Freedom (Jean x oc) A Genshin Impact Fanfic *Completed*

Chapter 14

im particularly happy with this chap. see you in the next update! :D

"That Katheryne's sturdy as stone! I didn't think confessing to her would be this hard..." 

One of the adventurers in the Angel's Share had another one of their drunken banters. Said adventurer gulped down the tempting intoxicant straight into the core of his throat, the action incessant after a few rounds were done. Amell, who just passed by got mixed into the 'mentally smashed' atmosphere. 

His intentions were sort of similar to these drunkards but his high tolerance in alcohol didn't help him in his need of getting drunk. He knew he shouldn't drink too much, he just needed a little flavor to help spice up his mood when he returns. It might even give him an ounce of courage to face an imminent meeting with the woman he was enamored about.

Venti was an immutable force to be reckoned with. His keen eye and observational skills could be above him if the former hadn't even met him personally besides tonight. Amell winced at himself, letting the aftertaste subside and diminish when it settled down in his tongue, he propped the carved wooden mug near the edge of the table, his grip tight on its handle half-finished. 

"You've gotta try again, man~! Do it for the sake of your fellow adventurers! Ad Abys-"

"Gah! Stop reminding me!" the drunkard squealed madly.

It must be nice to have someone like that riling you up. Then again, Amell preferred keeping things to himself than blabbering about lost love in a woozy condition. Who knew Jean Gunnhildr, Acting Grand Master and the present day ideal of Dandelion Knight would welcome her feminine heart to someone like him? 

Him? A chary but dependable young man? Men were supposed to be like that nowadays so what made him special? Was it because he'd been closer to her? What attracted her to him? He naturally wanted to unearth the meaning behind those words as it'd gnaw at him for eternity.

The world was heterogenous, transgressing and forever in that constant. He scratched at his hair, aggravated at his asininity for not reading the signs. His blockheadedness served as an impediment to his years of experience in expressing and understanding emotions. How could he have focused on that when his mind was overwhelmed with thoughts of his life, his goal, glimpses of Jean's beauty eclipsing from time to time? He couldn't even envision a probability of making her like him.

"This is anew..." Diluc approached the troubled blue-haired grown-up. 

"What is? Drinking booze? I don't get drunk easily. Don't worry, I won't cause a ruckus," Amell disclosed, looking at Diluc right in his face.

"It's not that. You just seem to exhibit sluggish posture. You don't normally come here unless you have something to talk to me about." Diluc took in a deep breath. "I'm not worried about bar fights anytime soon since the tavern's established a new rule when one does occur..."

"I'll treat it as something inscrutable then. I'm not in the mood to find out what kind of rule it is..." Amell sighed.

"It's related to something like gross pay but I doubt you're interested in such things. Why not try working here instead to get a better understanding?" 

Amell waved it dismissively. "My job pays better than being your lackey, to be frank." Diluc quietly chuckled. "So how's your search going? Did you find anything remotely significant?"

Diluc did a complete 180, reverting back to his cool and Machiavellian persona. "I would be lying if I said I didn't encounter anything out of the ordinary but information comes at a price, my dear acquaintance."