The Treasure Hunt
Paimon, looking crestfallen, drifted away from Kaeya and hovered near one of the stone pillars beneath which the traveler rested, tending to their injuries. The old treasure maps with all the cryptic clues now proven to be false, lay scattered at their feet.
A bead of sweat trickled down Kaeya's neck. With his ingenious plan, he'd finally captured the treasure hoarders and exposed their secret schemes, yet he felt no sense of accomplishment or pride. He remembered Paimon's disappointed face at learning that the treasure hunt was all a ruse and felt a sudden stab of guilt.
A cold wind blew from the cave entrance, ruffling the feathers on his glider. He glanced around at the wreckage- the Ruin Guard's decapitated head, the broken crates and boxes that the traveler had blasted in-between their attacks to reveal only a rotting cabbage or two, and the inscriptions on the walls written in an arcane language that Kaeya had once learnt but now forgotten how to read.
He rubbed his hands together, wishing he could kindle a magic flame or make glittering sparks like Amber or Lisa. But his element was ice- he froze all that he touched. He knew that his coldness put others off, but he didn't usually care. He could lie and charm his way around most situations. His skills in problem-solving made him invaluable as a member of the Knights Favonius. Jean was always getting him to do the dirty work- investigate wine smugglers, deal with the local bandits, tail the Fatui diplomats- and for the most part, Kaeya enjoyed upholding the law and justice in Mondstadt. And since he always got the job done, the other Knights never questioned his means.
Until Paimon, with her brutal honesty and childlike simplicity, that is.
He absentmindedly tightened his grip on his sword, as though he'd sensed an enemy nearby. The enemy was himself, of course- he had the self-awareness for that- and usually a strong concoction of Death After Noon, accompanied by a dish of fruity skewers and a bard's loud ballad, would distract him from dwelling on questions of ethics and morality.
He sighed. It was getting late and they may have to camp out here and head back to Mondstadt at dawn. Perhaps he could get a fire going and cook a meal, and maybe that would put off his unease.
"Paimon senses something is wrong. Can Paimon do anything to help?"
Momentarily startled out of his thoughts, Kaeya's fingertips glazed with ice. A frightened Paimon floated slightly away from him.
"Oh…No, it's all okay. Sorry, I'd drifted off." Kaeya looked up at the small sprite. Although he'd hunted his fair share of monsters and mages, he'd never encountered a creature like Paimon. The traveler claimed that they'd fished her out of a lake, and she'd then become a sort of guide and travelling companion.
"But Paimon thinks you are worried about something. Should Paimon mind her own business? Paimon doesn't want to be nosy!" The sprite bobbed up and down, gazing intently at Kaeya.
Kaeya shrugged, even as he was touched by Paimon's concern. He felt bad- he realized- for lying to them, for using the mysterious adventurers for a task that had been his to solve. And he'd rationalized that by claiming it was a test- after all, outsiders couldn't be trusted- and now that they'd proven their loyalty and mettle, Kaeya felt that he was the one who'd come up short.
He wanted to prove himself to them, that he was a worthy companion they could trust.
It was an altogether unfamiliar sensation.
"It's alright, Paimon." He paused, looking at the sprite's disbelieving face and then looked away. Staring at a spot of dust on the cave floor, he added softly, "I'm sorry for lying to you."
Slolwly, he looked up to Paimon's surprised face.
"Oh, is this, is this about the treasure? Yes, Paimon was sad about it but-"
He cut her off, eager to get his apology across. "I should've told you about the Treasure Hoarders from the beginning. I should've let you in on my plan. If the Ruin Guard got you, you could've died."
It was strange- he thought dimly- he'd known Paimon and the traveler for such a short time- and yet they were already endeared to his heart. And he wanted them to think better of him.
"Well", the sprite replied thoughtfully, doing a somersault in the air, "At least Paimon got to have an adventure, even if it wasn't the treasure hunt that Paimon thought it would be."
That's when it hit him. With all those vague clues he'd put in the maps that Paimon so enthusiastically tried to solve, setting them on a wild goose-chase across a windmill and deep into the woods, and in the end they'd confidently marched into the location themselves, and he'd arrived just in the nick of time- he should've anticipated Paimon's dejection sooner, and put in an actual treasure somewhere.
A lone childhood memory that he'd repressed for so long, suddenly floated back to him, like re-opening a locked box. He remembered following the shimmering elemental trail all the way to the musty wine cellar, then fumbling in the darkness, excitement thrumming in his veins. But the empty crate had held no treasure for him, but dust. And then, Diluc's cruel sneer…
No, he could do better. He would not be his brother.
He let out a forced laugh. "Well, if you're up for more adventure and some actual treasure this time…"
It looked as if Paimon's eyes would pop out of her pale sockets. "Really?", she cried, "An actual treasure hunt?" And then like a burnt child, she said suspiciously, "How does Paimon know you're not lying this time?"
Kaeya pursed his lips. It would take a while to earn their trust, but he was ready to do it. "Because we'll get Jean and Lisa to come along. There's an ancient map that points to a secret hidden in the cathedral and it might lead us to Stormterror's hoard." He paused to savor the look of sheer delight and wonder on Paimon's face, before adding mischievously, "And I assure you, this map has better riddles."
Paimon seemed giddy with glee, and that softened his heart somewhat.
"But Kaeya is still wrong about something. Paimon did find some treasure here, after all."
It was Kaeya's turn to be surprised. "You did?", he asked, incredulous.
Paimon's smile grew wider. "Perhaps Paimon thinks that the real treasure are the friends we make along the way."
The tendrils of warmth reached Kaeya's icy heart and the desolate cave suddenly seemed more welcoming than before.
A/N:
I'm wondering if I should continue this miserable job-hunting-in-the-middle-of-the-pandemic quest or simply disappear forever into Teyvat.
Yeah, so I started playing Genshin Impact a few days ago, and I'm so addicted, and I'm developing a crush on each new character I meet (here's looking at Kaeya, Venti and Diluc, as of now). Also, Paimon is the most adorable of the lot.
This is my first fic inspired by a video game, and I hope to write many more. Please let me know what you think. I'm also on tumblr as ladyofthelake666, so feel free to shoot a message. I'm always up for fangirling/talking!