#hydrosworduser

📖 Basics

• Full name: Lia Kölner

• Age: 22

• Pronouns: She/her

• Orientation: Heterosexual, Heteroromantic

• Species: Human

• Birthday: August 23

• Region: Mondstadt

• Vision: Hydro

• Weapon: Sword

• Model: Tall Female

• Affiliation: Knights of Favonius - Patrol Division

• Occupation: Lieutenant

• Love Interest: Kaeya Alberich

• VA(s): Dawn M. Bennett (ENG)

🌌 Background / Lore

She is the second daughter of her parents and has three sisters: an older sister called Lucia (26) and two younger sisters, Karolina (17) and Lilo (10).

Her parents died 9 years ago, Lia was 14 back then (Lucia was 18, Karolina was 9, and Lilo was 2), Lucia have been taking care of her younger sisters ever since, with Lia's assistance.

Lia started to work at a very young age to help the house financially while Lucia took care of the housework.

Lia even worked a as babysitter (she hated it) before enlisting to the Knights of Favonius.

She had a almost two-years long relationship with her childhood best friend and neighbor at ages 15 and 16, but he cheated on her, saying it was her fault he had to "resort" to find love somewhere else because she became "too distant," she agreed with him that she became more distant but broke up with him on the spot nonetheless.

She never tried another romantic relationship after that, thinking she's "unsuitable" for that. She unconsciously internalized his words.

Because of her aloof nature, she obviously doesn't have a bunch of friends at work. But she, somehow, managed to befriend three fellow co-workers: Bella Äverl, Evelyn Dannerl and Levi Lohmann.

Despite her aloofness, she's very dedicated to her work, more than most people at the Knights (according to her standards), which made her become very respected by almost all her co-workers.

Her rise through the ranks wasn't fast, she worked tirelessly to achieve her current position. And she never stopped working hard even after becoming lieutenant. She doesn't take her role for granted.

Lia and Kaeya never got along very well ever since they first met when she first joined the Knights of Favonius.

It seems that the calm and indifferent personality that Lia demonstrates at work made Kaeya always want to tease her whenever he saw her.

However, tired of that, one of their co-workers decided they'd get along liking it or not after the grandmaster asked help in that matter (that's not what the grandmaster meant though). The events led them to be trapped in the Favonius Library alone, for a whole night (the co-worker was rightfully scolded for doing that). But, after that, their relationship changed completely. Kaeya still teases her on purpose, but Lia learned to take it more calmly now instead of being irritated by his mere existence and even teases him back. That happened about 4 years ago.

Lia and Kaeya kinda of developed a "hook-up buddies" type of relationship. They don't have anything serious and aren't dating, their relationship is completely no strings attached. Though they've never been at each other's homes, they only see each other secretly in other places.

No one knows about it, Lia made it extremely clear that she don't want people thinking she got her position at the Knights because she slept with the cavalry captain so she rather keep it completely in secret (and it's not like they're dating anyways, so people don't really need to know), which means no affection in public.

Now that the Patrol Division Captain and Vice-Captain went with Varka to his expedition, Lia has been more busy than ever.

During the events of the Stormterror, she ended up getting sick due to overwork and was essentially forced to take a few weeks off. Now she's better and back at work.

💠 Personality

Lia is an aloof and calm individual, often coming across as cold and harsh due to her serious demeanor.

She is incredibly dedicated and responsible, displaying a strong work ethic that makes her a respected member of the Knights of Favonius.

Lia is confident and strong-willed when it comes to her skills, never shying away from challenges.

She struggles to express her emotions and feelings openly, which can make her seem distant.

Despite this, she cares deeply for those close to her, showing her affection in subtle ways, such as standing beside someone when they need the most or silently hugging a friend in distress.

She is also unashamedly blunt, preferring to be straightforward and honest rather than sugar-coating her words. But she never say things with the intention of hurting, just to with the intention of honesty.

But despite all her seriousness, she does have sense of humor, in her own way.

When she feels comfortable around someone, she might make dry, sarcastic remarks with a little side smirk.

A true workaholic. Lia prioritizes her duties above all else, which often isolates her from her peers, and even sisters. Though she sometimes forces herself out of it. Sometimes.

