Voss, get your mind out of the gutter! This woman could snap you in half!' He tried to tell himself. 'But damn those thighs- Go away impure thoughts!'

"Kaeya!" a bright voice called out, breaking Tayden out of his thoughts. The brown haired girl with her enthusiasm, waved energetically as she approached. Her presence was like a burst of sunshine in the already bright hall. Beside her, The blue haired one stood poised, her expression curious but he definitely saw her eyes flicker towards him for a split second. 'Ok she is kinda scary…'.

Kaeya acknowledged them with a nod, his posture changed into a more professional one that somehow still kept his signature smugness. "Amber, Eula. Good to see you both."

'Amber and Eula. So that's their names.'

Amber's eyes shifted to Tayden, her curiosity showing as she walked closer to him. "And... who's this?" she asked, her tone friendly and open.

Kaeya paused for a moment, as if considering how much to reveal. "This is Tayden. He's... new around here." Tayden gave a small nod, seeing the change in their expression as Kaeya said that. It was one thing to be an outsider in a city, but another to stand out in the city's army headquarters .

Amber's curiosity was infectious. She circled around him with a hand on her chin. "New? Are you joining the Knights?" she asked, her eyes wide with interest.

Tayden was surprised at her closeness and glanced at Kaeya for help, only to receive a shrug from the man. 'Asshole!'

"Uh, not exactly. Actually I'm not from Mondstadt" he finally decided, unsure of how much he should tell them. Eula's gaze was sharp, her posture relaxed and she was obviously alert alert. "That much I can tell. So are you a guest of the Knights? It's quite unusual to see someone new be escorted by Kaeya himself into our headquarters." Her tone was neutral, but there was a hint of suspicion in her words.

Kaeya, sensing the rising tension, put a hand around Tayden's shoulder, surprising him as he chuckled softly. "Let's just say Tayden's here on special circumstances."

Amber laughed, accepting the vague explanation without a care in the world. "Well, welcome to Mondstadt, Tayden! Hope you like it here." she said cheerfully. Seeing Kaeya's actions, Eula backed off, but it was obvious her curiosity was not satisfied. She said nothing as she stared at him with a glare. 'Why are you so mean to me, woman?!'

Amber, ever the conversationalist, shifted the topic. "So, Tayden, how do you find Mondstadt so far?" she asked with genuine interest. Tayden hesitated, searching for the right words. "It's... incredible," he said finally. "The atmosphere here- it's nothing like what I'm used to."

Eula offered what he assumed to be a grunt of approval. "Glad to hear our city leaves an impression. If you had insulted Mondstadt in any way, I would have enacted vengeance upon you."

That made him flinch as he scooted a few steps back to Kaeya's side. He very much preferred him over this woman whose presence felt like a mountain.

'I never thought I would be saying this, but save me Kaeya!' 

Kaeya laughed again and signaled that it was time to move on. "We should be heading to the Grandmaster's office," he said, nodding towards the corridor ahead.

Amber waved them off with her characteristic enthusiasm. "See you around, Tayden!" she called, her voice almost overpowered by the sounds of other knights.. Eula offered a nod, her expression not changing in the slightest. "Take care."

…

As they continued down the hall, Tayden couldn't help but think back to Amber and Eula. Both of them had very differing presences, but he could tell that both were equally dangerous. For some reason, Amber's presence reminded him of fire, while Eula's reminded him of snow. 

'Thanks powers, another thing I have no idea what to make of.'

As they continued down the hallway, they came upon a door larger than the rest, its wooden surface intricately carved with symbols with meanings that he did not understand. This door seemed to hold a presence all its own, demanding attention and respect. Tayden observed Kaeya's subtle change in demeanor by a slight straightening of his posture. It was enough for Tayden to conclude that this must be Grandmaster Varka's office.

'Welp,' he thought, 'here we go.'

…

Kaeya paused just outside the big door, turning to Tayden with an unexpected seriousness that made him straighten up "Wait here until I call you in." Kaeya instructed, his tone leaving no room for questions or objections. Tayden's reply was a simple rigid nod, his mind racing with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

Without another word, Kaeya knocked twice, the sound echoing down the hall, and then slipped inside, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. Tayden barely caught a glimpse of the room before the door sealed him off from whatever awaited inside.

