Hello! This story isn't dead! I was just having some issues with this particular chapter because I knew I wanted but couldn't figure out how to write it.
Fun fact: If you didn't know I'm also currently into My Hero academia and because I'm writing a fic for MHA, I'm constantly using the word "Quirk" instead of "Vision" for this story. ^.^" No worries though! I'm catching these mistakes. Thankfully.
"What did you just say?..." Xingqiu felt completely and utterly numb at what was told to him.
"I said the truth. You look like your older brother. You two almost could be twins."
Xingqiu's breathing became erratic in seconds and he started to shake his head. His usual level-headedness and calm demeanor melted away. "You're lying- you- you're lying! My elder brother would never- never!- associate with the likes of you!" Any fear he had was gone as he approached this monster of a man and jabbed his finger directly into his torso.
Monster looked impressed as he just smirked down at Xingqiu. "You have some spunk kid. You remind me of a young woman I had to beat into submission not that long ago. Regardless: No matter how much you scream and try to deny it. Bingwen was here on multiple occasions looking for a little girl of his own."
Xingqiu's hands shook with rage. "You- you-" Xingqiu's heart soared into his throat as he stopped thinking logically. His head shook rapidly from side to side. "No…" Xingqiu whispered. "No! I refuse to believe any word that comes out of your mouth! You're trying to trick me. I know you are!" He snarled in rage. "You can throw my brother's name around all you want! But I know my older brother and I won't stand here and let you slander and sully his good name for your personal agenda!"
Though he didn't have his sword, Xingqiu put himself in a fighting stance with his fist raised.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're challenging me." Monster's mouth morphed into a disgusting smirk. It was clear this was his goal the whole time. It was bait.
The little girl. Klee whined and whimpered as she tried to struggle out of Crossbow Guy's grip. When that didn't work, the little girl did something else. With a swift turn, she kicked the guy as hard as she could in the shin. That did the trick. Crossbow Guy let out a startled yelp of pain and released Klee from his grip.
"R-" Xingqiu opened his mouth, ready to tell little Klee to run and never look back. She ran alright. Towards him.
Klee managed to duck under Monster's arm before he could grab her. With her arms outstretched like she was trying to fly. Klee ran straight for Xingqiu. She halted right in front of him, turned to face Monster, and pointed directly at him before saying the following: "I am Klee! I'm the Spark Knight of the Knights of Favonious in Mondstadt! If you keep this up I will have the other knights arrest you!" She suddenly declared.
There was a pause.
Not even Xingqiu knew what to say.
Then came Monster's deep laugh. It started slow but became louder, louder, and louder until he was borderline wheezing. Xingqiu reached over and grabbed Klee's shoulder, pulling her back to hide behind him. "A knight?! You're a knight? Aw, that's just adorable!" Monster continued to laugh. "How are you going to arrest me? With your little stuffed animal?"
"She is a knight!" Lily yelled through her cage.
Monster gave her no mind. He then hummed before sighing in irritation. "This has been fun and all but-" There was a flash of fire that whipped right by Xingqiu's face. It was so close that Xingqiu felt the heat coming off of the flame whip, but it wasn't directed at him.
Then came the scream.
Klee's scream to be more exact. It wasn't a scream of terror, but a scream of pain. It was an absolutely blood-curdling scream of unbridled pain. Xingqiu quickly saw why she was screaming in such a way. This whip that Monster controlled. It was made of pure fire from his vision and it was wrapped around Klee's arms.
Xingqiu saw her skin bubble and blister from the whip and-
He took action without a second thought.
Though a weapon would be useful, it was common knowledge that a weapon wasn't exactly required in order to activate their vision. Xingqiu did the only thing he could. He swung his arms, making a wide arc that was big enough to release a quick burst of water. The water instantly vaporized against the flame whip. It didn't extinguish the flames, but what it did do was weaken the whip around Klee's arms.
It allowed her to wriggle free, and to the ground.
The moment Klee was free, Xingqiu sprung into action again. "Here. Here." Instantly he wrapped his arms around her and used his hydro power to lightly water the blistered areas of her arms.
"You- You have a vision." Monster sounded shocked at first, but his tone swiftly shifted to one of interest. "A hydro vision to boot… here I thought that was just a charm on your hip…"
"Sir, do you want me to shoot?" Crossbow guy aimed his weapon at Xingqiu. Xingqiu snarled but didn't stop trying his best to heal Klee's damaged arms. Yes, he can heal, but healing wasn't exactly his forte. That wasn't going to stop him from doing his best.
