Chapter 3: Malus Vir

"Come on. It doesn't need to be like this," Childe said.

Lumine stared him dead in the eyes. Her silver blade was out and pressed against the Harbinger's throat. She had moved quickly, kicking his legs out from under him, and had him on the ground. Despite her attacks against him, he didn't try to retaliate. Lumine wondered what kind of game he was playing this time. Zhongli too. He seemed fine with the fact that one of the most dangerous people to Liyue Harbor was wandering around, as if he had not committed heinous crimes against the people before. Zhongli sat as still as one of his statues in his chair. Paimon floated uncertainly above Lumine.

"Why are you here?" Lumine asked. Her voice was low and dangerous. She pressed her sword forward. Just a little more, and she could draw blood.

"I have my reasons," Childe said. "But most importantly, I wanted to see you again." A smirk danced on his face.

Lumine scoffed. "Why? I don't want to see you."

"Yeah! No one wants you here anymore. Not after what you did with Osial. Paimon would fight you too, if only Paimon had a sword," the traveler's companion said. She glared daggers at their enemy.

Childe lifted one hand from the ground. Slowly, as if to show he posed no threat to the girl and her friend. He moved it closer to the steel against his neck, then laid his fingers across it, closing his grip around the sharp blade. He began to push it to the side, but Lumine acted first. She pulled her sword back towards herself, leaving a slice in the man's palm. He barely flinched. He gripped his hand into a fist and laid it against his stomach. His smile seemed to grow wider. Lumine pointed her sword against the center of his chest, daring him to move again.

"There is no need for violence now," Zhongli said.

"What! But he tried to kill everyone just a few months ago!" Paimon exclaimed. "You can't be serious!"

"I was manipulated," Childe said. "It was Signora's idea." Scorn seeped into his voice at the mention of the woman's name.

"It doesn't matter. You were still a part of that. You're a member of the Fatui. They've always been up to no good wherever we go. Right, Lumine?" Paimon turned to her friend.

"Yeah," Lumine said. Childe didn't try to move her sword away again. "I don't trust anyone loyal to them."

The Harbinger let out a small laugh. "Loyal to the Fatui? I wouldn't say completely. It's more fun to act on my own sometimes."

"What do you mean?" Lumine asked.

Childe cocked his head. "Well, I had to lie to get here. I couldn't exactly tell the Tsaritsa I wanted to come back to Liyue to see the legendary traveler, who I'm supposed to hate. She would have never permitted me to leave Snezhnaya, and who would I be to go against what my queen says?" Lumine grit her teeth. "I had to kill one of my agents along the way, too. He got too curious about where I was going. I only care about the Tsaritsa. Not all of the Fatui deserve my loyalty."

"But you still lied to her," Lumine said.

"She didn't say no."

"That logic makes no sense!" Paimon said. "You're an awful person. Trying to kill both innocent people and your own coworkers!"

"I'm not a good guy." Childe shrugged. "Also, I never tried to kill innocent-"

"Why do you want to see me?" Lumine asked.

"Don't look so angry. I have an offer for you." Lumine didn't say anything. "I haven't felt the true heat of a battle ever since fighting you. You're one of the strongest people I've ever fought against. What I felt during our fight was amazing. I want to experience that feeling again."

"I'll kill you this time. We can fight right now." Lumine flipped her sword in her hand mockingly.

"No you won't. Not in your state. I want to fight you when you're at your best."

Lumine frowned. How could he know? It was true, though. Her body ached for a nice bed and a meal. She needed to properly take care of her wounds. She needed a nice bath, too, to wash off the dried blood and dirt. But she had hidden her wounds and dirty skin from view with her clothes. It wasn't a good look to appear in a rich city while looking like a barbarian.

She was about to ask, but Childe spoke first. "I've been watching. I know about your adventures last night. What if I told you that I was the one to kill those hilichurls? And I was the one to wake you up."

"Why?" Lumine asked. She masked her shock.

"I didn't want the hilichurls to hurt you. I couldn't have you wounded for days. I needed you back as soon as possible. My patience has a limit. I'm desperate for our fight." He grinned.

"You hated being manipulated, but now you're manipulating me," Lumine said. "What if I didn't fight you?"

"You wouldn't do that to me," Childe said. "I know you're desperate for it too. Deep down, I know you have the same lust for battle that I do. That's what makes us such good friends."

"We're not friends."

"I think we are."

Lumine swallowed. Her mouth was dry, and the rest of her body was burning. How much satisfaction would she get from hurting him? Would she be happy if she killed him? To know that one of the eleven Harbingers was dead would be a relief. One less person for her and the Archons to worry about. But… somehow, she couldn't find it in her to truly despise the eleventh Harbinger. There was just something about him that… She didn't know. What was it that she felt for him? Pity?

"When do you want to fight, then?" Lumine decided.

Childe's face lit up. "Perfect. How about two days from now? In the field past Mount Tianheng."

"Alright." Lumine withdrew her sword. Childe stood. She watched his movements carefully as he walked to the door. "Wait." He stopped. "If I win, promise to never come looking for me again like this."

"Well-"

"No. If you don't agree, we're not fighting at all."

"I understand. Then, yes, I agree."

The door shut quietly behind the Harbinger. The restaurant remained uncomfortably silent. Lumine was rooted to the ground, watching the dark wooden doors. She could feel Paimon's and Zhongli's eyes on her back, but she ignored them. Her head pounded. What had she just agreed to?

"Lumine," Zhongli said.

"Why?" Lumine asked. "Why did you bring me here? Are you siding with the Fatui now, too?"

"No. That's not why I agreed to this meeting." Zhongli cleared his throat. "I do not believe that he is a risk to you, or Liyue Harbor, for that matter. I believe he does truly wish to fight with you. However, he does not wish to kill you, if his hesitation to the lack of future fights with you is any indication. In fact, I believe he has a secret motivation for being here that he is not disclosing. Perhaps he does not even realize it."

"And that is?" Lumine asked.

Zhongli smiled. "Time will tell. My wisdom of this world is not boundless, so I cannot yet tell you what I believe. I should not. It would make this less interesting."

"Interesting? You're just as awful! So you're just agreeing to all of this because it's fun for you to watch?" Paimon said. She crossed her arms.

Zhongli lowered his voice. "Rex Lapis has had many experiences and seen many things. There is little that surprises me anymore. However, this may prove to be something that even I cannot predict."

"Paimon really hates how mysterious you are sometimes," Paimon said with a roll of her eyes. "Anyways, Paimon's hungry! Didn't we come here to eat?"

"Yes, that's correct. With our meal so graciously paid for by your enemy, feel free to order whatever you wish." Zhongli picked up a menu which had been forgotten about in the heat of the moment. He called in one of the waiters (who had apparently been on strict orders to not come anywhere near the room with customers) and placed his order. Zhongli and Paimon didn't waste a single Mora of the Fatui. Lumine, on the other hand, only ordered a small bowl of soup. Her stomach churned.

What to do about the evil man?