…

Left alone in the hallway, Tayden was enveloped by a silence that seemed to grow heavier with each passing second. 'This is way longer than expected,' he thought, glancing around as the minutes stretched into what felt like hours. But in reality, it had only been around Twenty minutes, by his count, and still no call to enter. The wait was agonizing, he hated this feeling of dread that was building in his stomach.

He tried to calm himself, panicking wouldn't do him any good. Surely, if there was bad news, he would have known by now. But the uncertainty gnawed at him. His enhanced hearing was useless, the thick walls and bustling building drowned out any sound from inside the office.

Taking another deep breath, he stilled his racing thoughts. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, and he was just going to have a calming chat with the literal leader of knights. No biggie. Just as he began to think, the door swung open with a suddenness that made him jump back. "Holy shit!"

Kaeya stood there, watching him with an unreadable expression. Somewhat amused by his surprised expression. "Come in," he said finally. "The Grandmaster will see you now."

Tayden swallowed hard, a literal gulp that seemed to echo in the quiet hallway. As he stepped through the door, he was struck by the enormity of the room. The windows were covered with heavy blinds, casting the space in a muted glow. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with books and scrolls that spoke of a lifetime of knowledge. In the center stood a large table, its surface cluttered with maps and documents, illuminated by the soft glow of a lamp. 

And standing in front of that desk, arms crossed, was Grandmaster Varka.

The first thing Tayden registered was his size. The man was huge, a presence that dominated the room without even trying. His beard was sharp and white, his face lined with scars that told a thousand stories of battle. His posture was firm, the kind of stance that spoke of unshakable confidence, the kind that came from experience, from knowing you were the strongest person in the room.

Varka watched Tayden for a long moment before speaking. "So, you're the one Kaeya brought in."

Tayden swallowed, suddenly acutely aware of how small he felt standing before the Grandmaster. He forced himself to hold his ground, straightening his posture. "Yes, sir."

Varka didn't respond immediately. His piercing gaze studied Tayden, looking up and down his body- well mostly down since he was like 2 heads taller than Tayden.

Then, finally, he spoke. "I've read Kaeya's report. Mysterious traveler, no records, no history, and strength beyond reason."

Tayden tensed. That last part made his stomach twist.

Varka continued, stepping forward. "Kaeya says you took down a group of Treasure Hoarders. Overpowered them completely. My, you even Decapitated one with a single blow if these reports are to be believed." He stopped a few feet in front of Tayden. "That kind of strength isn't something you find in just anyone. And yet, you don't seem to have a Vision."

Tayden felt his pulse quicken. He had no idea how to respond to that in a way that wouldn't dig him into a deeper hole. Lie? Downplay it? Admit he has no idea how his body works anymore?

He took a slow breath, steadying himself. He needed to be calm and answer Varka's questions right "I-i trained my body. A lot." 

'That's the best thing I could come up with, seriously?!'

Varka raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Enough training to outmatch several veteran treasure hoarders, and move faster than the eye can see?" He let the question linger, breaking down Tayden's lies with ease. "That's hard to believe. From the report, the knights also found the mangled bodies of the treasure hoarders you killed. It was described as a "Grotesque" sight. As if a wild animal had brutalized the treasure hoarders "

Tayden clenched his jaw. "I don't know what else to tell you. I just woke up at the beach and just wandered around until I came across those treasure hoarders."

Varka held his gaze. The silence stretched longer than Tayden would have liked, the tension sitting heavy in the room. Then finally, the Grandmaster sighed and shook his head. "I believe you."

Tayden blinked. "You… do?!"

Seeming to realize what he just said he quickly backtracked. "Uhh I mean, of course you do! Because I'm telling the truth!"

'I'm gonna fucking kill myself' 

Varka looked amused at his blunder and gave a small chuckle. "I've been leading this order for a long time, boy. I can tell when someone's lying because they have something to hide and when someone's just confused as hell." He turned slightly, walking toward his desk. "And you? You're definitely confused as hell."

Tayden felt his muscles relax and finally noticed that his body was tense throughout the entire conversation. "So… does that mean I'm good now?"

Varka picked up a rolled parchment from his desk, tapping it against his palm as he turned back to Tayden. "Now, we deal with the real issue."

Tayden frowned. "The real issue?"

