Something was not right.
Paimon could not remember what had happened to cause her to be trapped in the mirror. Viola had warned them it was best not to shatter the mirror because it would alert the one who had trapped her, that she was free. Until she found a way to undo the spell without alerting the creator, she needed to remain there. Sucrose let out a sigh as she held the small little mirror in her hands as she walked beside Thoma. Despite the situation, Paimon was in, she was still trying to cheer her friend up.
"Don't worry, Sucrose. I'll be alright. Sad, I can't eat the food right now." The little fairy pouted and the girl looked at her confused.
"Are you hungry?" Sucrose asked and Paimon shook her head.
"No. I'm not! This place keeps me from getting hungry. The inside of here looks like millions of galaxies and stars. Little crystal flies floating all around the place and I'm able to see you and Thoma!" Paimon said and Thoma chuckled a bit sadly.
"Were you asleep in there?" He asked and Paimon nodded but suddenly gasped.
"Maybe Lumine is also trapped in a mirror, like me! There's this story I heard of Seelie who knew a spell to travel through mirrors to different lands. I think they call it...Lumine called it something similar to the Elysian Realm from her homeland. Whatever that is…." Paimon said and the other two were just confused, "Anyhow, maybe I should test it out on a mirror nearby!"
"Are there any mirrors nearby?" Sucrose said and Thoma looked around till he spotted the stall that was selling jewelry and a mirror was displayed so customers could see if the jewelry suited their style, "There's one there." Thoma pointed.
The little fairy giggled mischievously and disappeared from the mirror. The two waited and waited, Sucrose becoming worried when two minutes had passed and then...
"Kyyyaaa!"
Both Vision Holders snapped their heads to the stall seeing a woman screaming she saw a face. The sound of giggling was heard back in the small mirror, Paimon had a smirk on her face and gave them a big thumbs up. Throughout the day the trio tested how long could Paimon travel from mirror to mirror. The first thing they found out is this she could only travel to a certain distance, around 10 feet from Sucrose. Next, Paimon could only travel through mirrors in the area Sucrose was in because she had a small pocket mirror. Third, Paimon was fine but she missed eating food. But communication was still limited to a certain amount.
"So those are our results." Thoma said as the group ate at the tea house, "Is there anyone else we could talk to about this?" He said and right when Ayaka was about to speak...
"What about Yae Guuji?"
Thoma began sweating buckets when the group saw a man with short pale blue hair and violet eyes, wearing a suit like white samurai armor gold and a hydro vision hung on his waist. His pale violet eyes seemed to smile as he walked in, looking around till they landed on Sucrose.
"You must be, Sucrose. I have heard of you from Lumine and Childe." The man said, "My name is Kamisato Ayato, the head of the Kamisato Clan. It's a pleasure to have you here in Inazuma." Ayato smiled as Sucrose nodded.
"Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you. But Umm...Who is Yae Guuji?" Sucrose said and Paimon muttered "Oh boy..."
Ayato smiled as he snapped closed his fan and spoke.
"She is the head shrine maiden of the Narukami Shrine that is up the highest mountain filled with sakura blooms. I suggest you speak to her. For as shrewd as she is, ancient spells such as the mirror our friend is trapped in, she may know how to undo." Ayato said and Thoma didn't want to go, "Your other option would be to speak to the Head Shrine Maiden of Watasumi Island, Sangonomiya Kokomi. Or...The Raiden Shogun, the Archon of this land." Ayato couldn't help but snicker seeing Sucrose's soul leave her body.
"Brother, you are teasing her too much." Ayata glared at him yet the man only smiled.
"Let's try Yae first."
Thoma slumped in defeat.
[—-]
The Grand Narukami Shrine was unlike anything she had ever seen before. The huge mountain is surrounded by trees and roots in the colors purple, blue, and pink. Otagi, sakura, and maple trees are all around the giant stairs that let them up, up, up. The sight of the city of Inazuma from high above the mountain was a beautiful sight yet Sucrose wondered if this was a sight Lumine enjoyed. The green-haired girl asked herself if Albedo was responsible. Not once had she seen him so cold or do something terrible. He was gentle and kind, especially with Klee but the more she thought about it...
Sucrose flinched.
The way he treated her was like an adult scolding/babying a child and keeping them from doing more than what they should do. Almost as if...he didn't want her to grow. Sucrose remained silent as she walked up the stairs to the shrine, with Childe beside her. The Fatui noticed how silent was and ruffled her head, surprising her.
