An Encounter #2
Thanks everyone for supporting me on this first project. it was supposed to be merely one-shot only but I will try to extend it a bit more as a short-story series. It will spin around Chapter 1 of the Archon quest.
Enjoy their hilarious and weird adventure between them.
1 week later
After the Ritual Incident, thing started to calmed down in Liuye in Harbor …
At least for what it looked like from the outside …
"Wanted" posters were now all over the city but … without a face. And a reward from the Qixing for whoever get him.
5 hours ago …
Back to Yujin Terrance
In the Qixing's meeting office
All of the 7 Qixing are gathered but only 2 of them showed up the rest are on using a device-like a hologram but their face still can't be seen. Of course, all of the Qixing are likely never meet each other face by face, only Ningguang and Keqing are exception.
"This is bad" One of them spoke
"We've lost our Emperor and protector … we will be in great danger soon, I will prepare the troop for the worst case" The other one spoke
"I've contacted to Mondstadt, they will help us if we are threatened. As for the others nations we will not let them make use of this event, espeically those Snezhnaya" Said by the one who in charge with diplomacy.
"As for you two … what are you going to plan to do after this …?" the rest turn the face to Ningguang and Keqing.
"I will try to keep the people calm and will maintain the city law and order; we will try to minimize the negative impact of the event to our people" Ningguang said to them with confident.
Ningguang then look at Keqing with a small smile … a devilish smile "And the only matter left is the killer … you will be the one who will deal with it … alright?"
"What the …" Keqing slammed the table hard and said to Ningguang "This is supposed to be our task … we will need more effort for this not just leave to me alone!"
"I and the other Qixing would love to help you but it seems like they have also others important tasks to handle with this incident too" she said with a teasing voice.
Ningguang then continued: "And also we can't go all in for this … the killer might get attention and will leave without a trace … the less attention the better because they are still doubting Rex Lapis is actually killed or not so I suggest we will do it with limited force too … and you are quite fit for it"
Ningguang is right, they can't mobilize all manpower just to find the killer … First of all, it will be too risky, the people of Liyue are watching how the Qixing dealing with this ... If they do that, the people will become even more disbelief because they think the incident is real and there is a rumor currently that the Qixing are also part of this incident so they can fully control of the city and that will make even worse.
Secondly Keqing is one of the strongest among all of them and can handle thing well alone. She got very well reputation with the people in Liyue so it won't be a problem if she goes investigate … Beside Keqing seem to have full of energy when about arresting the killer before the meeting start anyway… Also, all construction in Liyue have to temporary suspend due to the incident so she most likely has nothing to do for now …
"So, any objection? Please speak your word, otherwise we will raise our hand to agree about this" Ningguang said then raised her hand.
The rest 5 of them raised their hand, so they all agree about her solution. Keqing feel so defeated right now …
"It settled then, our meeting will end here" Ningguang said as all 5 holograms disappeared into thin air.
"Damm you Ningguang ! … You've planned this all long, haven't you?" An angried Keqing appeared …
"Huh … you first seem to really have enthusiastic about doing that task before now you are blaming on me? I thought you really want to find that boy so I just give you a chance to do it" Ningguang said with her teasing voice again.
"What … I … I …." Keqing remembered her first encounter with him … it was not a good impression and a pleasure one, she then tried to cover her flushed face like a kitten but Ningguang's already seen it.
"Well, we will entrust to you on this one but remember we can only use limited force … which mean you can only use a few solider to help you … if they are not willing to do then you are on your own ~" Ningguang went out the room, leaving Keqing sitting there alone … frozen.
After 5 minutes of sitting the dumb fold, she clenching her teeth and her fits, trying to hold her emotion but only for a few seconds then …
"GOD DAMM YOU! DUMB PREVERT! I WILL KILL YOU FOR REAL!" a loud scream suddenly came out of the room make everyone around startled well except Ningguang still walking calmly with a grin on her face."
Also, in Wangshu Inn
"Wooahhh !" a golden hair boy somehow losing balance then fell off and hit a guest.
"Hey be careful boy" The guest said to him.
"Sorry, sir I will be careful next time"
"No problem" Then he continued, his face worried "*sigh* Rex Lapis has been killed our business will be doomed".
"Oh, it seems the Archon on this nation is mainly about merchant, trading …" The fairy appeared right beside the golden hair boy
"Yes, we relied on him a lot about it, thanks to him, lots of people become rich and prosperous but now seeing this make me feel so confused right now … who will lead us … the only thing right now is if we can get the killer, we might can at least feel better …" he then continued "I heard one of the Qixing started to investigate so hope they can find out soon"
"Gulp" the golden hair boy sweated even he know no one saw him do it so at least he won't become a suspect for now". "I … hope we could get that killer soon"
"Yeah, same to me" then the guest left.
It's has been 1 week and they haven't dared to come out of the Inn because they are too afraid to go out and might meet that purple kitten-like hair's style girl again if they do so they decided to stay in for a while to get thing calm down … Now it's time for them to continue their quest.
"Alright time to get back to the city, we might need some disguise for this" the boy said
"Nah who need them … you didn't do anything so pretty much they won't recognize you, also there are a lot of people there so they don't have proof for it" the fairy said with confident.
"I just afraid we might get caught up with that girl again"
"Don't you want to meet her again … hmmmm" That fairy said with a grin
"What … no, no way I want to see her again" he turned his blushed face away from the fairy.
"Yeaaaah right … but you've been losing focus and keep talking to her for a whole week you know"
"Alright, alright shall we go now Paimon, I haven't eaten anything yet"
"Let's go, Aether! It's breakfast time!" Both of them teleport to Liyue Harbor.
