By the Seven… My head hurts. This… Feeling…
"Hey you! You're finally awake,"
Urgh… Wh-who's talking to me…
A splash of water drenched the Fatui agent, by a man with an iron helmet with boar horns.
"Hey!"
"Uhh! W-where am I? Who are you?" The Fatui agent asked as he had been splashed again by a bucket of cold water.
"Welcome to the wilderness, friend. Now get up. I have a few questions for you," Erlund placed the empty bucket of water.
The Fatui, not realizing why he was upside down, looked up and noticed the blue fire flaming just below his head. The campfire that is supposed to be crackled by an orange fire changed to a ferocious, blurring blue fire.
He looked down and noticed that he had been tied up with a rope hanging on the ceiling attached to a large boulder.
"Here's how it goes. Wrong answer and I pull this boulder closer to you, and you will have your body cooked alive. Answer correctly, and the boulder will remain," Erlund explained the rules.
"W-what?"
"I'm not repeating twice," Erlund shoved the boulder as the Fatui agent dropped slightly.
"A-agh!" He yelped.
"You are one of the Fatui agents of Snezhnaya, right?" He asked.
"What?" The boulder is kicked again, lowering his body to the scorching blue flame under him, as it lingers under his body, exponentially increasing the heat in less of a second.
"AAAAARRGHHHH!" He screamed in pain from the blazing hot blue fire, and after a few seconds the boulder is then pulled backward, lifting him up again.
"I repeat. You are one of the Fatui agents of Snezhnaya, right?" He asked again.
"Y-yes! Please don't hurt me! I have a sister to take care of!" The Fatui yelled.
"You are one of the accomplices that had stolen this 'Lyre der Himmel', right?"
"Huh?" The boulder is then kicked closer towards him, dropping his body instantly to the scorching blue flame.
"UWAAAHHH! YES! I AM ONE OF THEM! AHHH! IT HURTS! IT FUCKING HURTS!" He cried in pain as he made repeated screams from the burning pain placed under him at the top of his lungs.
"Good, good. Now, where is your hideout?"
"Like that would make me tell you… UWAAHHHH!" With another drop, the scorching blue flame is felt hotter than before, and he screamed louder to the point that his vocal cords might start to break if he cried any further. However, he had been burned way longer compared to the previous questions asked.
It came to the point that his lower part had slowly started to show third-degree burns, hoping that the pain would go away once it had reached through the body's nerve receptors.
He is then pulled upwards from the rope, as he gets a few more seconds to relax.
"Where did you hide the Lyre der Himmel?"
Wheezing in pain as he tried to catch his breath from the excruciating pain he had felt, the Fatui agent knows that he would be executed if he gives any more information.
"The Fatui will not stoop down low to these tortures you have made. If they diplomats heard of this… You will… AAAAAHHHHHHH!" He dropped as he fell to the ground, completely getting scorched by the flame as he yelped and screamed from the unknown location that he knows nothing of.
After a minute has passed, the Fatui Agent passed out due to the fatigue and stress the flame had put on him.
Erlund approached the agent and slapped him on the face, trying to wake up the Fatui Agent.
"Hey. Wake up! Hey sleepyhead! Get up." Erlund tried to any method to wake him up but it seems that he is still unconscious no matter what.
He placed his ear near the agent's nose to check if he was still breathing, and to that degree, he actually did.
Using his restorative spell, he fully healed the agent to the point that he might wake up soon enough.
After thirty minutes
"Hey! Wake up, sleepyhead." Erlund slapped the agent finally conscious after being passed out for quite a while.
"W-where am I?" He asked, but then looked at the surroundings again and realized he was still in the same position as he was.
"Now, answer the question," Erlund ordered.
"Where is the Lyre der Himmel?"
"ENOUGH!"
Erlund raised his leg as if he tried to kick the boulder.
"I mean, yes! I know where it is! It's just right near one of the caves across Mondstadt! I'll tell you, please! I'll tell you! I don't want to die…" He cried, remembering the excruciating pain he felt as he knows that he does not want to experience the same thing again.