"No…" Monster's eyes flickered from Xingqiu to Xingqiu's vision on his hip. "No, this changes things…" Xingqiu tore his gaze away from Klee's injury and over to Monster.
In this Monster's hands was a catalyst. One that only the gods could give out. Xingqiu would know because when Lumine gave Yanfei the Skyward Atlas she was nearly in tears at having such a powerful weapon. Xingqiu knew almost nothing about the catalyst in question as the catalysts were his least favorable weapons; But from he does know-
The Monster had Memory of Dust in his possession. Which sent red flags flying in Xingqiu's head because Lumine also had Memory of Dust. Last they paired together she was talking to Paimon about who to give it to. This felt like too much of a coincidence for Xingqiu. And so he called as he saw it.
"That's not yours!" Xingqiu suddenly roared in indignation for Lumine. "That belongs to my Liege! Ms. Lumine!"
"Hm. You're a smart lad, aren't you? Doesn't matter if it was hers or not. It's mine now. Not like she needs it anyways. Dead people don't need weapons."
Xingqiu nearly spoke his mind. 'She's not dead you idiot. She's alive and in Mondstadt and I bet when she wakes she's coming for you!' is something he almost spat out in his rage; but he held back. 'If he knows she's alive he might go after her… no. Lumine has been hurt enough by this asshole.'
Klee sniffled and held onto the back of Xingqiu's shirt. He could feel her shake and shiver. Xingqiu, never once breaking eye contact with Monster, reached behind and put a hand on Klee's head. He wanted to reassure her.
"Now… My interest is piqued…" Monster looked down at Xingqiu. Xingqiu made sure he was using his whole body to block Klee incase Monster would try to attack again. "I want a duel." He said, suddenly pointing directly at Xingqiu. "You're a hydro user and I want your vision."
"...Excuse me?" Xingqiu hissed.
"I. Want. Your. Vision. What aren't you understanding?" Monster took a step forward.
Klee whined and Xingqiu took a step back. 'I may not have protected Lumine, but I'll do everything I can to protect you.' Xingqiu promised. He outstretched one of his hands, and he kept his palm out. It wasn't much, but he wanted to put space between Monster and Klee. "Why do you want my vision so badly?"
"Because. I don't have Hydro. Now, I can easily just pin you down and take it if I wanted to, but I'm offering you a chance to fight for it. I'm even willing to give you your sword back to do it."
Xingqiu gritted his teeth. '...Maybe…' a thought sprung into his head. "Very well. I have no qualms about dueling you. However! If I win! I want you to set every girl you have free and back to their parents!"
"Oh?... feisty. That friend of yours, she requested the exact same thing. Of course… she didn't have a vision… but no matter: If we're upping the stakes... Then if you lose I will not only take your vision but I will also take you."
"No!" Klee grasped onto Xingqiu's arm for dear life. "Don't do it… it's not worth it." She whispered fearfully to him. Xingqiu looked back at the little girl. He looked at her arms. He managed to heal them before the burns got to the third degree, thankfully, but not by much. There were still spots where the burns were evident and just looking at the blisters and her singed clothing… It made him sick to his stomach. 'How many girls had he subjected to this torture?'
His heart absolutely dropped as he looked into Monster's eyes. Still, Xingqiu didn't back down. The two of them stared at one another until: "...Deal."
"Go get this boy his sword and get the courtyard ready… things are starting to get fun." Monster pointed to Crossbow guy. Monster then turned to Xingqiu. "You, Xingqiu, can call me Feng. It's only fitting that you know my name now."
"I'd prefer to call you what you are."
"And what's that?"
"A monster."
"L...min?... Lumine!"
Lumine's eyes snapped open as she was aware that she was being shaked. That someone was touching her. She couldn't stop herself. Before she could see who was touching her, Lumine slapped their arms off of her and she instinctively tried to back away frantically. She'd usually summon her sword but with all of her items lost, she settled on grabbing a vase and chucking it.
"Hey!" Thankfully Xiao had lightning quick reflexes and managed to dodge the vase. The vase, and the flowers inside of it, shattered upon impact with the wall. "It's me…" He warily said while holding his hands up. "It's just me."
Lumine would never admit this, but she felt scared. Granted her fear was only seconds long, but it was still fear. Lumine couldn't even remember the last time she felt afraid, let alone being afraid of her friends.
"You startled me." She finally spat out. Something in Lumine's abdomen was causing her pain, but she elected to ignore that for now.
"Yeah… I got that…'' Xiao looked back at the shards on the floor before focusing back around at her.
