Chapter Text
Illuga has long since let go of his crush on Sir Flins.
He was way out of his league, not to mention much older if he believe half the story the other Ratnik told. Yet for a long time it didn't stop the way his heart thump in his chest when he leaned close and called him young master.
The man was beautiful and charming. Full of hidden mystery that made Illuga's heart flutter.
So how could a plain Ratnik like him get noticed?
He did not confess his crush, nor does he regret it.
Not when he watched the way Sir Flins lit up when Sir Varka greet him from across the field. The easy banter they have with each other. The gentle affection they share in the open. If they were not being kept busy by their respective duty, they were together sharing a drink at various places. They probably do a lot more, but Illuga wasn't the one to pry.
He was truly happy for them.
He could only wonder if he will ever find something like that.
***
One day, as he go through the halls of Piramida, putting away the paperwork to their respective shelves and mentally plan their next patrol route. Illuga heard the tell-tale laugh of Sir Varka ringing through the halls. Meaning Sir Flins will also be with him. The Grand Master is probably the only person who can convince the illusive Ratnik to leave the lighthouse and socialise.
He dropped his paperwork to the nearest surface and rushed to the mead hall. He wondered why they came to the base today. The Wild Hunt was not as organised as before. With their supposed leader is gone, things has become quieter. Not completely silent, but it was much easier. He had hoped that taking out the leader will take out the whole Wild Hunt. Since that didn't happen, there must be some other reason these creatures prowl Nod-Krai. Maybe they have some information on that?
Following the sound of talking, he arrived at mess hall. He spots Sir Flins immediately, standing serenely next to Sir Varka. Some might ask Illuga if he had truly let go of his crush if he still looked for the other man so often. Illuga would argue just because the man was taken doesn't stop him from being attractive. Sue him.
"Ah Illuga! Good timing." His old pops waved him over. "Varka has been telling me where his expedition group will set up a more permanent camp."
The Grand Master chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, it took us a while to find some potential good location. We don't want to end up stepping on anyone's toes."
Gramps laughed. "Please, your expedition has been a welcomed relieve for us Lightkeepers. Some of us finally got a chance to take a breather."
It was true. The Wild Hunt has always been dangerous and the Lightkeepers has been stretched thin ever since they lost the outpost where Sir Flins resides. Not to mention many new recruits would leave very quickly after a few skirmishes. So they were always understaffed, barely keeping up with the encroaching Wild Hunt.
With the Expedition group from Mondstadt, they managed to cut down the Wild Hunt that spawn across Nod-Krai, giving a much needed break to many Lightkeepers.
"Well, credit where credits are due. This guy is the one that hunted down those Abyss monsters. Let me introduce you." Sir Varka gestured to the young man next to him. "This is Lohen, Vice Captain of the Fifth Company."
Oh no.
There was something in the young man's red teal eye that made Illuga's heart skip a beat. It was such an interesting gradient that he has never seen before. The mint green hair and pale skin only just highlight those beautiful dull eyes. A dullness that seemed to hide something underneath. His smile seemed pleasant but something is a bit off and made him tense up. All in all, scary but very attractive. Or may be because he looks scary that he is attractive?
He forced himself to move and stop gawking. He has to be polite after all. "Hello, my name is Illuga. It's nice to meet you." He held out his hand in offering.
The young man, Lohen, took his offered hand and shook it. "A pleasure."
He could feel a light tingle of energy. A vision holder then? There aren't many in the Nod-Krai. Not that it stopped the local from making sure they are armed and protected against the danger out in the wild. Or for the Lightkeepers to use Kuuvahki to fight off the Wild Hunt. Illuga shelve this little information away. Maybe later he could ask him if there are more vision holders across the sea.
Right now he has a different question.
"So Sir Varka which area is your expedition group going to settle in?" Illuga asked.
The Grand Master smiled and walked to the map that has being hanging on the wall. "Our scouts marked out a few location. Far enough from danger so our knights can rest, but not so far that we couldn't come to rescue anyone who strayed too far in."