Erlund, surprised at how easily submitted the agent was, stood in front of him, eyes blinking as if he's saying, That's it? Is that how simple it is? He thought.
He pulled out his battleaxe and swiftly chopped the top part of the rope, dropping the Fatui agent. The agent then stood up but is then pulled by Erlund's hand, and then forcibly had his wrists tied by the same rope that he was trapped at.
"No sudden movements, or I'll chop you and turn you in to sacrifices for Daedra," He said as he looked at the agent in the eye.
The agent nodded then gulped, hoping that he won't get killed any minute now, while at the same time thinking of any way to escape this mad barbarian.
Erlund, checking in the pouch he found from the agent carried an mask and a white coat that seemed to fit him as well. He took the two out and removed his helmet, puts on the coat and the mask, leaving his armor under the coat. He then turned around and looked at the agent, looking around the environment as if he was searching for a way to escape this place.
"How do I look? Do I not looked Fatui enough? Man… They look like the robes of the Thalmor. Some arrogant bastards they are." He said as he approached the Fatui Agent.
"T-they look good…." He responded.
"Alright then. Show me where that place is. If you have me walk around in a place like a wandering dog, I will gut you like a fish. You hear me?" He said as he pulled his dagger and shoved it near the agent's throat.
"Y-y-y-yes," The agent nodded nervously.
As Erlund holds the agent using the rope he had, the two-headed out of the forest looked like the agent is held like a sold slave.
As they walk for a few hundred meters across the wilderness of Mondstadt, they have reached the destination where the Fatui agent had claimed where the lyre is located.
"Here's how it goes. You tell them I'm here, and both you and the people inside are dead. I'm just a friend of yours. Or a recruit of this… Fatui. Anything else, and you'll be one of the Bosmer's next meal, got it?" Erlund ordered the captured agent.
He then cuts off the rope that is still tied on his wrists, and then grabs him by the shoulder to make sure that he won't be going anywhere. Erlund then placed the slightly bent mask on the agent's face to make sure that he won't look as suspiciously screwed up.
The two then entered the lair as they have been greeted by one of the other Fatuis that guards the lair.
"Hey! Who are you, and what business do you have?" The guard asked.
"Boris! It's me, Andrei. One of the Fatui recruits are tasked to guard this lair, if you say." Andrei greeted the guard.
"Andrei? What are you doing in here? You were supposed to- tsk. Fine, you may pass," The guard said.
"You… You are one of the new recruits I heard of, right? You kids should go behind that gate. If I catch you slacking off, I will have your head rolling on the floor by now. Listen to your seniors, alright? Hehehe" He smirked.
"Right, sir!" Erlund said as he walked towards the post, as he obeyed the guard immediately.
The Dragonborn dressed in Fatui clothings and a mask walked to the post with his battleaxe swaying at his back. He has to keep his cool or else it might blow if he doesn't make any sudden movements.
Watching as the captured Fatui agent he left, he looked at him while the agent looked at him back and gave him a sign as if he was telling that he's watching the agent. The agent then looked in the front as he opened the gate.
After a few seconds, a scream was heard as the two looked behind and noticed one of the agents guarding the front is on the ground, unconscious as if he is thrown from a certain distance.
Erlund runs towards the scene and notices a group of hilichurls and lawachurls have entered the lair, accompanied by some slimes, and a floating humanoid monster covered in furs with a mask a staff on it.
"Search them! The Holy Lyre der Himmel is here somewhere!" The monster ordered as it shouted in an unusually high-pitched voice.
"H-help! They're here! The Abyss Mage is here. Call the rest!" The agent yelled for help as he noticed the two in front of him.
The gate behind Erlund opened and a group of Fatui agents, arrived with different weapons as they fight the new threat.
Erlund, having no choice but to pick his role, unsheathed his battleaxe and readied his weapon. The Fatui agents charged ahead while Erlund watched as the two clashed.