"We'll find her. That's a promise." Childe said softly as he looked up at the stormy sky, "You know when I first met Lumine and Paimon, they were running away from the Millelith." He said and Paimon let out a loud groan from the mirror.
"I think Lumine told me the story." Sucrose chuckled as they walked up the stairs and finally arrived at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
The Grand Narukami Shrine was unlike anything she had ever seen. The shrine buildings were the colors of red and lanterns hung on their post to illuminate the place beautifully. The petals of the sakura blossoms fell slowly and a tinge of electro could be felt in the air. Women dressed in crimson and white kimonos, and a shrine maiden dress walked around performing their duties. A small lake with strange plants that glowed blue in the night. But what was most stunning, was the beautiful fox snapped sakura tree.
Sucrose was awed at the sight, feeling a sense of peace in the place as she smiled softly and paid her respects to the place. She prayed that her friend was safe and they find her.
"It seems a little cat from the land of wind has found her way to my lair."
"Aaayyyyyyeee!" Sucrose screeched, jumping high in the air before landing on one foot and the other bent up, her eyes wide and ears and hair standing up like a cat. Purple-colored eyes that smiled mysteriously at her, pink-colored hair within fox ears. A crimson and white shrine maiden dress with a golden halo crown and Electro vision hanging on her left ear. The fox woman smiled mysteriously, yet amused as she let out a chuckle.
"Welcome to the Narukami Shrine. I presume you are the one Lady Ayaka has said wished to see me?" She said and Sucrose quickly composed herself and nodded.
"R-Right! My name is Sucrose and I'm an alchemist from Mondstadt!" Sucrose introduced herself and the shrine maiden nodded, "Are you...Lady Yae Guuji?" The woman smiled and nodded.
"Indeed, I am." Yae Miko said and looked a bit towards Childe, "I see you brought the insufferable insect of water. Has he bothered you? Bug spray is ready." She said with a smile while Childe's twitched.
"It's good to see the hag has yet to turn to dust." All the shrine maidens and everyone around the shrine could just feel the sparks between the two vison holders while Sucrose was panicking.
Yae and Childe never got along. Especially after one time, Childe made Lumine cry from overdoing it and getting injured. He was stubborn, that he was fine till finally, Lumine screamed at him that he wasn't, throwing the bandages at him before storming out of the shrine in tears. Yae was the first to welcome the woman into her arms, telling her that it was alright and that Childe was not worth the tears and that she could find herself a better partner. And that she had bug spray ready to knock him down. It didn't help that the smile Yae had was terrifying and the energy in the air just...made her look terrifying as she displayed her five fox tails. Sucrose was panicking and wondered if she should say something till Yae smiled and turned back to her.
"I'll deal with the bug later on. Now then, what can I do for you?" Yae said and then suddenly narrowed her eyes, "What is in your pocket...? It reeks of malice." The way her tone dropped made Sucrose scared.
"I-It's a mirror I...found. Paimon is trapped in it." Sucrose stuttered and carefully handed it to her.
"Miko! It's been a while!" The surface of the mirror wavered and revealed Paimon, who grinned joyfully and waved, "Has Sucrose told you what happened?" Yae had an unreadable expression on her face and then looked up to Sucrose.
"I believe there is someone else you need to speak to."
[—-]
The scent of lavender, rosemary, and matcha filled the air along with the faint smoke of incense. The colors of gold and purple were all around us shelves and tables made of maple and otagi wood. Dark purple samurai armor is displayed at the far corner of the room and a table with a few Inazuma snacks, a pot of tea with a small fire to keep it warm and comfy pillows for people to sit a. Sucrose along with Childe kept their heads down as Yae on smiled and the two individuals in front of the trio remained silent. Picking up her cup, The Electro Archon, Ei, took a sip of her tea before putting it back down.
"It is good to see you again, Sucrose." Ei smiled softly as the Anemo girl couldn't believe what she was hearing, "I apologize for hiding my identity in the past. It was for reasons, I hope you understand." She explained and Sucrose nodded, still unsure if she should raise her head.
Childe for obvious reasons was being made to have his head down. Yae looked over to Kujou Sara, who remained with a stoic face. The woman had short black hair with a crimson Tengu mask on the side of her head. A white and black long shirt and gold and her bow strapped onto her back was her bow.