Illuga examined each locations Sir Varka has pointed out. All of them are pretty good, he had been there themselves. Plenty of natural defences and close to the main road. What differs between them was how close to certain danger zone and how far they are to the only port on the island.
He glared at the spot that was close to the Ashveil peak. That one is the most dangerous spot, since its the closest to a unstable and high concentration of Abyssal energy. Even Gramps sealed off that whole region. They were only allowed to patrol the edge of it to keep the Wild Hunt in.
An old pain bloomed in his chest. He could still remember the shouting as the abyssal energy flared around them. The obsidian black fire that encroach upon them on every angle. On his back was Ivar, hand clutching his sword, bleeding sluggishly and both leg mangled. Captain Olsson ordering him to carry him to safety and to call for reinforcement.
He followed that order.
He ran as fast as he could. Fighting off other Wild Hunt that block his way to Piramida. Keeping Ivar as stable as he could with his limited medical knowledge. There were no other outpost back then, or any pit stop on his way to Piramida. He managed somehow.
Yet it was not enough.
Sometime he wonder if things will be different if he was stronger back then. To be able to fight back and give everyone a way out. Or even just faster so the reinforcement could arrive in time. Illuga resist the urge to sigh out loud. There was no point in the what ifs. He knows this, he has been told this - repeatedly.
But those thoughts lingered.
"I don't understand why we couldn't set our camp much closer." Lohen said with a yawn. "It will be an easier sport if I do not have to trek several miles for a good punching bag."
Illuga froze. Did... Did he just think the Wild Hunt are simple creatures for a game?!
He glanced at the others to see their reaction. Gramps had his eyes narrowed at the other guy, probably trying to work out if the Vice-Captain was serious or not. Sir Flins was looking at the Grand Master instead with an amused smile. Meanwhile Sir Varka was pinching the bridge of his nose. Looks like it was a common occurrence then.
Whatever feelings he had before is summarily buried under the indignant anger.
Illuga turned to the Vice-Captain. "You can't treat the Wild Hunt as a game! They are dangerous creatures that could take your life the moment you let your guard down!" He had to restrain himself from shouting. There were other people in the hall and he doesn't want to spook them.
However, by that devious smile the Vice Captain give him. The scolding has fell on deaf ear.
"Are you sure? So far none of them are any fun to take down." He purred. "Unless you know somewhere that has stronger Wild Hunt to fight?"
Oh Illuga can tell he was being baited here. A small part of him want to just hit him with the spear. Something he tamp down hard. The polite and the correct thing to do was probably ignore it, but he wasn't feeling too generous at the moment.
He crossed his arms and glared. "I do not know what you are compensating for. But I don't have time to indulge in your fantasies. Now if you will excuse me."
Illuga turned on his heel and walked out of the hall. He has other work to do. Just because the problem at the Lempo island has been mostly sorted. The battles and the losses in the aftermath have to be documented and catalogued properly. Afterwards he will try convince his old pops to let him go investigate those cliffs again. Now that the Wild Hunt leader has been dealt with.
It's time to find out where the Wild Hunt come from.
***
"Oh dear..." Varka mumbled as he watched Illuga stalked off, presumably back to work. Not realising Lohen was trailing behind him.
"Something wrong Grand Master?" Nikita asked.
"I fear Illuga might have just caught Lohen's attention." Varka said, watching the empty space where both boys have left. "He always liked someone who can bite back."
The Starshyna frowned, "will it become a problem for us?"
"For the Lightkeepers? Probably not. For Illuga specifically..." Varka made a wavy hand motion. "It really depends on what kind of interest Lohen has for him. It could be as benign as following him around and annoying him or actively challenging him every few minutes. It depends."
Flins tilt his head to the side, smiling cheekily. "Speaking from experience?"
"Back in Mondstadt if he was bored he would ambush me for a spar every few hours." He did not mention agreeing the first few times just to get out of doing paperwork, nor the fact they both got caught by Jean or Cardinal Seamus and dragged back to work.