The sound of swords clashing against the flesh and giant lawachurls with battleaxes swings as they fling the agents mid-air, injuring them. Erlund rushed in and used his axe to take out the unsuspecting hilichurl who swings its clubs at the nervous guard.
Bringing his battleaxe upright, he swings downward, chopping the hilichurl's head in two as it splits and flopped to the ground, having its blood spill in front of the scared Fatui. One by one, Erlund takes down each of the hilichurls brutally as he closes in the distance to the lawachurls.
Chopping limbs from the hilichurls as he closes in the distance, ranging from legs, arms, even heads, he gave as much help to make the Fatui have at least a fighting chance as it seems that they don't stand a chance to the hilichurls.
Strangely enough, they seem a bit more skilled compared to the ones in the wild. He encountered the giant black-furred lawachurl holding a flaming battleaxe on his head. The two locked eyes as the two circled on each other as if they check on each other.
The sound of swords clashing, blood-curdling screams from the Fatui, and the yells of pain coming from the hilichurls, sounding similar to the Falmers. The lawachurl rushed in as he jumped, taking the first move in the fight.
Erlund swiftly dodges from the jump with a tumble roll to the right, and after that, the giant creature swings its axe on the left side of him. However, Erlund blocked it with the head of his axe, creating large sparks as he tried to intercept it. He shoved the lawachurl with his strength, giving enough space for himself, but the lawachurl gave no rest to him as he rushed in again and pushed him instead, tipping the Dragonborn off-balance.
As Erlund fell on the ground, the Lawachurl jumped as performed a bold move wherein it swings downward as if it is dealing a final killing move. Erlund dodged it by an inch by swaying his head on the left, then stood back on his feet as fast as he could.
With the wall slowly behind him, he waited for the creature to approach him and swiftly attack him, but as the beast takes another swing, its axe gets stuck on the wall, leaving the monster vulnerable. Erlund took this opportunity to chop off the monster's legs to make sure that monster won't go anywhere.
He swings his axe, giving the lawachurl's left leg that seem way too tough to be chopped with one swing, a large cut. It screamed in pain as the sharp blades of the axe digs in on the legs. Erlund then pulls his axe to unstick the edge that seem to grab hold of the muscles of the lawachurl.
With another swift swing, he chopped the other leg, leaving the lawachurl unable to use its legs to do anything as it lay on the ground, groaning in pain from the sharp cuts Erlund made on its legs. With one final sweep, the blade reached the neck of the black-furry monster as it dislodged its head from its body. Erlund grabbed the detached head and climbed overhead an elevated platform in the cave and showed the Lawachurl's head on the abyss mage.
The abyss mage looked at the strange Fatui holding the head of one of its accomplice. The Fatui then pointed at the abyss mage and made a slit-throat gesture on it, then threw the head towards its direction as he run to the mage.
The Abyss mage, scared by the sudden gesture it gave, called the two more lawachurls to protect it while it immediately disappears as if it is running away from the scene.
The two lawachurls, one holding a shield, while the other has an axe charges forward, hoping that they could catch the extremely skilled Fatui.
Erlund, catching off-guard by the two, dodged forward as the two jumped in mid-air. With the small window of opportunity. He swiftly takes out the shield monster with a chop behind the the foot, cutting off the Achilles' tendon of the beast, losing its stance and falling to the ground.
Erlund then immediately takes out the creature with a chop to its head, bashing its skull, leaving as many brutal wounds on its head in a matter of five seconds. As long as the monster must not be in action, he knows that it is better to keep the two giant creatures isolated in order to keep it in a one against one situation.
The other lawachurls approach as it tried to grab Erlund but was then caught off-guard by the sudden swift movement of its arm, puncturing its hand with a small dagger.
The giant monster then screamed in pain as it holds the other hand, dropping its weapon. Erlund jumped forward as it clinged on the face, and with the dagger, he stabbed countless times on its face. Leaving deep, but hemorrhaging wounds as if it he is puncturing a balloon filled with water. With the wounds flowing out of the deep wounds, the monster's head looked like a ball with punctured holes that had its water flow out of it, replaced that of the monster's blood. Erlund then finished what he did by using his axe and finally ending the life of the other lawachurl while the other creature bleed out from its wounds.