"Sara, you seem tense." The Tengu only rolled her eyes and gave her a look.
"If you want me to make it more obvious, the council of Inazuma is on edge ever since months ago when Her Excellency was suddenly attacked out of nowhere by an unknown source. You were there when you treated her." Sara said and Yae chuckled softly but looked at Ei somewhat worried.
"How are you fairing?" Yae asked and Ei pressed her lips together, placing her hand over her heart.
"Lumine's connection...it's...how do I say this...?" Ei sighed as his gaze became half-lidded, "Somehow...it's not broken."
"What?" Yae's eyes went wide as did the other two, "How is that even possible? I felt the link be broken." The maiden said and Ei shook her head.
"I think Lumine is trying to reconnect to the element of Electro through other means. Were there any items that she held that had electro energy imbue into them?" Ei asked and Childe raised his hand, "Speak."
"Lumine and I...cough..." Childe seemed a bit embarrassed but the look the woman was giving him said to spill it, "We exchanged promised rings. I gifted her a ring with an electro crystal and I have," he held up his hand.
On his middle finger was a golden ring with an Anemo crystal. Yae nodded in approval because she was the one that helped Lumine design the rings but that didn't explain the connection.
"It means she must have a strong resolve to be freed." Ei muttered, "Her will has not been shaken. Her tears break free of whatever shackles she is chained to keep her alive. That yearning...created a connection." Ei smiled softly but she was still in pain from the forced breakage of the connection.
"As of now, we have one person we suspect may know about Lumine's disappearance. However, that person isn't easy to understand." Childe sighed as Sucrose nodded.
"If I may speak," Sara spoke up, "Is there anyone else that has close connections to this person you suspect? Perhaps a friend or sibling? Maybe they can help you?" She said and Sucrose thought for a moment.
There were quite a few people that were close to Albedo other than herself and Lumine. Timesias wouldn't work because the man looked up the Alchemist and would study hard. Aldebo's relationship with the other knights seemed neutral but with Kaeya it was a different story. Klee, Albedo was always kind to them and treated her gently but if she had Klee help her out, Albedo would discover it.
Then there was...
"Mona." The girl suddenly said, "I haven't seen Mona in months. Now that I think about it..." she pressed her lips together and thought, "Mona...we haven't seen her since Lumine went missing. She was always close to us but at some point...she just stopped coming to lab. I remember asking around but the old man she rents from said that Mona suddenly packed her things and left." She explained and Childe gave her a weird look.
Mona, despite being a bit high on her pedestal, was an incredibly hard-working Magus from Fontaine. She was also an amazing astrologist and powerful Hydro Mage. She, Albedo, Lumine, and Mona has gone on missions together with Paimon cheering them on. Sucrose was honestly surprised by how good Mona was at scavenging food in the wilderness. But what was worrying is why Mona suddenly stopped coming to meet them?
She wondered if their relationship soured at some point and she didn't notice. Or...did something else something?
"Pardon, but who is Mona?" Ei said and Childe began to explain that Mona was a young woman dressed in blue with long black hair tied in two ponytails as well as a witch hat.
The Archon blinked multiple times as did Yae and Sara because...
"By any chance does she do fortune-telling and is from Fontaine?" Ei said and Sucrose looked at her shocked.
"Yes." The green-haired girl said and Ei nodded to Sara.
"A few months ago, it was reported that a Hydro Vision holder suddenly appeared in Inazuma. She was doing fortune telling for a while when before taking a boat and leaving for Tsurumi Island. She never returned." Sara explained, "From what we have heard, it seemed as if she was in pain."
"We dispatched a squad of soldiers to the island but they returned with no results." Sara sighed and noticed Sucrose got up.
"Please, let us go to the island! Mona wouldn't just leave suddenly!" Paimon yelled out from the mirror and Ei sighed.
"...Alright. But I will have someone else go with you. Sara, could you contact Heizo and Kuki?" Ei said, "And have a few others go with you." She stood up and walked towards the balcony, looking in the direction of Tsurumi Island, "I have a feeling...something terrible will happen."
[—-]
"This is a Waverider Point. Took a while to get it to fix but Lumine figured it out."