She believes that she's not a good option to be a girlfriend because she's too focused on her work and that's why she never have boyfriends, though she (rarely) has one-night stands when she feels like it. Kaeya is the most constant relationship she has had in years, despite both claiming it to be no strings attached.

She has a habit of keeping people at arms length, an unconscious defense mechanism to guard her heart. But once someone earns her trust, she becomes fiercely loyal.

She tries to be more soft and lighthearted with people she loves, be it her sisters or friends. But only outside work. Otherwise she'll (try to) be painfully professional.

She can be surprisingly flexible when it comes to adaptation, changing her approach or even acknowledging someone else's approach might be the better one for different matters. She is capable of rethinking her thoughts, ideals, and biases if invited to see other perspectives in a constructive way. Her pride is not hurt by being challenged, as she is open to change.

❤️ Relationships

Kaeya Alberich (colleague)

There was a time when Lia could not spend five minutes in the same room as Kaeya without wanting to strangle him. Kaeya seemed determined to test her patience at every opportunity, and for a while, he succeeded. Even now, he still seems to take personal enjoyment in testing her patience. Somewhere along the way, however, irritation became familiarity, and familiarity became something far more difficult to define. Somehow he has become one of the few people she genuinely enjoys being around. Kaeya understands parts of her she rarely allows others to see, and he has an infuriating habit of making her laugh when she is trying very hard not to. Beneath all the jokes and evasive answers is someone she trusts more than she probably should. She doesn't want to examine that fact too much. Their arrangement is uncomplicated. At least, that is what she keeps telling herself.

Lucia Kölner (older sister)

Lia does not remember a time when Lucia wasn't looking after someone. After their parents died, Lucia stepped into a role she should never have had to fill, carrying responsibilities that would have overwhelmed most people. Lia admires her deeply for that, even if she sometimes finds her tendency to lead with her heart frustrating. She trusts Lucia more than anyone else and knows that no matter what happens, her sister will always be there. If there is anyone whose happiness Lia wants to protect as fiercely as Lucia once protected theirs, it is her. But there is one thing she wishes, however, it is that Lucia would worry a little less.

Karolina Kölner (younger sister)

The two of them seem incapable of holding a conversation without arguing about something. They argue often enough that most people would assume they dislike each other. They don't. Karolina is stubborn, outspoken, and far too interested in Lia's personal life for her own good, but Lia knows she has a good heart. Lia would trust her with her life without hesitation. Lia pretends to be annoyed whenever Karolina shows up at headquarters with lunch, but she has never once turned her away.

Lilo Kölner (younger sister)

Lilo has a way of slipping past every wall Lia tries to put up. She is bright, curious, and far more considerate than a child her age should have to be. Lia sometimes worries that Lilo tries too hard to be helpful, but she is proud of the person she is becoming. Her curiosity, enthusiasm, and endless questions can be exhausting, but never unwelcome. Lia wants her to enjoy the kind of childhood she never really had, and she quietly indulges many of Lilo's whims because of it. Watching her grow reminds Lia that not everything in life needs to revolve around duty and responsibility.

Bella Äverl (friend)

Bella is loud, energetic, and impossible to ignore. Under normal circumstances, Lia would find someone like her exhausting. Instead, she somehow became one of her closest friends. Yes, she's reckless and incapable of taking anything seriously for more than five minutes, but she's also somehow one of the most dependable people Lia knows. Bella has a talent for dragging people out of their shells and refusing to let them brood alone for too long. Though their personalities could not be more different, Lia trusts her completely. Even when Bella hides behind a smile, Lia knows there are burdens she carries quietly. She only wishes Bella would remember she doesn't have to carry them alone. If Bella ever needed help, she would not even have to ask.

Evelyn Dannerl (friend)

There is a steadiness to Evelyn that Lia deeply respects. She remains gentle without being naive and steadfast without being stubborn, a balance Lia really admires. Lia finds it easy to trust her judgment and often values her perspective more than she says aloud. Whenever situations become complicated, Evelyn is often the first person Lia seeks out for a second opinion.

