It was a chilly morning in Mondstadt, and the air held that crisp bite that hinted winter wasn't far away. Satoshi wrapped his coat tighter around himself, standing by the gates of the Knights of Favonius headquarters, waiting. Today, he was going to meet Albedo, the Chief Alchemist, who had apparently come down from Dragonspine for the first time in weeks. The anticipation had kept Satoshi awake for most of the previous night—it wasn't every day that he met a genius alchemist.
He shuffled from foot to foot, trying to warm himself up as Amber bounced around him, her energy apparently unbothered by the cold.
"You nervous, Satoshi?" Amber teased, noticing how he kept adjusting his coat.
"A little," Satoshi admitted. "I mean, the guy's a genius, right? And I'm just... me. I just hope he's interested in what I'm trying to do."
"Oh, I'm sure Albedo will be fascinated," Amber said cheerfully. "He's always looking for new experiments to try and projects to work on. Besides, you've got something unique—something that could change Mondstadt for the better."
Satoshi gave her a grateful smile. Amber's optimism was contagious, and he needed all the support he could get right now.
Just then, the heavy wooden doors of the Knights' headquarters swung open, and Lisa emerged, her usual languid expression softened by a smile. Behind her was a young man with ash-blond hair and striking turquoise eyes, his gaze sharp and inquisitive. Albedo. He looked exactly like the descriptions Satoshi had heard—someone who seemed calm, collected, and slightly otherworldly.
"Satoshi, dear," Lisa called, motioning for him to approach. "This is Albedo, the Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius. Albedo, this is Satoshi, the one I was telling you about."
Albedo stepped forward, his eyes scanning Satoshi from head to toe with a kind of curiosity that made Satoshi feel like he was a specimen under a microscope. After a long moment, Albedo gave a small nod. "Interesting. You're the one attempting to introduce technology to Mondstadt's infrastructure, correct?"
Satoshi gulped, then nodded. "Yeah, that's me. I'm hoping you could help—specifically with alchemy. Reinforcing materials, creating secure vaults... that kind of thing."
Albedo studied him for a moment longer before turning to Lisa. "It's certainly an ambitious undertaking. I would like to see the progress he has made thus far."
"Of course," Lisa said, her smile widening. "Why don't we all head over to the office that Jean provided for Satoshi? We can discuss the details there."
---
Inside the small office, Satoshi quickly cleared away the mountain of parchment and blueprints from his desk, making space for Lisa, Albedo, and Amber. Albedo stepped forward, examining one of the blueprints that Satoshi had unrolled onto the table.
"A banking system, you say," Albedo murmured, tracing his finger over the rough sketches of the bank layout. "A secure location for citizens to store their money… The concept is not entirely alien, but it's certainly more advanced than what we currently have."
"I want to make sure it's safe," Satoshi said, trying not to sound as nervous as he felt. "That's where I thought alchemy could come in—to create vaults that are tamper-proof, reinforce the structure, things like that."
Albedo nodded thoughtfully. "Reinforcing structures with alchemy is feasible, though it will require specific materials… And there's also the question of how these vaults will operate. You mentioned wanting a secure place—perhaps something involving multiple layers of security?"
"Layers of security?" Satoshi repeated, intrigued.
"Yes. Imagine vaults that could only be opened through a combination of alchemical reactions and physical keys. For example, a key forged from a rare metal that reacts to a particular alchemical solution, unlocking the mechanism within." Albedo spoke almost more to himself, his eyes distant, clearly picturing the mechanism in his mind.
Satoshi nodded, excitement growing. "That's exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for. Something that's not only secure but also... different, something that fits Mondstadt's nature and the mysticism here."
Albedo looked at him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I must say, it's rare to find someone with such unconventional ideas. Very well, I'll assist you in this project. However, I will require certain materials and some assistance from the local craftsmen."
"That's great!" Satoshi said, a grin spreading across his face. He glanced at Amber. "Think you can help with getting the craftsmen on board?"
Amber gave a salute. "You got it! I'll rally the blacksmiths and see who else can help. They're always up for a new challenge."
Lisa chuckled, watching the scene unfold. "It seems you're building quite the team, Satoshi. Just remember, you'll need more than just manpower. The people of Mondstadt will need to see that they can trust you—not just with their Mora, but with their future."