Kuki Shinobu was her name, the one that Sara had contacted. Kuki was a woman with Green colored hair tied in a spiral ponytail and purple-colored eyes with red eyeliner. The woman wore a black mask as well upper robes around herself and purple ninja clothing. Heizo was a young man with long burgundy red hair with a streak of black tied in a sleeveless white collared tunic worn over a sleeveless black undershirt with a mustard yellow tassel decoration dangling from his right shoulder, detached black sleeves with buckles that cover his arms and palms and a black choker around his neck. Kuki channeled elemental energy into the wave rider point and summoned a decent-sized boat. The woman's eyes soften at the sight of it.
"Heizo and I will take you to Tsurumi Island. But there are two others we are waiting for." The woman sighed as Heizo let out a chuckle, "They're late." She growled.
"You know Yomiya is probably looking for Itto," Childe said as they got on the boat and sure enough, two individuals were running towards them.
"Hhhheeeeyyy! Wait for us!" Yomiya yelled and suddenly squealed when Itto picked her up and ran faster.
The Oni jumped in the air, just when the boat was taking off and landing, making everyone scream and hold on for dear life on the edges.
"Itto, I told you a hundred times not to do that!" Kuki yelled as the man laughed.
Itto was a tall, bulk, well-built man with medium shoulder spiky white hair, golden-red eyes with the Geo symbol in them, red eyeliner, and wore clothing that Sucrose had no idea how to describe. Yomiya was a blonde woman, her hair tied with red and organs hair ornaments, a colorful kimono that she had the right shoulder off and wore bandages over her chest.
"Sorry, we're late! Itto had to get his Claymore and I had to get Thundering Pulse." Yomiya explained, "Hey, Childe! Been awhile! Oh, and who's this?" She said as Sucrose smiled a bit nervously.
"This Sucrose. I'm sure you remember Lumine talking about her." Childe said and Itto grinned.
"Oh! You're the green-haired girl that artist Calx drew months ago!" Itto said and Sucrose blinked.
"First, let's introduce ourselves." Yomiya said, "I'm Yomiya, a firework maker and this here is Itto, leader of the Arataki gang. We met Lumine and Paimon months ago when they helped in Inazuma. If it wasn't for them, none of us would be here right now. Sigh...I hope they are okay." The girl sighed and Sucrose smiled sadly.
It is better if fewer people knew of Paimon's situation. Focus on finding Mona and bringing her back.
"Oh yeah, You said you wanted to know about that artist. I think they called him...Albedo." Itto said as the others listened closely, "Pretty chill guy if you asked me but I don't like that look he gets in his eyes when we would talk to Lumine. Even the little girl Klee noticed." Itto said and Sucrose looked at him shocked.
"Klee?" Sucrose said and Itto nodded along with Yomiya.
"Oh yeah! Now I remember!" Yomiya said, "I think Klee told him that he had a scary face and asked why was he acting mean to Kazuha and Venti." The girl said, "You know what they say, kids are more sensitive to negative energy so they notice things first."
Sucrose wondered just how things were.
[—]
It took a week to reachTsurumi Island. During their time, Itto and Childe would jump into the ocean to catch fist and Sucrose got to know the Inazuma gang as well. She learned of Lumine's and Paimon's efforts as well as how they helped demolish the Vison Hunt decree and helped the Electro Archon embrace a new. There was so much and Sucrose enjoyed hearing all of it. But all of them were worried as to why Lumine had suddenly disappeared along with Paimon.
The arrival to Tsurumi Island brought chills to Sucrose's spine. This was the first they had ever set foot on the island, except Childe. Childe had been with Lumine, Hu Tao, Zhongli, and Paimon on this quest. It took a few days to learn of the reason behind the fog but now returning to the island after so long...
Childe's gaze became half-lidded as they all got off the boat. Tsurumi island was a place that had a solemn atmosphere. Whisp of blue floated around and revenants of an ancient civilization were deep underground. No sign of human life, only those of hilichurls, animals, the spirits that continue to walk through the island, and Rifthounds. But Childe could sense someone the others could not.
It is said that a Hydro Vision User represents a part of the Hydro Archon's court. If so, Childe would represent willpower and Mona would represent Truth. Raising his hand, he gathered some of the water droplets in the air, he could sense something was on Tsurumi Island, watching them. No, someone. He only hoped that the person watching them was Mona.
[—]
"..."
A lone figure sat at the top of Shirikoro Peak. They hummed a distorted tune, plucking leaves from the tree and tearing them apart. Their fingers suddenly stopped as they sensed many unfamiliar ones. But..there was one they immediately recognized. They began shaking suddenly ripping apart the leaves violently and clawing their chest.