Levi Lohmann (friend)

Levi has spent years trying to convince Lia that life is meant to be enjoyed. She remains unconvinced. He also spent the same amount of years trying to convince her to relax. He has failed spectacularly. Despite his terrible jokes, and tendency to drag people into social gatherings against their better judgment, Lia values his friendship greatly. His constant flirting, tease, and habit of involving himself in everyone's business should be irritating, yet she has long accepted that most of it comes from genuine care. She knows that beneath the charm and mischief is someone fiercely loyal to the people he loves. Lia respects that, even if she would never encourage his more questionable ideas. He has a good heart and she trusts him far more than she lets on. She still maintains rejecting his attempt at flirting with her was the correct decision, though.

Nicholas Vollmer (captain)

Lia owes much of the knight she became to Nicholas. He was one of the first people within the Patrol Division to trust her judgment without hovering over every decision, and that trust shaped the way she now leads others herself. Even now, with him away, there are moments when she catches herself wondering how he would handle a situation before making a decision of her own. She has always admired his ability to make difficult leadership appear effortless, though she knows better than anyone that it only looks easy because of how much thought he puts into every choice. The fact that he entrusted the division to her before departing with the expedition remains one of the greatest expressions of trust she has ever received. She only hopes that when he returns he will find the division worthy of the confidence he placed in it.

Sylvester Hartmann (vice-captain)

If Nicholas taught Lia how to lead people, Sylvester taught her how to lead responsibly. Working alongside him is rarely easy, but it is always worthwhile. Lia values his judgment immensely and still finds herself applying lessons she learned under his guidance without consciously realizing it. She has lost count of how many habits she unconsciously adopted simply from working alongside him over the years. Though he rarely offers praise openly, Lia has learned to recognize the quiet approval hidden in his trust. More than once, she has caught herself organizing reports exactly the way he would have expected. She doubts he would consider that an achievement, but she does. She still exchanges news with his wife whenever possible, partly because she knows he would never think to write about himself in the letters he send to the Knights. She looks forward to the day the Patrol Division is noisy enough for Sylvester to start complaining about paperwork in person again.

Emil Grimmhold (superior)

Emil embodies everything Lia believes a knight should be. Dependable, honorable, and willing to do what is necessary without seeking recognition for it. Though she dislikes being fussed over, she knows his concern comes from experience rather than condescension. There are very few people whose advice she accepts without argument. Emil is one of them. Whenever she finds herself uncertain, she often asks herself what advice he would give.

Valeska Abegg (respected superior)

Lia has always admired Valeska's judgment and the confidence she carries into her work. Though their duties rarely overlap for long, every opportunity to work together has reinforced Lia's respect for her. She values Valeska's perspective greatly, particularly when discussions turn toward leadership or protecting those under their command. She also enjoys the rare occasions when conversations drift away from work, usually toward stories from Mondstadt's roads that remind her just how much of the nation exists beyond the city walls. There is something reassuring about knowing someone as capable as Valeska is watching over those distant places.

Liane Abrell (colleague & superior)

Liane is someone Lia respects immensely. And she has always respected Liane's dedication to her duties. Few people understand the responsibilities of leadership as well as she does, and fewer still carry them with such determination. They have walked similar paths, earning their positions through effort rather than luck, and that shared understanding makes working together easy. She also admires Liane's ability to remain warm even while carrying responsibilities of her own. There are few people Lia would trust to watch her back without hesitation; Liane is one of them.

Michel Zöllner (colleague)

Lia appreciates Michel's professionalism and finds him easy to work alongside, though she suspects he carries more pressure than he admits. Michel is reliable, diligent, and perhaps far too hard on himself. He reminds her of the sort of knight who will continue pushing forward long after he should have stopped to rest. It is admirable, really, but also concerning. He also reminds her somewhat of herself in ways that are occasionally concerning to her own sense of self. If he ever learns to stop trying to shoulder everything alone, she suspects he would be much happier.

Noah Eisenhardt (colleague)

Lia spent years wondering how someone so relaxed could consistently perform his duties so well. At this point, she has accepted that his methods work, even if she still finds them mildly irritating. Noah has a remarkable ability to appear completely unbothered by everything around him. Though his attitude occasionally tests her patience, she knows better than to mistake it for laziness. When things truly matter, Noah always delivers. She would trust him in any crisis. She simply wishes he would stop looking so pleased whenever she admits it.

