The next morning, Ren's quiet plans for a day of reading were abruptly, and cheerfully, derailed. A frantic knocking at his inn room door revealed Klee, practically vibrating with a new, brilliant idea.
"Pixie prince! Pixie prince!" she chirped, her eyes wide with excitement. "Amber is going on a patrol today, to clear out some mean old Hilichurls in the Whispering Woods! And she said we could come! It'll be an adventure!"
Before Ren could even fully process the offer, Amber herself appeared behind Klee, her ever-present red bow bouncing. "It's just a routine patrol," she said with a bright, reassuring smile. "Nothing too dangerous. And I thought you might like to see the woods outside the city. It's really beautiful!"
The "routine patrol," however, quickly snowballed into an unofficial all-girls-plus-Ren adventure. As they were gathering near the city gates, Fischl appeared, Oz perched regally on her shoulder. "Hmph! The winds of fate have whispered to this Prinzessin of a grand expedition! To venture forth into the shadowed wilds without the illuminating presence of royalty would be an act of supreme folly!"
Oz dutifully translated, "She heard you were going and wanted to come along."
Just as they were about to leave, Noelle, the ever-diligent maid-in-training of the Knights of Favonius, approached them, a large, meticulously packed picnic basket in her hands. "Miss Amber, I heard you were undertaking a patrol," she said, her voice full of a sincere, earnest desire to be helpful. "I have taken the liberty of preparing some refreshments and first-aid supplies. If… if it would not be a bother, I would be honored to accompany you, to provide support and ensure everyone's well-being."
Amber, whose simple patrol had now become a full-blown party, simply laughed and clapped her hands. "The more the merrier!"
And so, the strangest patrol in the history of the Knights of Favonius set out. It was less a military operation and more a heavily armed picnic. At its center was Ren, who found himself surrounded by a whirlwind of Mondstadt's most formidable and devoted young women.
Their destination was the Whispering Woods, a beautiful, sun-dappled forest just outside the city walls. The moment they encountered their first group of unsuspecting Hilichurls, the mission's dynamic became immediately clear.
"Ren, stay right behind me!" Noelle declared, her voice firm and resolute as she summoned a massive, heavy claymore that was almost as big as she was. A shimmering, crystalline shield of Geo energy erupted around her and Ren, enveloping them in a protective, golden cocoon. "I will not allow any harm to come to you!"
Amber, her bow already drawn, nocked an arrow. "Baron Bunny, go!" she shouted, tossing her explosive decoy into the middle of the enemy camp. While the Hilichurls were distracted by the dancing doll, a volley of fiery arrows rained down upon them.
"Behold, the judgment of the heavens!" Fischl proclaimed dramatically, her eye glowing with Electro energy. "Oz, reveal thy ravenous thunderous form!" A bolt of dark purple lightning shot from her hand, and Oz materialized on the battlefield, spitting crackling bolts of Electro at the scattering, panicked monsters.
And Klee… Klee was Klee. "Jumpy Dumpty, go get 'em!" she giggled, tossing a small, bouncing bomb that left a trail of smaller, even more explosive mines in its wake. The ensuing chain reaction of fire and explosions sent the remaining Hilichurls fleeing in terror.
The entire battle was over in less than a minute. It was a symphony of overwhelming, multi-elemental destruction.
And Ren? Ren had absolutely nothing to do.
He stood safely within Noelle's impenetrable shield, watching the chaotic, almost comical, display of force. He hadn't even had time to feel a flicker of fear. His "protectors" were so absurdly powerful and efficient that the monsters didn't stand a chance.
This pattern repeated itself throughout the day. They would encounter a camp of Hilichurls, Noelle would immediately shield Ren, and then Amber, Fischl, and Klee would proceed to obliterate the enemy with a cheerful, devastating combination of fire, lightning, and more fire.
Freed from any responsibility or danger, Ren was able to simply relax and enjoy himself. He took in the beautiful scenery of the woods, the way the sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves, the scent of the pine trees and damp earth. He enjoyed the company of his new friends, listening to Amber's cheerful stories of her outrider duties, Fischl's dramatic (and Oz's translated) tales of her otherworldly home, Klee's excited chatter about different kinds of treasure, and Noelle's earnest, detailed explanations of the proper way to study.
The patrol had become a pleasant, leisurely stroll through the woods, punctuated by brief, one-sided bouts of explosive monster-clearing. It was the safest, most relaxing, and most overwhelmingly protected adventure a ten-year-old boy could possibly ask for. He was not a participant in the battles; he was a treasured guest with a front-row seat to the fireworks display.