"Can…" She brought her hand out but paused and drew it back for a second before fully offering it to him. "Can you help me up? Please." Her voice cracked at the end and she flinched when Xiao gently grabbed her hand.
This didn't go unnoticed by the adeptus. Still, he helped her rise to her feet and all seemed fine, until she got halfway up. "Ah!" The pain in her abdomen increased tenfold and Lumine doubled over, clutching where the pain seemed to be radiating from.
"Lumine, what happened to you?" He finally asked her.
"It's… a bit of a long story and we don't have time… I have to save Paimon-" Lumine tried to force herself to stand up fully. The pain went from five to ten with just one little movement. "Gah!" She cried out like never before. The pain was agonizing. It almost made her want to vomit. It felt like she was run through with a sword. Which, if her fuzzy memory was anything to go by, was actually true at one point.
"Absolutely not-" Suddenly her feet were off the ground. Lumine, more out of instinct than anything, shot her hand out in an attempt to push him away. Xiao caught her wrist before she made contact.
"You're not stopping me-"
"You can barely stand!"
"Paimon needs me!"
"Yes, I understand that, and here's what you're going to do-" Xiao dropped Lumine on the bed ungracefully. Lumine hissed and wanted to curl into a ball. "-You're going to tell me exactly where I need to go and I will get Paimon for you-"
"-I have a score to settle-" Lumine sat up only to be pushed right back down.
"I don't care. You are in no position to leave this bed-"
"-Xiao-'' Lumine reached up, grasping at the one sleeve that dangled down in front of her. "Listen to me. Truly. The man that has her. He's strong. Insanely strong! I could barely win against him in a duel! I'm not doubting you and your abilities, but I don't think you can fight him alone. You need me-"
Xiao's eyebrows arched high. "Slow down. Duel?"
Lumine shook her head. "I'll tell you- on the way to save Paimon. Xiao. Please- you can't leave me out of this. I have to save her."
"Lumine. You can't stand."
"Then… if you can make me- no… if you can buy me something to eat to replenish my health then I can stand!"
"Lumine… don't make me tie you to the bed-"
Lumine knew she must have been making a face, be it disgusted or uncomfortable she didn't know. She just knew that she was making a face. She also became aware of the fact that her face was heating up as tears sprung into her eyes. "I can't-" Her breath hitched. Lumine gave her head a shake before sniffling. "I can't just sit here, Xiao. I can't! Not while Paimon and other girls need me!" Lumine all but cried.
Xiao looked ready to say something, but he paused, sighed, and then crouched down so they were eye level with each other. "Lumine… you don't need to tell me everything if you don't want to. But I need some context. Just… get me up to speed… then… I'll buy you food."
Lumine felt herself cringe as the memories came flooding into her mind. She knew she didn't have to tell him all that happened. 'He just wants the main details.' She told herself. Still, that didn't stop her from letting out a startled and unexpected sob, much to Xiao's increasing worry and confusion. 'Push it down.' Lumine tried to tell herself. She couldn't let her emotions get the best of her, not now.
"...I… Xingqiu flagged me down." Lumine started. "Qiqi's been missing for a long time. Too long. So long that Baizhu was getting ready to put a commission out to find her. Xingqiu told me that he thinks little girls have been missing around Liyue. More so around Wuwang hill and it didn't help that that's where Qiqi was going-to collect herbs." Lumine started as she picked at the hem of the dress she was wearing. She missed her actual clothes. This skirt was too bellowy, not good for fighting.
"On our way to Wuwang hill a young girl stopped us. She said her name was Dahlia. She was so skinny… I fed her and asked her about Qiqi. She told us she knew where Qiqi was and where the other girls may be as well. I should have guessed right then that it was a trap, but I didn't. I couldn't because she was just a child, Xiao… She led us to this area upstream where there was a thick wall of Brambles. You could tell it was made with a vision. Paimon and I followed her to this mansion that had to be newly built. It was an ambush. Treasure hoarders… so many treasure hoarders. They got me in the shoulder."
Lumine let out a shaky breath and continued. "There was a fight, of course. I won… of course." She let out a bitter laugh and continued to pull at the hem of the dress. "Then came Feng." Lumine spat his name out of her mouth like it was poison. "You see, Xiao-"
Lumine was ready to go on a whole spiel on Feng. The monster he truly was. But… her voice died down as a memory forced its way to the front of her brain.
His hands grasping her throat, the fire that burnt and caused her arms to blister-
"The fucking cheater…" She growled while she grabbed the arm he injured. Even though Barbara healed her; Lumine could still see the faint outline of the burn. "He challenged me to a duel. I can take Qiqi and leave if I win. If I lose he gets…" She scowled.