Konrad Stahl (superior)

Konrad enjoys provoking reactions from her far more than any reasonable person should. His laid-back attitude and constant teasing often make him seem less serious than he actually is, which she believes is probably intentional. His habit of hiding competence behind jokes stopped fooling her years ago, though that has never discouraged him from trying. She knows beneath the charm is someone observant, capable, and far more responsible than he pretends to be. Lia respects him greatly, even if she refuses to give him the satisfaction of hearing it often. She also still refuses to encourage his antics.

Jean Gunnhildr (acting grandmaster)

Lia admires Jean immensely, though she often worries that the Acting Grandmaster expects too much from herself. Few people care for Mondstadt as deeply or work as tirelessly on its behalf. Jean has earned every bit of respect she receives, and Lia would follow her orders without hesitation. At times, Lia worries that Jean asks too much of herself, but she understands the feeling all too well. If Jean ever needed support, Lia would answer without hesitation.

Elissa Äverl (acquaintance, Bella's sister)

Lia finds Elissa's company surprisingly comfortable. Though reserved, Elissa possesses a quiet sincerity that Lia appreciates, and conversations with her never feel forced. She respects her work ethic, her honesty, and the way she remains true to herself. Lia trusts her completely, despite them not interacting as frequently as she does with Bella. She still wonders how Elissa and Bella are even related.

Alexia Lohmann (acquaintance, Levi's sister)

Lia is fairly certain Alexia spends more time worrying than sleeping, she is certain she has enough nervous energy for three people. The woman possesses enough determination to intimidate even seasoned knights, especially when the well-being of her family is involved. While her intensity can be overwhelming, Lia respects the dedication behind it. Few people work harder than Alexia, even if she occasionally looks one inconvenience away from declaring war on the entire city. Anyhow, Lia believes anyone surviving growing up in the same household as Levi is admirable for itself.

Jonah Lohmann (colleague)

Jonah is easy to overlook if one is not paying attention, which Lia think ir suits him perfectly. Lia appreciates people who do their work without demanding recognition for it, and Jonah embodies that better than most. Of all the Lohmann siblings, he may be the easiest to spend time with without ending up dragged into some sort of chaos. Lia also appreciates his calm presence and the fact that he never seems compelled to prove himself to anyone. In a profession filled with loud personalities, his steady nature is refreshing.

Traveler (friend)

Lia respects the Traveler more than she would readily admit. They are capable, dependable, and difficult to underestimate, which already earns her attention. What she values even more, however, is that they never seem to care much about titles, rank, or reputation. Around them, Lia feels less like a lieutenant and more like herself, which is a rare enough comfort to matter. She appreciates their honesty, their willingness to help without making a scene of it, and the fact that they do not press where they are not welcome. Their company is easy in a way she does not often allow herself to enjoy. If the Traveler ever needs her, she would not hesitate to answer.

🎨 Visuals

Lia's hair is a dark fuchsia pink, it falls to roughly shoulder length and has a naturally thick, voluminous appearance. The ends curl gently rather than forming tight ringlets, the overall shape is rounded and full. Her eyes are a dark turquoise with strong cyan undertones, the outer edge of the iris is noticeably darker, creating a defined ring around the eye. A small beauty mark sits beneath her left eye, so subtle that it may go unnoticed at first glance. She has fair skin. She's 171 tall.