It was cute first few times. Always so eager to fight and test his strength against him. Then it turned rather annoying when it was near constantly. He crossed the line when he decide to ambush him in the taverns, where he was drinking with other knights and nearly got them all thrown out for causing a scene.
After that near miss, Varka just prepared a list of things he fought during patrols and hand it over to Lohen. It usually keep him occupied enough that he will only request a spar once or twice a day. Or he sic Jean on to him so he will also do his paperwork.
Nikita could only grimace as he imagine the young man constantly coming to Varka for a fight. Also silently thank the stars that Illuga was never such a problematic child. At most he had to drag his child away from work when he got too absorb into it and forget about everything else.
"I am assuming the true purpose of this visit was to ensure that the young man would recognise who is friend and foe." He said.
Varka shrugged. "Partially. The main point is still letting you guys know where we setting up. But I think its probably necessary to let you all know who was it that was slaughtering the remaining Wild Hunt. He won't be stopping any time soon."
Nikita frowned further. "I understand Mondstadt is a country of freedom. But that boy seemed like trouble."
"Oh he is trouble. But he is also a good knight. Those in his company will always be protected when he is out on the field. And he will never endanger another person's life just because he was itching for a fight." Varka huffed. "He just likes fighting a little too much and when there is no work that is all he look for." Along with several insane stunts that he could convince the other knights to let him tried out. The boy also learned that he most likely get a 'yes' if those knights already have a few drinks in them.
Still he is a young knight and with youth comes with a touch of recklessness. He had hoped taking the young Vice-Captain will help broaden his horizon and let him encounter more kinds of people rather than those in the Fifth Company, who are mostly aware and unfazed at their unhinged leader.
Nikita become thoughtful. He turned back to the map on the wall. "Hmmm... If that boy is exactly as you said, it would mean we could have that plan go ahead."
Flins tilted his head in interest, while Varka's eye lit up. "Oh? Care to share?"
"We are considering constructing a secondary outpost. Now that our workload has become more manageable. Somewhere here." The Starshyna pointed at the map. A little nook near the mouth of the mountain range. "I had blocked off this whole mountain region after the Abyssal energy there spiked. We suspect that is the source of the Wild Hunt that plagues these isles."
He sighed and shook his head. "Illuga has been begging me to allow him to head that expedition. Curious boy as he is, he takes any spare opportunity to study the Wild Hunt. Anything to give us fellow Ratnik's an advantage with these Abyssal foe." So the tragedy at Kipumaki Cliff will never happen again.
"Hmmm, we could choose this camp here then." Varka pointed to a cliff to the right side of the island, just below a colourful drawing of a ruin. "It would give your Lightkeepers a bit of pit stop and if any flare up of the Wild Hunt, me and my men can get to them quickly."
Nikita stared at the map. The anxiety was plain as day. "It is still awfully close to the Kipumaki Cliff for both of you." He said.
"Sir, if I may." Flins walks up quietly. "I think young master is fully ready to head that investigation. It has been enough time since the incident that his judgement is no longer clouded. And it would bring him closure if it was him who solved the mystery that surrounds those Abyssal cliffs." He smiled. "The only trouble I foresee is the increase in logistical work back here."
It was no secret to any Lightkeeper that the Captain of the Investigation Squad also took on majority of maintenance and logistic work around Piramida. Even becoming the unfortunate one that has to go to Aino's lecture and took notes for the rest of them to follow. After all he started off from the logistic division, so he was intimately familiar with the processes.
It wasn't even on purpose. Most of the time it was simply Illuga spotting someone in need of help and offering it as he was passing by. Not to mention he was very efficient. Things that took some Ratnik a few hours of desk time to complete he could finish in ten minutes. Thus many have gotten into an unfortunate habit of letting the young captain handle it if he happen to pass by and offer help.
