I was wandering around a forest. It felt strange, almost unnaturally natural for me to be here. The small chirps of these weird, long red beaked birds surrounded me. The trees were massive. The forest dim and wet.

I walked what seemed aimlessly, but then in the center of the forest laid a small table covered with meats and plants. I felt my stomach growl. How long had it been since I had eaten?

I walked up to the table and sat down. There was a bowl of what I assumed to be zaytun peaches. I had only seen pictures of them in catalogs in the Kamisato main house. Sitting down, I hesitantly grabbed one and took a bite. It was much more sweet and tangy than I'd thought.

"They're good, right?" The deep female voice from my dreams said from behind me, "They were my favorite snack when this forest was my home."

I quickly turned my head and saw a lovely woman with deep black and forest green hair strode into the clearing. She was wearing relatively revealing clothing that was clearly meant for desert travel. But beyond her beauty, one thing stood out. Her eyes were glowing a harsh yellow.

"Yes, the peaches are delicious. Are they yours? If so, I deeply apologize for taking one without permission." I said, staring back at the juicy fruit.

"Fear not little one, I'm not mad I placed them out for this meeting. I must say your hair is as gorgeous as your father's." She said, reaching out her nails dragging through my hair

"You knew my father?" I asked curiously as my eyes carefully followed the woman.

Sitting at the other side of the table, she grabbed a peach, "I knew him and his family. They were a horrible set of humans bent on stealing the dendro dragons' power and bending her to their will. Your father was the only one who saw what monsters his family were."

"That's awful, hmm, what's this?" I said suddenly, feeling something cold and heavy form in my pocket.

I reached down and grabbed the sensation in my pocket. It was a sphere of some sorts. When I brought it up above the table, a confused look appeared on my face.

"More facts to show that you are your father's child," she said chipper in tone, but her eyes seethed, "He also had a hydro vision. The gods saw his thirst for justice for the dendro sovereign."

"Justice, huh? Ironic given what happened to him." I said, turning my head away.

"Apep felt his demise through the plants in that awful place. The dendro Dragon, who had decided to give humanity one more chance thanks to your father, wept that day. Its hatred towards humanity grew to insatiable bloodlust at that point and hid itself amongst the sands of the desert." The lady said, 'You have yet to ask me my name, little one."

"It felt irrelevant. After all, I'm not even awake, am I?" I said, looking straight ahead, staring the woman dead in her glowing eyes, "Isn't that right, mother?"

"When did you figure it out?" She asked, her voice unchanging.

"The moment I entered this place, the dendro energy pulsating through this dream, rather this sub plane of consciousness. It's yours, correct?" I asked, biting into my peach.

"You could tell that. So you are more closely entwined with our element. I believe you know exactly who I am, daughter." Her form and forest started to blow away into sand, "Seek me out, child. You will learn your place in this world."

I felt like I was swept away by a gale in the desert, the sting of the sands etched onto my body. Things were spinning, and I felt this bright light surge from behind my eyes. Then, the nausea set in.

I opened my eyes and jolted up. Quickly, I scanned the room I was in. The dim lights and the brass walls, the shitty creaky bed, I was in Meropide. A white sheet draped over my body.

I grabbed my stomach and bent over my bed. Thankfully, someone left a bucket next to me. Feeling the waves of nausea crash through my body, I hurriedly grabbed the bucket.

The next few moments were painful as I felt the mixture of bile and blood leave my lips. The smell made my stomach curl up tighter than it already was. There is no reminiscent taste of the sweet peach I had eaten in my dream moments ago.

After the storm of aliment passed, I noticed I wasn't in the infirmary. Rather, I was in my assigned dorm on a seemingly plastic tarp on my bed. There was no one next to me or in the room.

I saw that his grace had set the crate of items from Baizhu on the table in the center of the room. Wriothesley... his face flashed through my mind. Panic and sorrow filled his face when I last saw him. I made him promise me we'd have tea again.

I chuckled. Tea sounded so good at the moment. I wondered if he had an Inazumian ginger blend. Liyue had multiple good ginger blends, but they could never top Inazumas subtle numbing sensation. 

I stood up shakily, but still I stood. Leaning on the wall, I slowly walked out of my cell. I had most of my weight against the cold metal. I felt the scratchy bandages against my skin as I walked.

"I'll need to thank Sigewinne for patching me up." I mumbled as I made it to the main causeway. The only people around were gaurdes. It was probably late.

I kept my head down and walked to the lift to take me to the main floor. I stumbled out of the lift as another wave of nauseating cramps hit. I let out a soft groan as I tried to hold back the building vomit.

"WHO'S THERE!?!" I heard a familiar voice shout near the cafeteria.

I crumpled to my knees from the force of the bile ejecting from my throat. I heard a few sets of metal soles running towards me. I curled in on myself as I heard a gasp and something shatter on the metal floor.