Taking his battleax and the dagger he secretly placed under his boot, he walked back to his post, but is met by the Fatui guards looking at him with a dumbfounded look.
"A-amazing... The higher-ups would be excited to have you guard the Holy Lyre with that skill of yours," One of the guards said as he accompanied Erlund.
Erlund, surprised by the sudden praise, was intercepted by another Fatui guard, but it is none other than the one he tortured recently.
"U-uhm... Do not worry about this. I'll handle this matter," Andrei said as he accompanied the Dragonborn to the inner part of the lair.
"Y-you bastard. Why are you trying to help me?" Erlund, surprised by the sudden help he got from Andrei.
"Be quiet. You don't want the others to know you're an impostor. My life was already at stake when I was left behind in that Cathedral. I was meant to die or live in the cages of Mondstadt. So if you do so, I'd rather be alive helping you here than to have my death lingering in the hands of my own men," Andrei said as he walked beside Erlund.
The two passed through each of the security checkpoints in the lair as they closed in deeper. Casually reaching each security checkpoint and gates. They were let in up until they reached the last checkpoint. There Andrei met the same Cicin mage who stole the Holy Lyre.
"O-oh, Andrei. How are you still alive? N-nevermind. Welcome back, Andrei. I'm glad that you came back in one piece. Surely, no one has been tracking you behind when you came to the lair," The Cicin mage asked as she seemed surprised by the arrival of an unsuspecting agent.
"Oh... Surely not. I was tasked to bring this fellow recruit. The higher-ups have taken an interest in him ever since his arrival," Andrei explained how this new Fatui recruit was capable of taking out a group of hilichurls trained by the Abyss Order.
"Huh... Since when do we have someone as incredible as this person. Strange..." She thought after she listened to the story that just happened recently.
"Now for the time being, I have to accompany him since we're in a hurry. He's being impatient," He said as he swiftly pushes Erlund closer to the gate.
"Wait!" she interrupted.
"That man seems familiar. Have we met this guy before? Zamenhoff never told us of any recruits to be stationed here," She thought.
"W-what are you saying? If he didn't inform you about this matter, he must have been excited to meet him. I have to get going now," The two hurriedly ran to the deeper areas of the cave.
"Hey! Get back here!' The Cicin mage shouted as the gate was then immediately shut from the inside, locking the rest outside.
"Guards! There's an impostor!" The cicin yelled but no response came.
After a few seconds, the guards inside the gate are knocked unconscious by the two as they went deeper.
The Cicin mage couldn't do anything to open the gate other than to use her magic. She opened the gate by manipulating the object near it, but the chains that are used to leave the gates open are stuck, and as she leaned forward, she saw a sword stuck between the chain. It couldn't be pulled back due to the immense strength the two used to push it further, making it impossible for her to get the sword out.
Erlund and Andrei then ran as far as possible, dodging and getting away from the remaining guards in the vicinity.
"Over there!" Andrei pointed at the room where the Holy Lyre der Himmel is located.
The two rushed inside only to have themselves caged in, separated both by the room and the valuable stolen item.
"Andrei. I know it was you all along who had brought an impostor." A deep, dark voice is emitted inside the ruin.
"Z-Zamenhoff! It's been awhile... I just came to verify if the treasure had really been stolen so I came here," Andrei tried to stall as much as possible as the shadow emerges in the room.
"You... You're a disgrace to La Signora and Snezhnaya's people. I will have your head in a platter and send it to your family once we return," The shadow then emerges behind him and knocked Andrei unconscious, leaving Erlund and him in the room.
"You... What's your business here? You want to steal back the Holy Lyre? I'll have you know that you will be stuck here with me. Save for the fact that La Signora would have ended you here, but I'll take care of this first in her stead." A sound of the blades ring as the shadow emerged and appeared to be another Fatui agent.
The Fatui agent then swiftly takes out its sharp blades and dashes forward within a blink of an eye.
