Viox's eyes fluttered open as there was a sharp ringing in her ears that dulled as she slowly sat up, she wasn't tied up like the time she was kidnapped by the Slave Traders, which to her was odd. Her eyes took in the scene around her as she noticed that the room she was within was dimly lit with an old oil lamp, but Viox could tell by the smell of seawater and mildew that she had to be underground somewhere near a body of water. Her eyes were drawn towards the thick rusted iron bars that locked her into this room. No. It wasn't a room. It was a cell. Viox shuddered lightly as she huddled against the closest wall. She needed to think about how she could get out. She could use the weakness in the iron bars as a way. Rust always made metals weaker due to the corrosion in it. She stood up and carefully walked over to the bars to see the state they were in. she didn't bother to run her hand against the metal, she could easily see some deep divots in the bars that had corroded away with time. She smiled weakly, but then what? She didn't know the way out of wherever she may have been located.
"Looks like Fruitia's toy has woken up." a Treasure Hoarder chuckled as Viox backed away from the cell bars. She would say nothing. A large man with a dirty gray mask around the bottom half of his face, walked up to the Cell bars, he was taller than Kaeya easily as he held a large hammer on his shoulder, before Viox realized that this was the same man that shattered Kaeya's ankle so many months ago, but how did he get out of the Cells? The Knights had brought this man into questioning, so how was he here now? The Treasure Hoarder smirked at her, "She'll be pleased, she's been waiting all night for you to wake up. I don't know why she's obsessed with you, but it must be good." he barked a laugh as Viox stared. "That reminds me, weren't you that woman with Captain Kaeya?" he asked as Viox swallowed thickly, not answering, as the Horder looked closer, "You are!" he exclaimed as his eyes took in Viox's form, like he wanted to eat her. Viox felt sick as she hated the staring. "Man i hope Fruitia lets me have a round or two with you before she off you. You look like a fun time if Captain Kaeya ruffles with you." he said, licking his lips as Viox went pale a little. "Go get Fruitia! Her pet is awake!" The man barked at what appeared to be a younger man next to him, who got up without a word and darted from the area. As the other that commanded him walked away towards a large table in the center of the basement of this place Viox was held in. The table glittered with objects, as Viox swallowed, this wasn't going to be good. As she went back to her spot against the far wall of her cell. What could she do?
It seemed like a few hours had passed by as Viox sat and stared into nothing. She was hugging her knees close to her chest to keep a little warm against the chill that was settling around her. Upon further inspection about her well being, Viox had noticed that her gown had been torn to be smaller, she wondered why but knew if she asked, she would most likely not receive a pleasant answer. A small cut was on her forehead, but had crusted over with dried blood, so it wasn't bleeding as badly as she thought it was. She did feel the dry blood on her face from her cut, down her brow, and down her cheek as well. A few scrapes but all were dried up and not bleeding as bad as they would have been. She didn't dare relax in case something would happen. Inside she ran over the fighting steps that Violet taught her when they were younger.
"Remember, the left foot first to lean a little, you want to allow their body weight to flow, you're just controlling how they move their weight. This will be the easiest form of blocking." Violet said gently as Viox followed her sister's movements slowly. "Alright Viox, remember when I come at you, you need to grab my arm and throw my weight over your back." Violet said as Viox nodded. Quickly, Violet rushed her sister with a stretched out arm. Viox quickly grabbed it, tucking in as she rolled her sister off her back and onto the ground. Viox took a breath as Violet smiled, "Good job, lets try that again." she said standing up and brushing off some dirt and grass. Viox beamed with happiness, because that was her 16th try, and she had finally got it right.
"Alright this next one might be tricky, so watch what i do closely." Violet called to Viox, who watched as closely as possible.
