Red as Roses

The day had finally come. The day of the selection of knights. Noelle had never trained as hard as this year. Not last year, not the year before. The girl had worked days and nights in the library and learned, learned, learned. She also had to prepare physically. Improve her technique like how to swing the claymore correctly. Her daily duties as a maid were of course indispensable. Cleaning the headquarters of the knights, doing the laundry, helping Lisa in the library and of course helping the residents of Mondstadt.

Some would not believe that the young woman could do so much in one day. But we're talking about Noelle. The knight maid. The blossom of chivalry. There's nothing she can't do.

The day of the exam had come. Noelle stood nervously in front of the mirror and straightened her hair. Do knights have to look good too? It wasn't a prerequisite but... ..the first impression counts. Even if Noelle is known everywhere in Monstadt, it couldn't hurt to pep up a bit. Her heart contracted a little when she saw herself in the mirror. The grayish, short hair. The little figure. She didn't look a bit like the handsome librarian Lisa or Grand Master Jean. She couldn't even be compared to Amber. Amber was confident and didn't let anyone get her down. Everyone respected her and her open manner. She swallowed. Suddenly everything was wrong with her. Her eyes, Her small nose, Her dress, Her small chest ...

No. She wasn't going to let her put herself down now. She put the usual paper rose in her hair. Ready. She was ready to win and to show Mondstadt everything she could do. The traveler would come today too. They had promised. She straightened the rose nervously. Would the traveler find her pretty too? What a crap. They knew so many people from all over Teyvat. Neer would they find a simple maid attractive ... Enough of that. It's almost time.

A few people had already gathered in front of the knightly order. Among them was Ellen too. She also had trained for a long time. Today she would be attending for the first time. Noelle was happy for her, although a renewed feeling was spreading inside her. If so many participate, many would also drop out.

Jean stepped up to them and the excited whispering stopped.

"Listen up every one. If you would all follow me please "

All nervously followed the Grand Master. She led them to the square by the cathedral. Quite a few curious onlookers were already gathered there. Among other things, Noelle could also recognize the traveler. They smiled encouragingly at her. Noelle waved nervously back before turning back to Jean.

"I am very happy to welcome all participants and all spectators to this year's knight selection test. Our 34 participants will now take some exams. Finally, the best of them, a maximum of 5, will be selected to the Knights of Favonious. If I may comment, the score must be at least 90 out of 100 points to be among the 5 selected. Well then, let's begin "

The audience clapped enthusiastically, some showing their thumbs up, others shouting something encouraging to their friends and relatives. Jean instructed everyone to follow her a bit, where 9 training stakes were ready.

"You have to smash all the stakes within 3 seconds. We will now call each one "

The first 8 participants screwed it up, including Ellen. Ellen had often asked Noelle to help her with a task like this.

Noelle went confidently forward. It was a job she was up to. She had done this often. With one swing of her Claymore, she knocked over all the stakes at once. The audience applauded. Noelle looked over to Jean, who nodded in a friendly manner. With glowing cheeks and trembling knees, Noelle went over to the others, who patted her on the shoulder in praise. She happily turned to the other examinees. Of the last 26 participants, only 3 managed to remove this obstacle.