Erlund, surprised by the speed of an asssassin, barely dodged its attack, grazing his cheek as a result. The blood coming from the skin of his cheek trickled down as he holds his wound with his finger and looked at the blood on it.
Erlund removed the Fatui garments he wore, knowing that there is no point in hiding further. He took off his mask as well, revealing nothing but his armor. Though he may have left his helmet behind, it's better than bringing a bulky helmet along with him in the cave.
"So... It's the Honorary Knight of Favonius. I'll end you right here, right... NOW!" The agent then swiftly made three consecutive strikes on him as he slid forward with incredible speed.
Dodging the strikes of the agent, he pulled out his battleaxe and swung his axe forward towards the assassin, only to be easily avoided due to his incredible agility.
"Too slow!" The assassin pointed out as he gave another slash to the impostor, only to swiftly dodge it by a few millimeters. Zamenhoff then gave a few jabs and kicks square in the face, but the Dragonborn stood there unfazed as he took all the hits from the assassin.
"I can do this all day," Erlund said as he kept taking in all the hits made by the agent, spitting the blood that was left in his mouth.
Consistently dodging the blades and taking the hits from the kicks, he swings his axe repeatedly in the direction of the assassin only to hit the afterimage of it.
Zamenhoff then cloaked himself as he emerged into the shadow.
"You will never defeat me. You, a barbarian who holds nothing but a chunk of iron would never catch me," The assassin swayed left and right, as if he is messing with the Dragonborn.
The Dragonborn, predicting where the assassin might stab him, dodged on the left side as the blade would have reached and stabbed his hip. The killer then returned back to the shadows, hiding again.
"You may have predicted that, but that will not work on me, again," The assassin stabbed him on the leg.
"Argh!" Erlund screamed in pain, as he was not able to react from the speed, as the assassin caught his leg.
Zamenhoff repeatedly does the same tactic, often injuring Erlund countless times.
Stab and slashing wounds are seen across the arms and legs of Erlund as he limps. Every slash made him become slower, crouching and using the hilt of his axe as his support.
The assassin then emerges from darkness as he walks in front of the heavily wounded Dragonborn.
"You may have taken my men, but you are simply too slow. If you were to catch up on me, you need more than your strength to do that. I apologize for this, but it's time to meet your maker, Honorary Knight." The assassin then held his blade upward, swiftly ending this with a stab on the chest of Erlund.
The sound of the blade penetrating flesh emits in the open room, then blood flows on the sharp metallic tip, as it drips to the floor. With that same blade, it was then twisted, opening the woud further.
"H-how...?" Surprised by the dagger that was penetrated on his chest, the assassin looked at the severely wounded Dragonborn.
"I caught you..." Erlund said as he stood up, limping with his battleaxe, panting as he looked down on the assassin. He then left his battleaxe in front of the killer as it was stuck on the ground. Erlund then limped towards the Lyre slowly grabbing it with his twitching hand.
"I'll... take... this," He said as he continued to drag his bleeding leg forward.
"Hehehehe... No, I... caught you..." Zamenhoff used his last power to emerge in the shadows, swiftly pulling out the dagger pierced on his chest, charging ahead as he tried to stab the limping Dragonborn.
"FEIM... ZII GRON!"
Erlund turned into an ethereal being that had become transparent for a few seconds, catching the assassin off-guard as the blade passed through him like he's nothing but air.
"I...Impossible!" Zamenhoff looked behind only to notice Erlund swiftly grabbing the battleaxe, instantly removing the ethereal effect and with a swift sweep across his head, the Fatui agent had his head detached from his body. The blood coming from the neck sprays upwards as the whole body flops down.
Now with the threat that is gone, Erlund took the lyre from its place. He holds it with his forearm as if he's trying to protect it from any external harm.
Meanwhile,
"Strange, other creatures are dwelling in these places as well. There are too many corpses of the Fatui and the hilichurls. It seems they have a clash in here," A tall man with blazing red hair tied up to a ponytail wearing a mask of a similar design to the Fatui, investigated one of the corpses of both the Fatui and the hilichurls.