"..." Xiao's breath was baited as he watched her with concern.
"Me."
"Why the fuck would you agree to something like that?" Xiao growled at her.
"Because I knew I could win, and I fucking did!" Lumine roared in rage while punching the air. Her abdomen protested from the jostle of movement. "I won that duel fair and square!" If Lumine could stand she would. She clenched her fist and gritted her teeth. The memory rushed back to her so fast that it made her head spin.
It was a close duel. Still, Lumine stood victorious over Feng. Blood soaked down her chin from her busted bottom lip. Her arm stung from the blister that had long since formed. Lumine wiped her bloody lip before abruptly turning her heel, turning her back to Feng. "That was a good battle." Lumine's voice was cool as she spoke to Feng. "I won't lie. You had me worried. Regardless: I won. I'll be taking Qiqi."
Lumine wanted nothing more than to smash this guy's head in with the heel of her boot. He was the lowest man she's ever had the displeasure of meeting. Still, Trying to keep her composure. Lumine already had several things on her mind on how to bring this place down. When she gets Qiqi out of here the first thing Lumine's going to do is go straight to Ningguang.
"Qiqi." Lumine held her hand out for Qiqi to take, which the zombie did so.
"I don't like it here." Qiqi told Lumine as the two of them started walking. Lumine gripped Qiqi's hand tighter.
"Don't worry. You won't be here too much longer." Lumine whispered to Qiqi. As she walked, Lumine became painfully aware of the treasure hoarders starting to walk either behind her or beside her and Qiqi.
"Uh…" Paimon came out and she frowned. "Traveler-"
"I'm aware..." Lumine whispered. She made a point not to turn to look, but rather she looked out of the corner of her eye. She could see someone, a treasure hoarder, tall and skinny with brown hair, fast approaching her.
She saw the flash of a knife and acted quickly.
Lumine squatted down and with a swift kick of her foot; knocked his ankle out from under him. This sent the treasure hoarder to the ground. Lumine then grabbed Qiqi and held her like one would a toddler. Lumine ran for the brambles as fast as she could.
There were footfalls behind her of treasure hoarders alike. She could bring up her map, flee to the nearest waypoint, but that would require putting Qiqi down and she'd need at least five seconds to bring her map up. Would she have enough time? Lumine didn't think so.
"Ahhh!" Paimon let out a blood curdling scream and by the time Lumine turned her head it was too late. Paimon was wrapped in a net and was being dragged away by treasure hoarders
"No!" Lumine's direction changed in only seconds. "Paimon- Let her go-!" Before Lumine could rush after Paimon and take out those Treasure hoarders that took her, her arms were wrapped in a fire whip. The pain was beyond intense and it caused Lumine to huddle herself around Qiqi even tighter in an attempt to protect the child with all she had. Qiqi was whimpering while she grasped at Lumine's dress.
The whip didn't drag Lumine back, just kept her place. She heard the soft sound of footsteps and when they stopped directly behind her, Lumine spoke. "I won." She hissed.
"You didn't think I'd just let you walk out of here, my dear? Did you?" Feng chuckled as he came up behind her. Suddenly his weight was on her back as he carefully wrapped his arms around her shoulders, being mindful of his vision's power. One of his hands snaked up and grabbed her by her neck. Then she heard it. He sniffed the top of her head so intensely that Lumine could feel his nose against her skull.
"You-" Lumine jerked her head back and headbutted him as hard as she could. She heard a small 'crack!' most likely from his nose breaking. "-You touch me again you're going to lose more than just your fingers!" She snarled at Feng as he took a startled step back.
"Cute… real cute-"
"-He knocked me out. I don't know how… I think maybe with an oar to the back of my head." Lumine looked down at her fingers and snarled at the memory.
Xiao shot up like an arrow. He was beyond angry and it showed with his face flushing while his teeth gnashed. "Unbelievable… you tell me where this base is now and I'll lay waste to every one of those miserable-"
Lumine grabbed Xiao's hand. "I will. And we will both way laste to these lowlifes. But first you promised to get me some food. Unfortunately, all my Mora got lost-"
"Save it. I've got some… Where do I need to go?"
"The Good Hunter-"
She didn't even get to finish when Xiao stormed out.
So… Lumine sat there. 'I'm surprised none of the knights have come to check up on me...not even Barbara…' Lumine could understand the other knights, but Barbara's absence was suspicious. Still, she couldn't linger on it for too much longer.
"Feng… you absolute bastard. I'm coming for you and this time I'm going to kick your damn face in."