"Well I guess we need to make sure some Ratniks remembers to do their own paper work. And probably get some of them to help out the logistic division once in a while." He turned with a sly smile. "So what do you say Flins, would you like to volunteer-"
Only to see that the man has disappeared. Leaving his lantern behind for the Grand Master to hold. He glared at the man, who only shrugged. Should have known he would take his boyfriend's side. He looked around the hall to find it utterly deserted, not surprising with the amount of Lightkeeper stretched, but it also meant that there were no one else in the room to see how Flins just slipped away mid sentence.
"Sneaky bastard." Nikita huffed. "One day I will figure out how he can sneak in and out of places so quietly."
Varka laughed. "Well good luck with that! I should be heading back to my camp and inform them of the location. If you guys need help, you know where to holler."
Nikita waved him off. "Sure, sure. And when you find Flins again tell him to pop in to Piramida more often. So we won't have the doppelganger issue again."
"I will try to convince him."
***
Varka resist the urge to twirl the lantern as he made his way out the building and down the motorised platform. He know that Flins is fully aware while in the lantern and he wasn't about to make his fae sick by playing with the lantern he is hiding in.
He casually made his way from Piramida to the only port on this island. He mentally add another task to his long list of to do list. They would need a more direct route to Nod-Krai from Dorman Port. With the way the search is going, they might need to restock supplies from the homeland. He know some knights are already homesick and a shipment of Dandelion Wine will lift their spirits.
After he made a considerable distance from the Lightkeeper's base and not yet close enough to the harbour that he stopped. He scanned the surrounding, and then proceed to use his Anemo vision to brush through the area to ensure no one is hiding in the vicinity. Only when he is satisfied they are alone that he held the lantern aloft and whispered. "We're in the clear love."
In a flash of blue flame, Flins land in front of him. "Thanks darling." He said while taking the lantern back.
"Never thought you would take such length to avoid paperwork." Varka leaned in close in a loose hug.
Flins hummed and tilt forward, pressing their foreheads together. "Well a certain someone has been a fairly awful influence on me."
The knight just chuckled and leaned down for a kiss. The Ratnik did not hesitate to come close as well.
Suddenly, an unnatural coldness brushed against them. They froze and immediately reached for their weapon. Standing back to back they looked around the area. Only lowering their weapon when they could not spot the immediate threat. Except...
"There. To the south." Varka said, tightening his grip on his great swords. Flins turned and immediately spots it.
There was a misty ball of purple on a distant cliff. It didn't even stay long, vanishing down the side of the rocks swiftly. At that Varka finally loosen his stance.
"You also saw that. And its not normal." It was not a question. He catalogue this as another info he will have to give to the researcher or the Witches. The Abyss has too many mystery and they need all the help they could get.
"Mm." Flins look out over the horizon, where the other islands of Nod-Krai are. "I think I will need to check each island. To make sure the Wild Hunt has not resurfaced in secret."
Varka sighed and settle his blades on his back. "Alright, me and my men will set camp at that place and keep the Wild Hunt down while you go investigate."
Before he could even take a step. He felt a hand grasped his lapel and being pulled down. Flins locked lips with him, kissing him deep. Varka can't help himself and melt into the kiss. After a while they - reluctantly - part. Flins cupped the knight's face, long fingers caressing his cheek. "Be safe. The majority of the Wild Hunt come from that cliff." He said quietly.
"I will. You be safe as well." Varka turned to kiss the palm. "My Flins."
Flins smiled gently. "Varka." He whispered the name in reverence.
Varka grinned brighter. He know how important names are to the Faes. A reason why Flins generally refer to others by titles or nicknames. It is just basic courtesy. So when he said his name it is always something special. He tried his best to reciprocate and also have fun with it by giving Flins a long line of nicknames. If he had been listening to the younger knights and how they refer to their significant others that's for him and Flins to know.
But nothing beats these sort of quiet moments. Where its just the two of them and sharing precious things. Forehead to forehead. Nose to nose.
They kissed once more. Slower, softer. Just to sear this memory into their respective flesh. Then they part.
Varka walked back, heading towards the camp his knights has picked for tonight. While Flins walked towards the harbour, taking the first ship that will take him to the other islands that made up Nod-Krai.
There is much to be done.