In a flash they've arrival Liyue Harbor. The city was still look very normal like an ordinary day like nothing happened much to their surprise.
"Wow I thought this place was like full of soldiers but it's not" Aether gasped to what he thought before
"Well … almost except this one though" Paimon then took out one of the "Wanted" poster
"Who's making this without a face?" he facepalmed and laughed in the same time
He asked for it
Suddenly they feel a dark and deathly aura is approaching them … his eyes wide open and see a familiar face but this time that person is on the bloodthirsty mood right now. The pair of amethyst eyes are locking up at him ready to swallow that boy anytime. He tried to teleport out but he needs to channeling for a few secs to do it.
Before he could do that, a lightning stiletto was thrown right to his face, although he dodged it but the channeling was interrupted. He can't escape now …
Aether's looking at that fearful face and don't know what to do …only managed to blurt out a few words: "Uhhh …, hi miss kitten"
"My name is Keqing ! Not a kitten!" Keqing growled "What if I say I made that?".
Aether still frozen in place: "Uhhh … at least get a description for it please".
"I TELL THEM TO MAKE IT PROPERLY BUT THEY'RE MAKING FUN OF IT! …." She screamed
"Ehhh...What …?" Aether confused.
1 hour ago.
"I want to make a "Wanted" poster that way we can find him easier" Keqing said to the Millelith soldiers.
"But all of us got knocked out before we could see, he's too fast, we can't see his full face" the leader said to her. "But you miss you were fighting with him for a while so you should be".
"*sigh* … you're right lets me see … he had a shiny golden hair and eyes …" Keqing started to describe about Aether …
After 30 minutes the poster has finally done but …
"He quite has a nice look here, he looks like a cute boy" one of the troops said
"Yeah, I know, I don't think he is the culprit" the other said
"Hmph! Don't judge a book by its cover, he's quite powerful you know" Keqing warned them
"But how did you remember all of his detail, don't say you're getting obsessed about him or you're like - " before he could finish, a hairpin was hit right next to him, only a few millimeters and it will hit his head.
"One more word and that will be your last" a death glare coming from Keqing.
Then a solider coming in: "Sir we had an order that we will make a non-face poster only"
"Ohhhh!" - All of the people in the room surprised
"Because none of the people see the killer so we can't confirm he's the killer or not. If we make this, it will cause major trouble if we catch the wrong one"
"And who order is this?" Keqing asked him
"The Tianquan, dear mistress"
And all the effort about making the "Wanted" poster went to wasted … not to mention the troop getting the thought of Keqing was describing her dream boyfriend or something …
All of the soldiers in there trying to hide their laughing face about it, but Keqing can sense it, she wishes she could just blast them away into oviblion.
"That damm old hag again… turning me into a clown" She then went out tried to hold her emotion.
Back to the present time
"So that's what happen … They don't believe you" Aether sighed then chuckled … at least he knows he won't be chased all over by the Millelith again. Well at least not all of them.
There's still one left
"No matter … I just need to kill you and this is all over" Keqing drew her sword and pointed at him.
"Are you sure you gonna fight me in here, this is a civilian place and there is a lot of people, you might hurt someone you know? Also, I'm not the criminal right now, if you fight me in here, I don't think it will be good for you" Aether said with confident.
"Then I just need to catch you ... you can't fight too" She then threw the stiletto at him then teleport to get closer…
"Oh damm..." Aether then started to run … again
He tried to run all over the way he could as fast as he can, but then again, he doesn't know about the road in here so he just run randomly … until he ran into a market and a crowd of people.
"*whew* I think I lost her now … and so hungry …" Aether feel relieved but not too long.
A soft hand has caught his and holding it tight, Aether trying to pry out but no use … there are too many people, he couldn't see who caught him. After a few minutes the crowd started to getting less and saw the familiar glare.
"Oh … hi …" Aether waved his hand and tried to get out of Keqing's hand but she holds too tight … The only way to get out it's fight her but he doesn't want to fight her like this … that cute angry face of her keep making his face getting redden. The hungry also draining his strength so much at the moment …
"I finally caught you!" Keqing grinned about her victory but …
"Is that the Yuheng … what is she doing to him?" One of the people on the market started to said.
"Probably one of her secretaries, he got scared of her overwork so he run away … poor him" The other person whispered to the other but Keqing can still heard it.
"Or may be is her boyfriend…" The other said
"Oh, the Archon... what is she going to do with that boy? He's scared to death now …he looks too cute …" Another one said …
These voices keep going and going over Keqing's ears making her mind confused and spinning like crazy now, her face flushed so deep and don't know what to do next.
"Nooo… this is not supposed to be like this …" she thought and covering her face but then she noticed something.
That golden hair boy has already gone without a trace.
Keqing's mind is going about to explode soon …
"DAMMM YOU! GOLDEN HAIR BOY! YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM ME!" She roared, everyone in the market startled.
Mission failed we'll get them next time ~
Aether finally managed to get back to Wangshu Inn, his face sweated and paled like he's just escaped one of the deadest traps ever.
"Oh, finally home sweet home, this is the worst breakfast ever…" Then he realized something missing "But where is Paimon?" He asked himself.
In Wanming Restaurant …
"More food please!" The fairy called the chef
"Are you sure you have enough Mora for this?" The chef asked
"No worry I had enough!" The fairy brought out a bag of Mora
Useless Emegency food as ever …
2nd Encounter END
Ps: Hope you guys like this one … I wrote this in 6 hours lol xD