Her main fit: She wears a fitted military-style, split jacket-like garment in a charcoal-black color with a high standing collar. The garment is open around the bust and torso, framing only the collarbone and sides, it is also fully open at the back. The collar has pale gold trim along the edges and a small cyan gemstone set in a pale gold frame at the front of the throat. On each side of the collar are shoulder tabs decorated with pale gold details and small diamond-shaped ornaments. The garment narrows tightly at the waist and flares slightly below the hips. The front opening forms two medium pointed panels that hang down on either side of the centerline, hanging past the hips to upper thighs. These panels are edged with pale gold and contain decorative linework resembling stylized architectural motifs. Two small decorative gold chains drape across the front of the waist. The chains connect to small gold buttons arranged vertically along the front seams of the garment. The sleeves are long and fitted through the upper arms. Both shoulders are decorated with an Knights of Favonius emblem set in gold. Small cyan gems are set around the shoulders decoration. Underneath it, she wears a fitted, sleeveless purple-blue vest that covers the bust and torso. Over this vest are three, black horizontal decorative bands running from one side of the chest to the other, each fastened with a pale gold clasp shaped like a short cylindrical toggle. The vest is outlined with pale gold trim, a small diamond-shaped pale gold bottom incorporated in ending middle closes the vest. The waist of the vest narrows into a fitted coat section. The back of the vest extends downward into long split tails. Both inner panels have pale gold edging and geometric gold line patterns near the bottom. The tails flare and hang behind the legs and end in pointed shapes, each with a small, pale gold tassel-like ornament suspended from a short cord. On her hands she wears dark gloves that match the garment, with large folded white cuffs that flare outward on the forearms. The cuffs are trimmed with gold armor-like edging that forms pointed decorative shapes along the outer edges, and contain a cyan gemstone accent at the points. She wears fitted white trousers with a high-waisted cut. The trousers are smooth and tailored, narrowing toward the ankles. The outer upper thigh area features a quilted diamond-pattern texture (similar to Jean's) also in white so it doesn't disturb tha palette of the pants, while the rest of the pants are smooth. Her boots are charcoal-black in color, reaching just below the knees, with moderate heels. The boots are fitted through the calves and have a clean, structured shape. Around the tops of the boots are gold-trimmed sections featuring cyan gemstone details at the front. The soles and heel edges are lightly accented with pale gold trim. She wears her Vision as a brooch, on the right side of her bust.

She has one skin (which she wears on her day off, the Traveler and Kaeya accidently bump into her, much to her dismay): A tea-length dress in a pastel blue color. The bodice is fitted and square-necked, with white lace trim framing the neckline and continuing vertically down the front. The neckline is decorated with two ornamental, small pink roses with dark green leaves placed at the center of the chest. White lace panels run vertically down the front, framing the center section. Across the chest are three horizontal rows of pink floral embroidery, arranged in decorative bands. Additional lace trim outlines the bodice and follows the seams. The waist is fitted and defined, with the skirt gathered from the waistline to create significant volume. The skirt falls to mid-calf length and maintains a soft, rounded silhouette. Running down the center front of the skirt is a wide white panel resembling an apron insert. This panel is bordered with lace and extends from the waist to the hem, visually dividing the skirt into two sides. The main skirt fabric is the same pastel blue color as the bodice and is decorated with pale pink floral motifs and soft white decorative elements scattered throughout the design. Near the hem are larger floral illustrations in shades of pink and white. Several horizontal decorative motifs run around the lower skirt. The bottom edge of the skirt is finished with a wide white ruffled hem made from semi-sheer fabric. Small, fabric pink roses are attached at intervals along the ruffle. The sleeves are short, the cuffs are decorated with layered white lace and one, small pink rose each that mirror the flowers at the neckline and skirt. She wears fitted, white gloves that reach very slightly past the wrists. The gloves are made from delicate fabric decorated with tiny pink floral patterns. The cuffs are finished with lace trim, and each wrist is accented with two mini pink roses ornaments attached to a short green stem detail. Her shoes are pastel blue mary-jane style heels that match the dress. Each shoe has a rounded toe and a single strap crossing over the top of the foot, secured with a small gold buckle. The opening of the shoe is trimmed with gathered white lace ruffles, while additional ruffles frame the front edge of the shoes. The heels are short, block-heels and moderately thick, giving them practicality. Lia's hair is styled in a half-up, half-down hairstyle. The upper sections of her hair are gathered away from her face to form two thin braids on each side of her head near the temples that curves toward the back, where the two meet and blend into one. The braids are loose rather than tightly woven. Positioned across the back of her head, where the braids meet, is a floral arrangement made of four blossoms of varying pink and blue colors respectively. The flowers form a horizontal cluster that sits just above the midpoint of the hairstyle (Lilo styled it).

✨ Fun Facts / Trivia

• She calls Kaeya as "Captain Kaeya" and acts formal and distant when they're around other people. But when they're alone she allows herself to call him only as "Kaeya," and be a little bit more soft with him.

• Despite being part of the Patrol Division, she often spend more time indoors than out. Especially now that she has to do all the paperwork in the Captains place (never sympathized with Jean so much in her whole life).

• Usually stays up late at night finishing reports because she refuses to go home when there's still work to do. Was caught asleep on her desk the next morning more times than she can count.

• Her favorite color is baby blue.

• Her favorite place in Mondstadt is Starsnatch Cliff.