"What is she doing! What is she doing here!? What is she doing?! Away! She has to go away! I'll stay quiet! I'll stay quiet!" Their voice distorted and their chest suddenly pulsed with a purple light, making them scream in agony.
"I have to make them go away." Their eyes snapped open, revealing nothing but black and purple.
[—-]
"Incredible." Sucrose was awed as she explored the beautiful island.
The ecological structure as well as the irregular leylines made the ecosystem of Tsurumi Island unique. They had a run in a few spirits, which made Itto and Yomiya scream but Childe recognized them. He asked them if they had seen a woman about the same height as Yomiya come by, she was dressed in blue. All of them said no except for a little boy.
"I saw a weird lady come by." The little boy said, "She looked like she was in pain and went that way." The boy pouted and Childe paled, "It's the place of the bad wolves."
"That's where the rift hound king is..." Childe narrowed his eyes and looked back to the hill Sucrose was writing down notes, "Hey kid, could you do me a favor?"
"Sure," the little boy said, "What is it?"
"I need you to see if anyone is there. Like a person." He said and the boy looked at her scared, "No way! The Blue Witch lives there!"
"Blue Witch?" Sucrose said, looking at the boy confused.
"Yup! Months ago, a woman dressed in blue arrived on the island. So looked like she was in pain and ran towards the island where the Wolf Hounds are. We never saw her again after that." The boy explained as Sucrose sighed.
"Thank you." She said and the boy grinned, disappearing into the air.
Sucrose looked towards the beach and placed her hand over her heart.
"Why do I have a bad feeling?"
[—]
Walking through the island felt strange for Sucrose. The others had been to the island before because they had accompanied Lumine and Paimon on their adventures, her? The majority of her time was Mondstadt. Everything was so new to her. Adjusting to Inazuma was difficult, not to mention that in the spanned of a few days she already met so many people. Meeting the one and only Electro Archon nearly sent Sucrose to the medic. As of now, finding one of the abandoned ruins, the team set up camp there and were told by Kuki to not stray too far. Itto had summoned his bull, Ushi, and introduced him to Sucrose. The little Geo bull was adorable and she began to the part animal, she could understand him.
From a safe distance, Childe spoke to a hydro crystal ball with narrowed eyes. A black-haired woman with streaks of blue, blue-colored eyes and a smirk, tapped her finger on the table from the other side of the call.
"I am quite surprised to hear you call me. What can I do to help you, Tartaglia of the Fatui Harbingers?" She said and Childe glared.
"Yelen, you owe me a favor. I'm using it now." He said and Yelen hummed.
"I remember months ago you contacted me about the Traveler. Don't worry, your favor does not count for this one. Lumine is also a friend of mine and helped me during the opening of The Chasm." Yelen said as she crossed her legs.
"Has there been a strange movement with The Alchemist, Albedo?" Childe asked and Yelen smiled.
"I see I am not the only one keeping an eye on him." Yelen said with a small frown, "Our friend has been traveling a lot to the Liyue mountains. Collecting fresh core lapis as well as having fought the Oceanid to collect a heart from it. Did I mention fighting the geovishaps and the Primo one to collect their bones and scales?" Yelen said with a grin.
"Cor Lapis I understand but the others are too suspicious," Childe said.
"Here's the thing Tartagilia," Yelen leaned forward, "He has been doing all this in secret. It took a long time for my people to even be able to spy on him. Let alone make a move. Two I had originally watched over him, have disappeared without a trace. That includes some of your soldiers." The woman said and Childe's eyes went cold.
"That son of..." Childe gritted his teeth and took deep breaths, "Anything else I should know about?"
"Yes." Yelen said, "It is strange but he keeps looking at a pocket mirror."
"Uh, pocket mirror?" Childe looked at her puzzled, "By any chance those it looks something like this?" He held up a small photo of the mirror Paimon was trapped in.
"Unfortunately, no." Yelen said, "But it does have a strange symbol. It looks similar to the star symbol of Khaernri'ah." She said and Childe froze.
"...Why are so many things connected to Khaernri'ah...?" He muttered and let go of a sigh, "Thank you."
"Oh, by the way," Yelen said, "Do you know someone by the name Sucrose?" She said.
"Yeah, why?" Childe said and Yelen's lips became a thin line.
"The Alchemist would mention their name a few times. One of the main lines is, pin her wings? Is she part of the harpie clan?" Yelen said and that alarmed Childe.