"YOU TWO GO FETCH HIS GRACE AND SIGEWINNE! OH ARCHONS SILVA!" The familiar voice shouted and ran over to me.

"Hey Sam... ugh damn what did I eat, right?" I chuckled, looking up at Sam, who wore a surprised expression.

"How is this even possible? How are you even walking around? Hell screw that question, how are you even alive?" Sam asked, helping me sit against the wall.

"You think that bastard renard could do lasting damage? Ha, I took worse injuries as a kid..." I coughed, and multiple bones cracked at once, "oof, that was pleasant."

I looked into Sam's eyes. They moved as if they were quickly examining my body, and then tears started to feel up. He was crying. Why?

"Hey, what's wrong? Geez, you're acting like someone died." I let out a weezing laugh.

"That's because someone did." Another familiar but much huskier voice said, "You, to be precise,  Ms. Silva."

I felt a smile grace my lips, "Wriothesley, I was just coming to see you. I did make you promise, right? And how could I have died? I'm still breathing and moving about, right? Not to mention,  i was promised tea right, your grace."

I saw what appeared to be relief in his grace's eyes, but the tone that was in his voice was one of almost abject horror. The relief quickly left as a stern look presented itself. He stared into my eyes as if trying to figure out some puzzle.

"Sir, you should bring her to your office. I'll have maintenance clean up this vomit." Sam said as Wriothesley nodded.

"Come on, Silva. I bet you're starving after all you've been comatose for about a week and a half." Sam said, pulling me up and helping me drape my arm over Wriothesley's neck.

"Not to mention dead for the past three hours." His grace said as we started towards the oh so comforting massive doors of his office.

Once we entered the office, I heard soft sobbing. It was definitely feminine and quiet. The gentle tone only reminded me of one person, Sigewinne.

"Come on, upsie daisy." Wriothesley lightly chuckled when we arrived at the stairs.

I felt my lips curl upwards, "Yes, Wriothesley."

We slowly made it up the stairs. When we reached the top, I saw Sigewinne and Monsieur Nuevillette sitting on the worn-out old sofa. She was definitely crying.

"Hey Sigewinne, I found a patient that needs to be looked at." Wriothesley said kinda bluntly.

"Your grace, I don't think I can currently." She choked out as the Iudex rubbed her back.

"Please, Ms. Sigewinne, I haven't stopped throwing up since I woke up."  I said, and as soon as I spoke, both her and Nuevillette's head shot up.

I hardly noticed the Iudex's reaction. My eyes were drawn to Sigewinne and how her streaming eyes widened at the sight of me. It was barely a second later when she ran over and hugged me.

"How! I check your pluses and breathing like four times! We did cpr for about fifteen minutes!" She cried, holding me.

"I'm sorry, I worried you so much, Sigewinne." I bent down to fully hug her.

When I bent down, loud crunching and snapping noises came from my back. Sigewinne looked horrified. I felt no pain, but I could tell she wanted to look at my back. She quickly ran behind me. When she lifted my shirt, there was a substantial thud on the floor.

"Why were you covered in branches?" She asked.

"You discovered something, didn't you, Ms. Silva." Monsieur Nuevillette asked, walking over towards me.

"I saw her... my mother. I think she's a Dendro Elemental." I said, noticing a hydro vision on a chain on the coffee table, "That's my vision, right?"

"Yes, it is, but how did you see your mother? You've been in a coma since I saved you." Wriothesley said, picking up the vision.

"Higher up elementals can sometimes produce sub planes of existence, your grace," Nuevillette said, his strange eyes staring straight into mine, "Please hand Ms. Silva her vision."

Wriothesley simply nodded and walked over to me. His expression was grim, but as he approached, it softened greatly. He extended his hand and set the vision in my palm.

"You said you believe your mother was a dendro elemental. Ms. Silva, you weren't being completely honest with us. Were you?" Monsieur Nuevillette said.

I lowered my head and bit my lip, "No sir, she didn't even fully confirm her identity. I just knew by the way she spoke about her and my dad's past in a third-person perspective."

"Wriothesley, Sigewinne, why don't you both go grab some food for yourselves and Ms. Silva. I need to have a private word with her." Nuevillette said, standing in front of Wriothesley's desk, his hands clasped tight on his cane.

They nodded and made their way down the stairs. I could tell by the energy permeated throughout the air that wasn't a suggestion. Rather, it was an order.

Once the doors slammed shut, the Iudex motioned for me to sit on the couch. The pressure this man was exuding was terrifying. It was different from the kind facade he wore. It was similar to hers, to the being I just saw in that dream. I sat as he began to speak.

"Tell me, Silva. You only just found out your mother is the dendro sovereign, correct?" He asks, turning to face me his lilac eye standing out.

"Yes, sir, at least that's what I'm lead to believe. The only name she mentioned was Apep and how that Apep felt when my father passed." I hung my head.