Varka nodded. "You showing up out of nowhere with inhuman abilities is one thing. But someone put you here. There is no way just woke up on a beach by accident. I think there are people out there, somewhere, who know exactly what happened to you." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "People who abduct and throw away civilians for unknown reasons. I'm sure you understand why I must be extremely cautious."

Tayden's mind finally processed his words. He had been so focused on his own situation, that he hadn't stopped to consider who or what had brought him here in the first place.

This was a world with magic. If someone was responsible for bringing him here, then they must be an extremely powerful one. What were their intentions? Was he a failed experiment? A discarded weapon?

Varka exhaled through his nose, as if sorting through his thoughts. "I don't think you're here to cause harm. If I did, you wouldn't be standing here having this conversation with me." He set the parchment down, crossing his arms again. "But that doesn't mean I can just ignore this. For all we know, whoever brought you here could still be watching. Purposefully placing you so that you would head to Springvale and get the Knight's attention."

Tayden swallowed, a cold weight settling in his gut. "So what are you saying?"

Varka looked him dead in the eye. "You'll be under Knight supervision."

Tayden's stomach dropped. "You're… imprisoning me?"

Varka shook his head. "Nothing that drastic, so calm yourself. But you're not going to be roaming around unsupervised. You'll stay in Mondstadt, and you'll be watched closely. That means you'll be in close proximity with the Knights." He paused, then added, "With this in mind, I have a proposal for you."

"A proposal?"

"You do not have a place to stay, nor any money to your name. So why not help around the knights while you're under supervision? You will be compensated for your work and given a temporary place to stay." He stopped and clasped his hands together, looking at Tayden. "So what do you say? I think it's far better than wandering aimlessly in a nation you know nothing about. Wouldn't you agree?"

Tayden stared at Varka, thinking hard about his proposal. On one hand, this was obviously a way for them to keep a closer eye on him. Even though Varka believes in his story -or he says he does- He is still a stranger that appeared out of nowhere. On the other hand, this was better than being locked up, but it still meant constant surveillance, and heck he could even make some money. 

He exhaled through his nose, his hands curling into fists before he finally nodded. "Alright."

Varka studied him for another moment before giving a satisfied nod. "Good." He turned to Kaeya, who had been standing silently at the side the whole time. "Kaeya, I'll leave him in your capable hands."

Kaeya was startled but then regained his smirk, but there was a sharpness in his expression. "Babysitting duty? How flattering."

Varka laughed. "Think of it as an interesting challenge, besides you would probably throw the responsibility on someone else wouldn't you?"

Kaeya put his hand on his chest in mock offence. "I have no idea what you are talking about. I am a very responsible person."

Tayden wanted to groan. He really hoped that another knight was going to watch over him because literally anyone would be better than Kaeya. He has known this man for barely a day and he already gets a migraine every time he talks to him. He would not survive having the man watching over him 24/7.

Varka stepped forward one last time, resting a heavy hand on his shoulder. "I don't know who you are, or why you're here." he said, his tone quieter but no less commanding. "But until we find out, you're one of us now. That means you are under the knight's protection, but that also means you follow the rules, you don't cause problems, and you stay in Mondstadt unless you have a knight supervising you. Are we clear?"

Tayden met his gaze, the weight of responsibility sinking in. "Crystal."

Varka grinned. "Good. Welcome to Mondstadt, Tayden. Let's hope you're not the start of a disaster.."

He stared at Varka with an exasperated expression, 'Who the hell ends their sentences like that?!'

Varka exhaled, leaning back slightly as he glanced at Kaeya. "Assign him to one of the abandoned barracks near headquarters. You know the one I'm talking about."

Kaeya gave a small nod. "I'll get on it."

Tayden just watched the interaction between the two, hearing that he was being given a place to stay rather than being locked in a cell was... better than he thought. Atleast he wasn't homeless. Though he hoped that being under surveillance doesn't mean someone secretly hiding in the barrack with him.

"That'll be your space for now," Varka added, his gaze landing back on Tayden. "Not exactly luxurious, but it's a roof over your head. Report to Kaeya, or any knight if anything happens."

Tayden gave a slow nod. "Got it."

Varka gave a final glance to Kaeya. "See to it."

Kaeya turned slightly, motioning with his head for Tayden to follow. "Come on, let's get you settled." Tayden followed as Kaeya led him out of the office, the tense conversation still pressing against his thoughts. No further words were exchanged between them as they walked through the halls.