"No. She's part kitsune. Those from the Sea of Dandelions."
[—-]
The days passed by, exploring the island for any human activity. The only things they found were old journals of adventurers from the past as well as ruins from an ancient civilization that Sucrose excitedly studied. Soon it was time to head to the area of the Rift Hounds and it was not pretty. It was as if they knew they were coming and they attacked in a formation that Childe found was odd. He has had his fair share of encounters with Rifthouds during his time in Abyss. He knew firsthand how terrifying they could be. Sucrose screamed as she unleashed her elemental burst, the Anemo butterfly beat its wings violently as it sucked up the rift hounds.
Taking advantage of it, Heizo jumped in the air, channeling Anemo in the sole of his feet before kicking it at the rift hounds sucked in. Kuki unleashed electro and Yomiya Pyro, along with Hydro from Childe. The elemental reaction was violent and Itto ran forward, roaring as he swung his giant spiked clubbed and unleashed the power of Geo, tearing apart the hounds. They screamed and howled before they turned to dust, only leaving their claws behind. The group panted, trying to recover from the intense fight. Childe bent and picked off of one the claws, walking to Sucrose.
"Here. I think you can use them for your alchemy." He said as he held out the claw to her.
"Thank you..." Sucrose sighed and used her Anemo to pick up the remaining claws and put them away in her magical space.
"I've never fought the rift hounds such a way! Is it me or were they moving as if...they were protecting something?" Yomiya said as the group got together.
"The only ones they would protect would be the Golden Wolf Lord," Kuki said as Itto smirked.
"I brought down that punk before, I can do it again!" Itto grinned but screeched when Kuki poked his side.
"Boss, you're the one that took the most damage out of all of us because they broke through your shields." Kuki sighed and held her hand over him, "Now hold still while I heal you."
Itto grumbled and agreed but suddenly the area around them became humid. Everyone felt a shift in the air, the world around turned a slight hue blue and water droplets were frozen mid-air around them.
"Heheheh~"
Giggling.
"Hehehe~"
More giggling, everyone was looking left and right, all around, they could hear the movements of the water and suddenly it happened. Out of nowhere moving in the ground towed them was water, the ground jumping or screaming trying to move out of the way when it suddenly jumped out of the ground. It was circled into a ball and uncurled itself, revealing a humanoid figure in the shape of a woman. Its body was black as the night, and cosmic stars could be seen in its body as the water began to wrap around its waist and arms, forming aquatic see-through like a long skirt and puffed sleeves. A veil was over their face, and the long midnight hair with the cosmic stars was made of water. Golden ornaments adorned their bodies and at the center of their chest was an eight-pointed start nod the jewel in it was a hydro vision, color purple. Cracks of purple had formed around its body as it let out an agonizing scream. A witch hat of water formed around their head.
"What is that?" Childe said as many looked upon the aquatic divine yet corrupted entity in confusion and fear.
Beads of sweat ran down their faces and the howls of rift hounds resonated loudly but silenced when the Aquatic Witch held out her hand.
"You dare come...You dare seek...You dare seek the truth that only brings despair!" Her voice was that of a possessed woman, yet it sounded familiar.
Everyone got ready for battle and prepared. Childe was going to have to rely on Elemetal mastery reactions to do damage to a Hydro Entity. Left and right, they jumped, Sucrose and Heizo unleashing swirls of Anemo but the being kept moving left and right like a tornado. And then it spun like a dancer and sunk into the ground, six versions of herself sending either a hydro magic attack, a blast of magic, or a slash, they had to find the real one. The sound of a haunting violin solo played as they fought along with giggling and hydro slimes forming the ground and attacking them. They were already injured and at the rate, it was going, they were going to lose. Childe could sense Abyssal energy coming from the Hydro Being, but it...it looked like was holding back.
The twitching, constantly cocking its head a specific angel as well as, was it him or was right side its hair tied in a pigtail? Yomiya narrowed her eyes as she aimed and looked at each Hydro Mimic, studying each of the hydro ones till, she noticed one of them, the center of their chest was blue, not purple. With all the dodging and moving around, it would have been difficult but not for her.
She was one of Inazuma's best archers and she wasn't going to let anyone down. She ran, taking advance of the chaos, and jumped the air upside down and aimed, channeling pyro into the tip of the arrow. Childe also had the same idea nod in mid-air, both archers nodded, aimed towards the center of the chest.
