Disclaimer: I do not own Genshin Impact nor the front cover (Source/Link in my profile)
~Trulla Cementarii/Viator Story~
I. Improving
Friendship level: 1
As she was slowly sorting through the piles of paperwork and architecture blueprints, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing found her thoughts drifting absentmindedly towards a certain Traveler.
It was during her rare day off, which was yesterday, when the traveler suddenly requested to have a spar with her upon he spotting her strolling the busy markets.
Keqing of course was reluctant at first upon gauging his rather frail and sluggish state, but she agreed nonetheless after seeing his determined face.
It was an admirable trait to have, being driven to become better despite the imposed limitations, and it filled her with pride that he approached her of all the people he could've chosen to improve his combat abilities.
She'd made sure that he'd never regret choosing her, that she promised.
It had been a while since she'd last seen him, the first being when she saw him fought the Millelith and the battle with the ancient god, she was curious on how much the saviour of their city improved since then, he was lacking in a lot of areas for sure but there was room to grow, with him being able to manipulate the elements without a vision for one, and the other was his fighting experience.
She did fight alongside him when the army of Fatui invaded and revival of Rex Lapis' ancient foe, she could see raw untapped potential that needed to be realized.
All that was needed was refinement and proper training to get him into shape to achieve it.
Then came their awaited spar, and it was no surprise that he lost within two minutes when they did finally fight, which was impressive in its own right as most of her opponents don't even last for more than 10 seconds, granted that she was holding back a lot, it was still impressive nonetheless.
He still fought with wasted movements and relied mostly on overpowering his opponent, but the progress was apparent.
His swings were a bit faster, more calculated than it was random, he also managed to incorporate feints decently, and his movements were more fluid and natural, well almost if it weren't for it being filled with unnecessary actions.
She was also impressed with how better his reflexes and reaction time had gotten despite him struggling at first, he had instinct of when to dodge and even managed to avoid a lot of her timed hits, unlike before when she saw him fight he'd just brute force his way to victory without any form of strategy.
He definitely improved in a short amount of time.
It was satisfying to her that his expression never lost its fiery determination despite losing badly, he even requested to have another spar in the future, which elated her.
All of that occurred only the day before, and she and the traveler got busy once again and went their separate ways.
Now Keqing was once again alone on her desk plagued with dreaded paperwork and the traveler gone off to who knows where his next adventure brings him.
Contrary to most who worried for his safety, like the half adepti secretary, she was confident that anywhere he goes, he would come out on top and only improve from there.
She doesn't know how much stronger he'll get in his fighting prowess because she's not always present, but she'll gladly be there to help if he wants to fight again, she'll wholely accept until he's as adept as she is with a sword.
The yuheng wouldn't want to admit it to anyone ever but she also enjoyed fighting with him even if it was a bit one-sided.
And if she was being honest with herself, fighting helped alleviate the stress of ensuring Liyue harbor's functioning economy.
It was the first real interaction she had with him after he left the city a month ago, and she couldn't wait to get to know him outside of fighting if more opportunities allowed them to.
She also gave him Prototype Rancour as a parting gift before he left, the dull blade that he always fought with was too much of a liability, the grateful and enthusiastic expression he made when she gave him the blade, it ignited something within her.
With a smile as she tucked away another file and finally finished for the day, she stored the memory of his cute hurt face when he landed on his rear when he tried dodging her onslaught.
That first spar had paved way for the beginning of their long partnership with each other, for better or for worse, she was more than willing to see what the future lies ahead for the both of them.
.
.
.
.
.
.
She wasn't prepared for when the time really did come.
It was still inconceivable to her that she had been borne a witness to the immediate future when she expected it to be so distant, where the Gods had finally descended upon them with contempt.
All the while becoming an audience to the unraveling of his true self that she so tirelessly pursued.
It was glorious.
Bathed in a golden glow and fluttering sharp wings exuding yellowish white light, he appeared ethereal and otherworldly.
It was positively blinding it overwhelmed her.
Gone was the timid and awkward but endearing traveler she knows, in his place was a foreign being of absolute power and dominance.
Power that nearly made her flush in reverence and Dominance that left her kneeling.
He had speed that surpassed the fiercest winds of Barbatos and strength which far outclassed that of Morax, it was guaranteed that he'll soar even higher than he currently is as his seemingly bottomless pool of strength filled endlessly, with how he was making the tyrant in front of him recoil in his presence alone, the apparent fear in their eyes.
It was only a matter of time before he surpassed every known archon combined.
For with a single swing of his cherished black sword, one that he used in his early days of fighting in this world, one that she gave him all those months ago, resulted in the devastation of an entire desolate island, the sea and heavens split in half above it, and the cruel form of an oppressive ruler no longer to be seen as they received the full might of it.
Next: Cooking
Friendship level: 2