Noelle's stiff courtesy made Ye Ruo shake his head with a gentle, teasing smile.
"Ease up, Noelle—you don't need to treat me like I'm made of glass."
She nodded, her voice softening as she confessed, "I heard you'd guide my training, Senior, and I was too excited to sleep, so I arrived early."
"I'm sorry a knight as great as you has to step in for someone like me," she added, eyes wide with guilt.
"It's no trouble—Jean asked me to help, so sit and relax," Ye Ruo replied, motioning her down.
Noelle settled back into her chair, tension easing though a flutter of nerves lingered.
She couldn't help it—this was her idol, a legend in the Knights of Favonius.
Ye Ruo bore the rare title of Wind Knight, a name steeped in honor and windblown pride.
Grand Master Falga, the Northwind Knight, had bestowed it himself, a mark of supreme trust.
His excellence shone in every deed—prestige, strength, missions, leadership—all flawless.
Falga's standards were ironclad, yet Ye Ruo rose to meet them, a beacon for all.
Noelle envied him, dreaming of even a sliver of his brilliance to call her own.
The Deer Hunter's waiter approached, and Ye Ruo ordered breakfast with casual ease.
"So, little Noelle, how's your knight training going these days?" he asked, voice light.
Her eyes sparked with pride as she answered, "I've been learning from everyone to become a true Favonius knight."
"I studied Amber's Baron Bunny crafting and tackled Kaeya's odd jobs," she beamed.
"Oh, and I consulted Klee too—though that got us confined by Jean for two days," she admitted sheepishly.
Ye Ruo's brow furrowed, a silent groan escaping as he pictured Klee's explosive lessons.
Rubbing his temples, he fixed her with a stern look and offered blunt advice.
"Stop chasing their quirks—Amber's bombs need her Vision, and Kaeya's just dodging work."
"Klee's fish-frying antics will only land you in lockup, not knighthood," he warned.
"You're missing what really matters, Noelle—you're veering off course."
To him, she was a maid knight lost in extremes, a whirlwind of misplaced effort.
She tackled every task, fixed every mess, and answered every call without hesitation.
If a gate guard slacked, she'd stand post herself, ever the dutiful shadow.
Ye Ruo had scolded those lazy knights, and Jean had banned them from leaning on her.
Still, Noelle spun on, a tireless storm outpacing even Jean's relentless drive.
She didn't know "no," a flaw that barred her from knighthood despite seven tries.
Jean saw danger in her selflessness—vulnerable to exploitation, a risk too great.
Yet her strength was undeniable, a Vision-bearer with raw power to spare.
She'd once broken Wagner's spirit—and swords—testing blades with her monstrous might.
The blacksmith forged her a greatsword in desperation, a weapon she finally couldn't snap.
Noelle's prowess shone; with polish, she'd lead a squad without breaking a sweat.
She'd braved Dragonspine alone to save an adventurer, collapsing from the strain.
Three days unconscious, fever raging, she'd worried the Knights to their core.
Such recklessness wasn't rare—she pushed too far, too often, alone.
Jean now fed her safe city tasks, and this time, begged Ye Ruo to intervene.
He shifted gears, voice softening as he probed, "What do you think of my city work back in the day?"
Noelle's face lit up with awe as she gushed, "You were incredible, Senior—mountains of tasks vanished under your hand!"
"I want to be like you, so I must not be trying hard enough—I'll double down," she vowed.
"No, that's wrong!" Ye Ruo cut in, his sharp tone startling her into silence.
"You bury yourself in everyone's chores, chasing perfection until you break—that's not the way."
She blinked, flustered, "But Senior, you handled so much too…"
"I let tasks stack, then cleared them in one swoop," he explained with a faint grin.
"Running ragged for every little thing? That's a treadmill to nowhere—you'll burn out."
Noelle froze, his words cracking open a perspective she'd never glimpsed.
"Falga told me he'd rest easy with me in Mondstadt—I can't let him down," she countered weakly.
Ye Ruo's laugh was dry, "He says that to every knight staying behind, Noelle."
"Kaeya gets the same pep talk, yet he coasts while still getting it done," he added.
Her jaw dropped, realization dawning as her illusions crumbled.
Falga's praise wasn't hers alone—she'd built it into a solitary burden.
"Kaeya's efficient despite his slouch, and I outpace dozens alone," Ye Ruo pressed on.
"Batch your work, save time, skip redundancy—that's how I left early and still led."
"Pushing yourself blind, ignoring your team, that's a flaw, not a virtue."
"The Knights are a unit—share the load, or you'll never hold Mondstadt alone."
Noelle stared, grappling with truths that felt both alien and undeniable.
"Learn efficiency, rest, refusal, analysis, teamwork—these are your lessons now," he declared.
"Drop everything and be my maid for a bit—live like a normal Mondstadter."
"I want you to rise, Noelle, to claim knighthood as someone truly great."
Her eyes widened, half-grasping his intent through a fog of wonder.
"As expected of you, Senior—your wisdom's profound, and I'll follow your lead!"
She nodded fiercely, awkward hands clasping in earnest determination.
Ye Ruo hummed, pleased, though inwardly he mused, A handy junior's not bad either.
The Deer Hunter's bustle wrapped them, breakfast arriving in a savory cloud.
Noelle sipped her tea,reflecting on his words with a mix of doubt and hope.
He'd been the Wind Knight, a title Falga forged from respect and expectation.
His deeds—slaying beasts, solving crises—earned him a name that echoed through Mondstadt.
Noelle dreamed of such glory, yet her path had twisted into selfless chaos.
Ye Ruo watched her, the system's hum a faint undercurrent in his mind.
He'd drawn chests that morning, a quirky haul still fresh in his thoughts.
Mondstadt sprawled beyond, its winds carrying his fame further each day.
He'd traded steel for stories, but Falga's legacy tethered him still.
Noelle needed this—balance, not burnout—to bloom into her own legend.
He bit into his honey-carrot fry, savoring the calm before his next chapter.
The system pulsed, fame ticking upward, a quiet promise of more to come.
***
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