"NOW!"
The arrows of Hydro and Pyro were released, going through the air like bullets. At the same time, Sucrose and Heizo unleashed their elemental burst along with Kuki. The Hydro Being screamed in agony when the arrows hit its weak point, destroying its mimics, and at that moment, it looked up and saw Itto with his club pointing down at it.
"IT'S OVER!" The oni yelled and brought down his weapon on it.
An agonizing scream shook the island as his attack and the elemental reactions greatly wounded the creature.
It screamed and trashed, the moister in the air and fog disappeared. It was on the ground with its knees splayed out, gasping and panting for air, its veil blown away. But when it's raised its head, Sucrose felt her heart shatter seeing a face she knew.
The face of a friend with beautiful eyes did not look back with anything but madness and rage.
"M-Mona?" Sucrose choked out as her hand reached out to the woman.
The white around Mona's pupils had become pitch back and her face had cracks of blue, but nothing prepared them for this. She was...corrupted. And whatever humanity Mona had, the former mage screamed and quickly backed away quivering in fear. Childe was at a loss for words like the others. What...caused Mona to become corrupted?
"Get away! Get away! You seek the truth! I can't! I-Can't! He'll kill me...yes...I have to get away...Hahaha! Hahaha!" Mona began cackling madly.
"That's the mage that helped us out months ago..." Itto gasped as Kuki was too stunned to speak.
"Begone...Begone...GET AWAY FROM!" Mona screamed, the piercing scream made everyone cover their ears but a giant rift of Geo energy suddenly opened in the air and...
"RUN FOR IT!" Childe screamed and ran, they all just ran across as fast they could to the nearest Waverider point.
Kuki jumped forward once they reached the beach, towards the Waverider point, and slammed her hand on it, summoning her boat.
"Come on! Come on!" Kuki yelled and Itto picked up Yomiya and Heizo while Childe picked up Sucrose.
They jumped on, everyone felt their souls leave their bodies when they saw the Golden Wolf King with an army of rift hounds. Kuki grabbed and pushed forward the leaver, and slammed her foot on the accelerator, making the ship quickly go forward. It was so fast that everyone barely had time to grab on to something to hold on but it wasn't over. Mona's possessed screaming could be heard around them and the water around them began to shake. The worst part was whirlpool was forming.
"No! No! No!" Kuki ripped off her mask and yelled, slamming her hand on the wheel, her electro vision glowing brightly, "NOT TODAY SATAN!" She roared, electro pouring into the boat.
"Kick it, Shinobu!" Yelled Itto and no one noticed a tentacle of water crawled up from the boat and slithered on the floor.
It waited and then...
"AAAHHHHH!" Sucrose screamed as she was suddenly grabbed by the leg, getting pulled back.
"Sucrose!" Childe yelled and lunged at her, grabbing her hand just on time before they reached the edge of the boat.
Childe gritted his teeth as he held tightly onto Sucrose's hand, Heizo, Yomiya, and Itto wrapped their arms around each other's waist and held tightly, all pulling back as hard as they could.
"Come S-Sucrose! Give me your other hand!" Childe grunted as he held out his other hand.
Sucrose gritted her teeth and reached out, she was so close, and then...
"Drown."
Mona's possessed voice was suddenly right next to her ear.
Time seemed to slow down as a giant hand of water formed over the Anemo Caster as she looked back. Nothing but dread filled every fiber of her body as Yomiya screamed and tried to reach her along with the others but it was too late. The hand slammed down on her, her hold on Childe's hands served. Nothing but blue filled her vision as hands of water pulled her down deeper and deeper. She could see from the surface the group screaming and about to jump in but suddenly there were stars around her. Voice she could hear, crying, her lungs burned as she was running out of air. In the visions she saw, they were blurred but she always recognized the colors of white, gold, and light blue.
"You saw."
"What have you done to Lumine?!"
"No. I can't let anyone see."
"What are you doing...No! Get away from me! No...Argh...Arghh! AAAAAAHHHHH!"
"Mona...what happened?" Were Sucrose's last thoughts before all faded to black.
[—-]
"Sucrose!" Childe yelled and was about to jump into the water but was held back by everyone, "Let go of me!"
"Don't...she's gone..." Yomiya whispered and Heizo blinked, his eyes glowing green for a moment before he spoke, "Everyone, use your elemental sight." He said as they looked at him confused.
"Her lifeline has not been served."