"I understand," Satoshi said seriously. "I'm taking it one step at a time. Right now, the goal is to get this bank up and running, show people that it works, and that it's safe."
Albedo glanced at Satoshi, his eyes piercing but with a hint of respect. "A noble goal. I look forward to seeing how this develops. I'll start drawing up the alchemical formulas we'll need. You should focus on getting the structural components ready."
Satoshi nodded. "Thanks, Albedo. I really appreciate the help."
"Think nothing of it," Albedo replied, his voice as calm as ever. "I find this project—and your system—intriguing. I will be in touch soon." With that, he turned and left, his footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor.
Amber clapped her hands together. "Alright! Looks like we've got some work to do. Let's get those craftsmen on board, and we'll be making progress in no time!"
---
Satoshi spent the next several days immersed in preparations. He worked with the blacksmiths, explaining the kinds of metal reinforcements they would need, and coordinated with Amber to ensure that all the logistics were taken care of. The blacksmith Wagner had initially been skeptical of Satoshi's unusual requests, but after seeing the enthusiasm of the other craftsmen, he begrudgingly agreed to take part.
"You're lucky you've got Amber backing you," Wagner grumbled one morning, as he worked the forge. "I still don't understand all this talk of 'banks' and 'interest,' but she seems to think it's a good idea."
"Thanks, Wagner," Satoshi said, offering an appreciative smile. "I promise it'll be worth it in the end. Once everything's set up, it'll make a big difference for everyone—even the blacksmiths."
Wagner snorted but didn't argue further. Instead, he turned his attention back to the heated metal, shaping it with skill that only years of experience could bring.
When Satoshi wasn't at the forge, he was working on drafting the documents that would serve as the foundation of the bank's operations—rules for deposits, interest rates, loan terms. Lisa had kindly provided him with historical records and references from Mondstadt's archives, helping him understand the local economy.
Lisa often stopped by to check on his progress, offering advice when he needed it, though she often ended their conversations with a teasing smile. "Just remember, dear, knowledge is power. But too much power without control can be a dangerous thing. Don't lose sight of your goals in all the excitement."
"I won't," Satoshi assured her, though he couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt. There was so much to do, and every step forward seemed to come with its own set of challenges.
One afternoon, as Satoshi was reviewing his notes in the small office, a knock at the door broke his concentration. He looked up to see a young girl peeking in, her purple hair tied up in pigtails, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"Hello?" she said, stepping inside. "Are you the guy who's making a new bank for Mondstadt?"
Satoshi blinked, setting down his quill. "Uh, yeah, that's me. Can I help you?"
The girl grinned, her eyes sparkling. "I'm Klee! Albedo told me you're doing something fun, so I wanted to see!"
"Oh, Klee," Satoshi said, smiling despite himself. He'd heard about Klee—the tiny, explosive enthusiast who kept everyone on their toes. "Well, it's not quite as fun as your usual adventures, but I guess it's pretty important."
Klee pouted a little, her cheeks puffing out. "But if it's helping Mondstadt, that means it's a good thing, right?"
Satoshi chuckled. "Yeah, that's right. I'm just trying to make sure everyone has a safe place to keep their Mora, and maybe make some extra Mora too."
Klee's eyes widened. "Make extra Mora?! Wow! That's amazing! Does that mean I can buy more Jumpy Dumpties?"
Satoshi laughed. "Maybe… but you'd have to save up first."
Klee nodded vigorously. "Okay! I'll save lots of Mora, and then I'll buy so many Jumpy Dumpties!" She paused, then looked at him seriously. "Can I help with your bank? I wanna help Mondstadt too!"
Satoshi smiled warmly. "You know what, Klee? I think just having you around helps a lot. Plus, once we're up and running, I'm going to need someone to tell everyone how cool it is. Think you can do that?"
Klee beamed, giving him an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "You got it, Mister Satoshi! I'll tell everyone!"
As Klee bounded out of the room, Satoshi leaned back in his chair, a smile tugging at his lips. It was moments like this—the genuine support of the people around him—that made him believe this crazy plan might just work. With Albedo, Amber, Lisa, and now even Klee on his side, he felt like he had a real shot at making something great.
"Alright, Mondstadt," he said quietly, determination renewed. "One step at a time… we'll make this happen."
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!