Viox smiled a little at the memories of the training to just defend and run. What else did she really need as Violet said to her one time as she was teaching Viox to hold a knife in case she needed to use one for combat. Sadly, Violet wasn't here to save her. Neither was Kaeya. Viox frowned as a loud sounding door creaked open, and heeled foot steps walked on the stoney ground. Their echoes were incredibly loud in this silence. Finally they had stopped right in front of Viox's cell, as Viox looked up to see Fruitia smirking, "Well well well, if it isn't Viox Hala." Fruitia called out as Viox stood up, leaning against the far wall, "If it isn't Fruitia." she called back, "What brings you down here in my humble abode? Care for some salt water and mildew?" Viox chuckled out as Fruitia cringed a little, "Please, I'm sure your cells isn't as glammed up as you speak about it, I made sure you got the leakest around here." she smiled as Viox rolled her eyes, "Oh yes, its extremely leaky, i swear i saw a couple fishes swimming around here." she said as she glared at Fruitia, 'So what do you want? I know you didn't come down here to check on my well-being, seeing as you want me to kill over like a goldfish." she said as Fruitia smirked, "Though I'd love nothing more than that, you see I have a few things to settle with first before I can just kill you, you know?" Fruitia crossed her arms, "After all I need you alive for a little while longer." she said, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder. Viox rose a brow, "You have all the time to kill me now, yet you choose to wait? Seems like you're a lame Villain." she commented as Fruitia glared at her, "I just need you alive till tomorrow. Currently the Knights are running around Mondstadt like mad, after all, the Cavalry Captain's Courted is missing, the Ragnvindr Manor is destroyed, and Master Diluc is injured. Seems like I'm doing an excellent job as a villainess, wouldn't you agree?" she asked the other. Viox took in the information, Diluc had gotten hurt. She felt the weight of blame sink onto her shoulders. She had caused another person close to her to get hurt. Viox crossed her arms, "Yet you decide to wait for my death? Why?" she asked Fruitia, "Because, I need to lead the Knights away from Mondstadt so I can get rid of you properly." she said. Viox looked confused, "So where am I?" she asked as Fruitia chuckled, "You're under Mondstadt." she said, "Long ago, Mondstadt was ruled under one person, he had built a underground torture area for people that went against his laws and rules. After the Lord Barbatos freed the first Knight, they started over and this area under Mondstadts main streets was forgotten." she explained, touching one of the bars to the cell, "But Kaeya is smarter than i give him credit for, he'll pick up that i'm running him into circles, but hopefully you'll be in the bottom on the lake by then." she smirked as Viox glared, "You'll be stopped Fruitia." she spat as Fruitia smiled, "I think not." she said as she walked away, "Have fun for the next couple hours Viox."
"I want all Knights on this case! I want this city searched top to bottom, you hear me!" Jean called out as thousands of Knights called out, "Yes Ma'am!" before they ran off into the city streets of Mondstadt. "Violet, your team needs to head towards Springvale, I want you all to search that area." Jean said as Violet nodded, "Yes Master Jean!" she said firmly as she raced out to grab her team who all headed off towards the front gates. Kaeya stood next to Lisa as he held the first clue of this game Fruitia planned on playing. He read over the writing again as he blocked out the shouts of Jean and the Knights.
"She's in the dark where the water meets the land, but underground in the Lake. As you take steps, she hears them all."
Kaeya was lost on this riddle. How could Viox be underground in the lake? How could she hear the steps if he walked? If all of Mondsatd walked? Kaeya looked over at Lisa. The woman dressed in purple with a large witch's hat that covered her dirty blonde hair, was reading over the second clue they had received that afternoon by messenger bird. That's when Lisa made a small noise, "The next clue is in Springvale, it should be at the Dawn Winery." she said looking up at Jean, who nodde, "I just sent Violet's team there to look, they may be able to find it by this evening. I took the guards from Startsnatched Cliff and had them head towards Windrise. Hopefully we can find something there as well." she said as Kaeya blinked, "Can I see that clue Lisa?" he asked as Lisa nodded, handing it over. Looking it over Kaeya walked over to Jean's information board that they used for large scaled cases such as this one.
He quickly pinned the two clues together on the board, reading them side by side. "Kaeya, I'm not sure what this will do." Jean said as Kaeya held up a hand for her to stop speaking as he reread the papers over. "She's in the dark where the water meets the land, but underground in the Lake. As you take steps, she hears them all." he repeated the first note, "Seasalt and mildew with iron bars, chase her in. Cold stone walls and floors are where she may sleep for her life now." he looked at the papers, "She's near water." he said as he pointed out. As Jean looked at the notes, "She is...but which body of water?" she asked as Lisa shifted through some papers, "There are a few bodies of water around Mondstadt, so we have to search each one." There were 5 lakes and 1 Ocean in the area of Mondstadt. There was Cider Lake, which was the largest of the Lakes and that surrounded Mondstadt City walls. Then there was Falcon Coast, that was the Ocean that covered the bay all the way to Cape Oath. The smaller Lakes were Starfell, Dadaupa Gorge, Springvale, and finally the water around Dragonspine. Kaeya cupped his chin in thought as he looked over the mapped out areas. Which one was she at was the question, their Knights were already spread thin, "Jean, have the Knights from Starsnatched Cliff move towards Starfell, I'll send a hawk and have Violet's team look at Springvales lake and coast side, I'll lead a team around Cider Lake. Can you cover Falcon Coast? We can send another team towards Dadaupa and Dragonspine." he asked looking at Jean, who nodded, "If we check each one, Fruitia can't hide her as well. Especially trying to move her to a different location. It's likely one of our groups will run into her." Jean said pointing at the map, "Although, I'm curious as to why you're sticking closer to home base Kaeya, have a trick up your sleeve as always?" she asked, crossing her arms. Kaeya smirked, "I have a few ideas and tricks, but I have a hunch about something." He said as they're eyes met, Jean smiled and nodded, "Stay safe." she said as she headed out to gather a team