[—]
Sucrose didn't know where she was but there was suddenly light in her vision and she couldn't breathe. No, she needed to get out of the water now! With all her strength, she swam, pulling herself up and gasped for air, frantically looking around. She saw a shore with grass and swam to it, careful to overuse her stamina. She crawled once she felt some land and collapsed, panting, gasping, trying to catch her breath. Everywhere hurt. Never once in her life had she been in such intensive battle, even with Lumine. At that moment, Sucrose wondered if the battle she had just gone through was something Lumine and Paimon went through every day.
No, they did.
They always did.
Sucrose coughed and forced herself on all fours, hearing sobbing and crying. The constant repetition of "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I don't want to die!" And they switched to, "Silence! Silence!"
She coughed again, looking up to see Mona on her knees, sobbing and clawing her face, the cracks on her skin glowing purple as her left eye had returned to normal but...
"What have I done?! What I did?!" Mona wailed, her hand reaching out to the black sky, "Help her! Help her! Free her! Please! Don't do this! ALBEDO!" The woman screamed and unleashed swirls of hydro magic all around.
Sucrose gritted her teeth and stood up, her left arm stung, she couldn't move it well but it didn't matter if she was soaked to the bone. Mona was right in front of her. In pain, corrupted, screaming that she didn't want to die. That she saw...That she saw Albedo do something. The power that she felt coming from her friend felt similar to Durin's heart...like the monsters corrupted by Durin's blood.
"MONA!" Sucrose yelled as she took another step, "Please! Listen to me! Mona!" Again she yelled but the mage only wailed up to the sky.
"I have to stay away! I have to! To protect them!" Mona screamed and just when she finally turned to Sucrose's way...
STAB!
"Eh?"
Sucrose suddenly felt the taste of iron filled her mouth as her eyes looked down to her chest. A spike of water turned crimson from her blood. Blood dripped from her lips as looked at her friend. Mona's hands stretched out as tears fell from her right eye and the cracks of purple on her body spread.
"Mo...na..." Sucrose fell to the ground, her blood forming into a puddle as the life began to leave her eyes, yet...she saw nothing but horror and regret in Mona's eyes, for a moment, they had returned to human and then returned to that of a corrupted.
"Su...crose. I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm sorry!" Mona wailed when suddenly the woman went still.
Looked down at her chest, and a golden blade went right through her heart.
"Poor thing..."
A male voice spoke as Mona's gaze became half-lidded and her body limp, a sad smile on her lips.
"Rest." And out they pulled out their sword, Mona's body cracking and turning to dust, the only thing that fell onto the ground was Hydro Vision, its once purple gem turned a slight blue, the dust returned to it and golden chains surrounded it before it disappeared. Sucrose tried to keep herself awake as she heard footsteps, black golden boots came closer and stopped in front of her. She looked up, to see familiar golden eyes.
"L..." weakly, she raised her hand towards them, a smile formed on her lips as tears fell, "L...Lumine...You're...Here...I-I'm...sorry...I...couldn't...help...you..." And just when her hand was about to fall, it was gently grabbed.
[—-]
His golden eyes were usually cold, void of emotions but seeing the Anemo Caster confuse him for his sister, left a bitter taste in his mouth. He knelt, picking up the corrupted hydro vision that he sealed the Hydro Caster in, and carefully picked up the Anemo Caster in his arms.
"My, I didn't think you were the type to care, Your Highness." He looked to his left, seeing a tornado of fire formed, and out came a certain Abyss Scholar in his human form.
"Will she live?" They asked and he narrowed his eyes.
"She won't make it, Enjou." He said and the man dressed in a blue kimono, spike brown hair, and wore glasses, narrowed his eyes, "But..." His Highnesses looked to Sucrose's neck and saw the star shape stone, "My sister would never forgive me if I let her die."
"Let's go." They said and walked past Enjou, the mage smiled a bit before he turned to follow.
"Of course, Prince Aether."
[—]
Okay! I know you all want to kill me for taking so long but hear me out! I was originally going to post this chapter during 2.6, but then the delay happened, finals, and I ended up nearly in the hospital. Anyhow, like before, there was information I wanted to learn specifically about Ayato, Yelen, Kuki, and Heizo before I released this chapter. Thank you all for waiting!
You'll soon find out what or who corrupted Mona.
I do have a drawing of what she looks like but currently redoing it because I didn't like how it came out.