"Woah... That's too many! There must have been a war here," Paimon widened her eyes as she saw a field of corpses in the entrance.
"Diluc, I think this place must be infiltrated," Aether, wearing the same mask as Diluc observed.
"It is. Proceed with caution, we don't know who came here," Diluc said as the three proceeded to walk through the gates.
"Stop! Why are you not in your posts?" One of the Fatui guards asked as they are stationed beside the gate.
"Apparently, it seems that there has been quite a gimmick just outside the entrance," Diluc said as he placed his arms crossed.
"We have already taken care of that. Who knows if they might come? Now get back to your posts," The guard ordered the two.
"You haven't gotten a clue why we're here. Now, where is the stolen lyre?"
"Lyre, you say? And who are you to approach this cave with only just the two of you?" The guard asked as he slowly pulled out his blade.
"Drop the act now. Now tell us," Aether said.
"Fine, then. Guards!" The guard called as they walked up behind him, surrounding the two.
"U-uwahh!" Paimon, nervously floats behind Aether as she grabbed behind him, as the Traveler unsheathes his sword.
Aether swiftly takes out the two guards, slashing the first one in front of him. Diluc then used his claymore and made a wild swing across his space, pushing away the surrounding Fatuis. After giving themselves space, the Traveler then charges ahead, making a quick slash on the downed guard. One by one, he takes them one swipe at a time, while Diluc performs a three combo move with his flaming greatsword. Utilizing his acrobatic movements, he swings the claymore with outright speed, sweeping out the enemies and, at the same time, burned by the embers of the lingering fire. This went on as they proceeded to go to the next upcoming stages of the lair.
"They have broken through the defenses! Call the others for aid," One of the guards rushed to the last checkpoint when he asked aid to the cicin mage, who impatiently tried other ways to pry open the metal bars of the gate.
"I can't! The impostor has breached our security. And it's impossible for help," She said as she pulled the chain as hard as possible.
"What? What are you talking about?" The Fatui guard, confused by what she had claimed.
"That idiot you call recruit is nothing but an impostor. He must have taken the lyre by now!" She said as she threw her lantern towards the guard. He braced as he placed his arm in front of his face as that same lantern landed on him.
"O-ow! It doesn't matter anymore. We have another threat coming towards us, and they're aiming for the Lyre!"
"Like I care about those two. Just help me open this gate or else I'll scorch you alive!" She said as she continued to find a way to open the gate.
The guard then quickly helped her as they both pulled the gate upwards, and with enough strength, the sword tipped off and immediately, the chain rolled upwards, opening the gate.
"It's open!" The cicin mage jumped in joy as she entered the other side.
Fast-tapping footsteps are heard from afar, slightly getting louder than the previous step as the unknown threat seem to approach to their direction.
"They're coming! Close the gate," The guard said as he looked behind only to notice the gate to be closed again.
"Hey! Open the gates! Please! They're coming already, come one!" He yelled for help only to see the same cicin mage disappear.
Diluc and Aether arrived as they saw the Fatui, locked out by in the gate. As he turned around from the gate, he hyperventilated as he looked at the two terrifying auras of the two.
"Where is the lyre?" The red-headed tall man asked.
"It's right ahead, but it's locked! I can't open i-"
Due to the high temperature, the gate breaks open by Diluc's flaming sword, making a huge explosion as they entered through the gate. They walked casually through the gate leaving the scared Fatui lying on the floor.
As they walked through every corridor of the area, they saw the room where it appeared to be the place where the lyre might be placed. They casually walked in the room, and discovered two unconscious people on the ground, both dressed in Fatui garments.
Diluc approached one of the person but as he slowly approaches it, it reveals the body to have no head. He trailed the blood of the head only to realize it seems to be a Fatui agent.
"Ergh!" Diluc noticed as compared to the wounds of the other Fatuis, this corpse seemed to be punctured with really deep wounds similar to the Lawachurls.
"Axe marks?" He noticed as he examined the wounds of the body.