• She likes gardening in her (very rare) free time.

• Often teases Kaeya about his lack of acquaintance with paperwork (translation: she thinks he either doesn't have much work to do or actively avoids working considering he's often wandering around).

• Lia and her sisters still all live in their parents home.

• Lia often goes (more like is dragged) to Angel's Share with Bella, Evelyn and Levi after work. It's very rare for her to go alone. If she has no one to accompany her, she is more likely to just go home immediately after work.

• Her arrangement with Kaeya only started about two and a half years ago.

• She kind of saw Kaeya's other eye once. After a make-out session, his eyepatch moved a little out of place. She said nothing, just re-adjusted it for him and moved on with her life.

• Lia actually enjoys looking pretty when she gets the chance. It's just that most of the days she chooses to be practical. She mostly favors simplicity anyways, but pretty simplicity.

• She's not as hard to smile as people might think. Anyone who's close to her is more than acquainted with her little smug smirks.

• Bella, Levi and Evelyn are 100% aware of the tension between her and Kaeya. Lia acts like she has no idea what they're talking about (*sips coffee nonchalantly*).

• Lets Lilo do her hair on her days off.

• Though she hated babysitting as a teen, she actually doesn't mind taking care of children. She hated it more due to feeling forced into it than the children themselves.

• Once joked about taking Kaeya for a diner in her home to meet her sisters, and see if he'd pass the "sisters' test." She suspects he actually took that seriously and is just waiting for her to set a date.

• Actively tries to avoid coworkers on her day off. Especially a certain one-eyed one. Not because she's embarrassed of being seen in a more relaxed mood, but because she knows she won't hear the end of it afterwards.

• Her favorite flower are the cecilias. She used to have no favoritism when it came to flowers but Kaeya gave her one once and she became fond of it ever since. It was such a unexpected kind gesture coming from him in after a tiring day that it wormed its way into her heart.

• She's surprisingly good at embroidery (Lucia taught her).

• She wouldn't call herself a sweet tooth, but one of her favorite foods is cake. Chocolate cake, to be more precise.

• Doesn't really like coffee without two teaspoon of sugar in it.

🧩 Thought Process

She started with a simple goal in mind way back in 2022: a love interest for Kaeya.

At first she was just a random knight, I made her an lieutenant to: keep the power balance between her and Kaeya more equal, because it makes more sense people to speculate she rised through favoritism only if she was from a high rank instead or normal knight, and because I think it kind of fits her wholeheartedly dedication to work.

Originally she'd have a more "balancing work with personal life, wants to give up neither" approach. Which was the reason I chose a Hydro Vision for her initially, as lots of Hydro wielders have that thing of wanting every options without having to give up neither. That's because back then I used to construct my Ocs' personalities around their Visions instead of making that first and THEN choosing the Vision 😅. So that's a pattern in my first Genshin Ocs. Anyway, I kept the more fluid aspect just changed the approach, now it's her being flexible and open to change.

She was also supposed to have a way more stern and easily angered personality.

I almost gave her an Electro Vision in her first "drafts," when she didn't even had a personality, just a name and physical appearance thought-out.

Her clothes were kinda inspired by Jean's. It initially was a lot more simple and the color palette changed. Originally her pants would've been grey, still fitted though, and her top would be simply a white high-collar blouse. I struggled for some time with giving her a more playable feel cuz I feel Lia is more of a simple girlie. Her skin would also be a lot more NPC-coded: a simple german-inspired soft blue dress, so I also changed it to feel more playable skin compatible.

I debated for quite some time whether I'd make her and Kaeya an actual thing or not. Meanwhile, I've been creating possible other romances for her. Not because it's a necessity and she cannot be single, more because I think accepting she can be a girlfriend is a healthy growth arc for her character. Anyway, Levi was the first one, ultimately liked them more as friends. I didn't make Noah for that, but after I developed him fully I considered it. Konrad, however, was fully made to replace Kaeya lol. Ironically, I decided to make Kaelia the "canon" route. Thankfully I made the three men have their own things going on instead of revolving around Lia, so they still stand on their with or without romance with her.

🌟 Ending

In my eyes, Lia is able to change her bad patterns if she tries to, if given the right push (or a wake-up call). So, her future may not be as lonely as one initially might think.