Ceres P.O.V

For a long time now, I only see darkness. How long has it been since I've been asleep? When will it be time for me to wake up? I need to wake up... I need to help the people... I tried to open my eyes, hoping that I'll be able to wake up. Then I felt my eyes finally opening

Once I finally opened up, I noticed that I was laying on what looked like coffin and I also noticed that flowers haven't withered either. Then I was greeted with what was left of the temple that I grew up, broken pillars and ceiling, the walls looked like its ready to collapse at any minute

'Just what happened here?' I thought and I saw my spell book and sword in the coffin with me. Once I picked up my spell book, sword and my satchel, I left the temple. When I got outside, I turned to look at the temple and I was shocked, the temple was in ruins

'What happened to the other monks, nuns, or the priestesses in training? They would never leave the temple in such a state' I thought and I started leaving what was left of my former home

I knew where I was since I can recognize the landscape here, looks like I'm close to Mondstadt, the Land of Freedom founded by the Anemo God Barbatos and my Vision reveals that I'm using Anemo power. When I visit different lands that the Archons rule over, my vision changes

As I walked through the field, I can see the city that I used to visit, but the city looked bigger from the last time.

'Seriously, just how long was I sleeping for?' I asked myself, then I saw a blonde boy with long braided hair and a floating child, and I felt the Anemo power within the boy, the Archon must've blessed him with the power. Then a huge shadow flew over and I was surprised to see Dvalin, and he landed in the heart of the woods, so I immediately ran towards the forest. When I got deep enough in the forest, I saw Dvalin on top of a small hill and the Anemo God, Barbatos 'Barbatos?'

"...Don't be afraid ...It's alright now, I'm back" Barbatos said to Dvalin, and in the corner of my eye, I saw the blond boy and the floating child from earlier. The boy's Anemo power reacted a bit and it looked like it startled Dvalin. He swung his claw hand at Barbatos, luckily he managed to move out of the way in time. He looked around to see who startled Dvalin, but found no one, and Barbatos teleported away. Not soon after Dvalin flew away into the skies, and I saw one of Dvalin's tears floating on the hill that he was on earlier. I walked towards the hill and grabbed it

'It's tainted... Dvalin... What happened to you?' I thought as I looked at the tainted tear with a sad look

"Um... Excuse me?" I turned around and saw the boy and the floating child, I immediately put Dvalin's tear away in my satchel before they approached me "Who are you?"

"Me?" I asked as I pointed at myself

"Yes you! There's no else here!" The floating child said

"Can you introduce yourselves first?" I asked

"We asked you first!" The floating child said

"Be nice, Paimon" The boy said to the floating child who puffed her cheeks "Anyway, I'm Aether. And this is Paimon"

"A pleasure to meet you both. My name is Ceres and I'm a Priestess of the Seven Archons" I introduced myself

"Priestess of the Seven Archons? But Paimon thought they all died from a long time ago" Paimon said and I was shocked

"Died? What do you mean all died?" I asked with a shocked expression

"Well, Paimon heard they all died from the Archon War 2,000 years ago. Paimon was really surprised to hear that you're a Priestess of the Seven Archons, so that means... you're the only one left in the whole world!" Paimon said, and I fell onto my knees

"No way... 2,000 years? That was how long I've been asleep...?" I said and I felt tears forming in my eyes

"Don't cry, Ceres. Why don't you join us on the journey we on now?" Aether suggested

"A journey?" I asked

"Yeah. I'm looking for my sister. Her name is Lumine. We were separated when we both fought against this God" Aether said

'A God? I only know one God... It can't be her, right?' I thought

"So, would you join us?" Aether asked as he stuck out his hand. Ceres grabbed his hand, accepting his offer

No One P.O.V

"Where you guys heading?" Ceres asked

"We're heading to Mondstadt" Aether said

"I see. I am curious how much the city changed over the years while I was in my eternal sleep" Ceres said

"Paimon is curious. Why were you asleep? And how come you don't look very old?" Paimon asked

"Pardon?" Ceres looked shocked

"Paimon! That's very rude!" Aether said

"Well... to answer your question, I have no idea myself. All I can remember was grabbing my spell book and sword to fight the threat during the war and the next thing I knew I lost all consciousness. Now 2,000 years later, I woke up from what remain of the temple" Ceres said

"Interesting..." Paimon said

"Paimon, don't ask rude questions like that. I'm so very sorry about that" Aether apologized

"It's fine. We should start moving though. You never know what lurks in these woods" Ceres said

Aether nodded in agreement and they both started walking while Paimon was flying. As they walked through the woods, Ceres was looking around her surroundings in awe. As they were exiting out of the woods, they heard someone shouting

"Hey, you two! Stop right there!" The duo stopped walking and Paimon stopped flying, they heard someone running and the same person jumped from the hill and landed a few feet away from her. The person was a girl with long brown hair

"May the Anemo God protect you, strangers! I am Amber, Outrider for the Knights of Favonius. You two don't look like citizens of Mondstadt. Explain yourselves!" Amber said

"We're not looking for trouble" Paimon said

"That's what all the troublemakers say" Amber said

"She's not wrong..." Ceres said with a sweatdrop

"Uh... Hello, I'm Aether" Aether introduced himself

"...Doesn't sound like a local name to me. And this... mascot, what's the deal with it?" Amber asked as she looks at Paimon

"She's emergency food" Aether answered

"Hey! That's even worse then being a mascot!" Paimon complained

"And you miss?" Amber looked at Ceres

"My name is Ceres" Ceres introduced herself

"Ceres huh? That name sounds familiar..." Amber said as she started to try to remember and a lightbulb appeared above her head "Oh yeah! I heard that name in one of the books from the library. About one remaining priestess who disappeared during the Archon War" Amber said and inspected her appearance from top to bottom "You even look like her too"

"Um..." Ceres had no words to say

"That's because she is the priestess from one of those books!" Paimon said and Amber looked shocked

"WHAT?!?!?!?!? There's no way!" Amber exclaimed

"It is true... I'm the priestess of the Seven Archons" Ceres said and Amber immediately bowed

"I am so sorry for my behavior! I didn't know who you were!" Amber apologized as she bowed her head to the ground

"Uh... Please lift your head up. I'm not mad or anything" Ceres said

"If you say so, your grace" Amber said as she cleared her throat "Anyway, so to sum up, you're traveling partners, right? Well look, there's been a large dragon sighted around Mondstadt recently. Best you get inside the city as soon as possible. It's not far from here, I'll escort you there"

"But weren't you here for some other reason?" Ceres asked

"I am. But not to worry. I can keep you guys safe while doing that too. Besides her grace, I'm still not sure if I can trust you two just yet!" Amber said

"Why so suspicious?" Aether asked

"Oh, ahh... I'm sorry. Probably not something I should say as a knight. I give you my apologies, uh... strange yet... respectable travelers" Amber said

"That sounded so fake!" Paimon shouted

"Do you have something against the type of language usage prescribed by the Knights of Favonius Handbook?!" Amber asked looking angry at Paimon who immediately hid behind Ceres

'This is gonna be one interesting adventure' Ceres thought to herself

To be continued