"O-oh no! P-Paimon is going to throw up," Paimon said as she slowly felt the food she previously ate rise up through her esophagus.
Aether approached the other laying person but as he arrived, he placed his finger near his nose, revealing that he is still breathing. The Fatui agent regained his consciousness, trying to take in the information as fast as possible from the previous event.
"W-where am I?"
"Wake up, sleepy head!" Paimon shouted to the confused agent.
The agent widened his eyes and made sudden movements, reminding of the time he got tortured.
"N-no! I don't want to die... I already told you the details! Please! The ly-lyre..." He screamed as he made rapid movements and moved backward only to notice two people looking at him with confusion.
"Calm down, you seem to be in really stressed," Diluc tried to calm down the Fatui Agent.
"T-the lyre..." He looked beside him as the lyre disappeared, realizing that the person who took it would be no other than Erlund.
"It's... gone...! That other guy took it! I-I think he went that way" He pointed out the doorway, which seemed to lead outside the cave.
The three left him immediately as they went out and discovered Erlund seemed to hold the lyre with care as he rests for a while before he takes on the journey. He turned around and noticed the two approaching towards him.
"Oh hey... Aether you're here. It's about time that you came," Erlund said as he holds the lyre on his right hand.
"So it's you that I've heard of from Aether. A ruthless barbarian who infiltrated the Fatui base. Your ways of defeating these enemies seem a bit... brutal..." He crossed his arms as he looked at Erlund.
"Look, if they are in my way, they are dead. I have to go through the troubles of interrogating the agent and finding the hideout myself. While Aether here seemed to get caught by the guards, both of them left me while this person here was one of the accomplices that stole the Lyre," He pointed the Fatui agent behind the two who crept behind Aether and Diluc.
"You brutal barbarian! Paimon thinks that your ways of defeating the enemy are even too much for Paimon to handle." Paimon, still remembering the gruesome display of the headless Fatui agent that was a few meters near the exit of the hideout.
"Now hand over the lyre... Erlund. It will be easy for the both of us since it is safe in our hands." Diluc said as he held his hand out to the Dragonborn.
Erlund looked at him with his eyebrow raised, wondering who this person was.
"And you are...?" Erlund asked.
"That's Diluc. He helped us out by identifying the location from the reports he received and used that information to track this place," Aether explained.
"I see... Fine, but your methods are way too slow." He handed it out but gave it to Aether, knowing that he is the only person he can trust.
Diluc placed his arm down, annoyed by how he was received by the other Honorary Knight of Favonius.
"You are auspicious indeed, though I find you seem too skeptical for your methods. Well, if it is for the sake of achieving something, hopefully we won't be in your way," Diluc placed his arms on his side as he said that.
"Finally! The new lyre is in our hands again! Totally because of the help of Erlund, of course." Paimon said as she hovers around the air with excitement.
"Now with the hideout infiltrated, I guess it's time for us to head back. Erlund, we still have more things to talk about." Diluc said as the four walked,
"Wait!" The Fatui agent yelled.
The four looked behind and saw the masked agent in confusion.
"What about me?" He asked.
"How about you run along for now. There is no point keeping you here in the first place." Diluc said.
"I have nowhere to go. The hideout has been infiltrated. I was supposed to die in the Cathedral. I am just a dead man walking. Though I am still alive now, there is no point to head back to homeland," The agent explained.
"Fine, since you are one of the accomplices who stole the lyre, how about you have yourself taken in by the Knights of Favonius. They will deal with this matter... in prison of course," Diluc said.
"F-fine... I have no place to go anyway," The Fatui agent turned himself in as he got arrested by Diluc.
Hey guys, usually I don't write personal stuff at the end of a chapter, but because I've been doing tons of works during these past few weeks, I was not able to get motivated enough to work with this. So to make up for this, I made two chapters and posted it in the same day. Hopefully, you guys could enjoy these two chapters, and have fun with our charming Dragonborn fighting against whatever Teyvat throws at him. Anyways, enjoy!