"What did she tell you to do? Dragons are fickle, and Apep has a very strong distaste for humanity." Nuevillette said, turning a kettle on.

"Seek me out, child. You will learn your place in this world." I spoke, repeating my mother's words, "I'm not even sure if I could at this time. That person who stabbed me on the road is still out there."

"It is quite off-putting, to be in the same room as a sovereign progeny. I'm remiss with myself for not telling that you were sooner." He said, sitting next to me.

"Please, Monsieur, to be fair from what I've read on dragons in general, they are quite territorial. I'm glad that you haven't acted that way. You are like my mother, right? The hydro energy in the air is comparable to my dream with her." I said, burying my face into my hands.

"Yes, little hatchling. You're correct, but unlike Apep, I have a genuine love for humanity." He ran his thumb over the gem in his cane, "I must apologize,  I feel that if I had shown up sooner the day you were injured."

I simply put my hand up, "If you had, I probably wouldn't have met Apep or gained my vision. It's obvious Celestia has plans for me, even if it's spiting her. I feel like I have somewhere I belong. Even when I was in Liyue, I felt I was on the outside. Yet here in an underwater prison, just waking up from being apparently dead. I feel more at home than ever."

My mind raced to Wriothesley and Sigewinne. Then Sam popped his head in my thoughts. I looked up, and Nuevillette had a smile that was reminiscent of Zhongli. I wonder if they were told, Zhongli and Baizhu.

"You have planted your roots here, young hatchling. While they barely have scratched the surface, I've seen the impact your short time here has had. The way Sigewinne tried so hard to bring you back." Nuevillette looked deep in thought.

"Monsieur, I want to stay in Fontaine when I'm released. Do you believe that's possible?" I asked as the door opened.

"I'll see what I can do to help you find somewhere. After all, I do believe you were born on your parents' herb farm, and that makes you a Fontainian." He said, "but let's discuss those matters later. You need some form of nutrition. Hopefully, Wosley was awake, and they didn't just pull to random dishes from the fridge."

"What kind of man do you think I am Nuevillette? I wouldn't give someone who just returned from the dead some suspicious food. Wosley was actually doing prep. He was more than happy to whip something special for Silva." Wriothesley said, setting a meal box in front of me.

As if on cue, my stomach let out a loud growl. I blushed and opened the box. The smell was heavenly. When I gazed down, I noticed there was a glistening broth that was extremely clear with a nest of herbs on top.

"Seeing as you haven't eaten in over a week, I told Wosley to make you something easy for you to digest." Sigewinne said, sipping one of her infamous milkshakes.

I grabbed the spoon that was next to the box and slowly took a sip of the soup. I felt my stress melt away as the herbs danced on my tongue. The consúme was a delicious and delicate texture.

Wriothesley poured the water in the kettle into various tea cups he had lined up, grabbing an extra one from the cupboard. I could tell he was trying to hide his glance at me. Maybe he felt guilty for what happened to me.

"Silva, what type of tea would you like?" His grace asked.

"Ginger tea," I chuckled, "Inazumian, if possible."

"Would you look at that? I have exactly enough left for us all to have some." He said, pulling down a jar with four bags.

After about thirty minutes my food was gone and everyone had finished their tea. Nuevillette had left stating he had a full day tomorrow. Sigewinne finished checking my body. Once she was satisfied, she said for me to get some rest that the doctor they had contacted for my coma should arrive tomorrow.

At that, she told Wriothesley to bring me to my room. He nodded, and she left.

The walk to my dorm was quiet. Wriothesley wore a sullen face. Once we arrived, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into an embrace.

He smelled of bergamot and a pine beach. His suit was a course texture, but the feeling was pleasant against my skin. I heard it. His heart was beating strong and on rhythm.

"Thank you, Silva." He said, pulling me closer for a brief second.

"For what your grace?" I asked as his bandaged hands loosen their grip.

"For allowing me to keep my promise.  Please try and sleep. You don't have to worry about anything. I had the ones that hurt you kept in a separate portion of Meropide. They won't be able to hurt you." Wriothesley said as he leaned close.

"I said I keep my promises, right? I hold the people I make promises to the same standard." I mutter as I feel my face heat up.

At this distance, I noticed all the small scars along his face and collar. It only solidified my thoughts on how gorgeous and handsome he was. The way his icy eyes looked so ironicly warm in this moment was causing fluttering in places that hadn't since been mine and Ayato's small romance in my teen years.

"Sleep well, Silva. I'll have Sigewinne or Sam bring you breakfast. I need you to get your strength back. I'm not teaching you to fight in your condition." He chuckled as he walked away.

I lay in the bed on the wall opposite my own bed. I didn't think laying down in the bed I was dead in, not even six hours. I felt my eye slowly sink closed. Wriothesley's scent lingering on my clothes very lightly. It made my face ease up as I drifted to sleep.