WE HIT 200 FOLLOWERS LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN FOR READING AND REVIEWING! IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME! NEXT CHAPTER GONNA BE A BIG ONE! ROMANCE, PLOT DEVELOPMENT, FIGHTING, COMEDY. HOPE YALL LOOK FORWARD TO IT :D
Book One: Chapter Nineteen
[Darkness and Light]
Winter. The frigid element some loathe with despise and others yearn to embrace with love. Some stories tell of places within the "wintery wonderland" and others simply call it "hell." What people call such cold climates matter not in the end. Snow as small as rain droplets or as hard as stone pelt the skin. It's an uncomfortable feeling at first but you adjust quickly. None care to help because they are too prioritized with their own lives. Why would they help someone who is on the verge of death? It's not like they're malnourished or beaten and bloodied. Ha, the sight could have frightened them? If that was true, then that would have made the authorities at the time come running and yet all they did was turn a blind eye. All one could want in that moment was to see a hand outstretched. Yet there wasn't one. Not one. For by that point, the only realization that comes to mind is where you are and what that place means to you. A simply differentiation of whether you deem it home or a battlefield. If home, you're allowed to rest. To feel safe and unwind without a care in the world. If a battlefield, then all you need to do is survive and become strong. Nothing more. Nothing less..
"And that concludes the tale of the young girl." A young woman speaks before a ground of young children as a series of groans and light complains sound throughout the room.
"But what about the family? Do they come back?" A boy asks.
"What about her mentor? What happened to him?!" Another inquires with more urgency than the last.
"What about the main character?" A girl exclaims above the rest, a hopeful look plastered on her face. "Did she ever fall in love?"
"Ew, no one cares about love!" One of the boys cringe in disgust.
"Did you not listen to the story?" Another questions. "She survived and won in the end! That's all that matters!"
"Not true!" Another girl denies. "Love was something the character's mother told her about. Just as her mentor did!"
"Yeah! Plus at the end, she emphasized loving the life she had!" Another reinforces.
"Now, now, children. There's no need to argue." The calm womanly voice speaks as their gaze returns to the speaker of the story. "There actually was an extra ending." She smiles reopening the book, all hints of arguments ceasing as the children give their full attention once again.
"Now them. Let's see… Ahem. Time passed. Days became weeks. Weeks months and then years. It was like the slowness of time accelerated to unfound speed. With nothing left, the young survivor lived a peaceful life. One day tending to her garden, she sensed something…"
"Another thief?" A boy questions to be hushed by a girl.
"Or rather, someone. She didn't need to turn around nor reach for her weapon. This presence was one she had encountered numerous times over the course of her journey. Taking a kneel, her rival began to pick the vegetation next to her. For a time, neither speak. Only work. The rival passing one thing after another to her."
"What brings you here?" She finally asked.
"Well, we made a promise didn't I?" He smiled that cocky smirk she'd come to be fond of.
"Did we? I seem to have forgotten." She smiles, a obvious bluff but even he had the urge to play along.
"Your words wound my heart!"
"My apologies, good sir. Mind telling me this supposed promise?" She finally looks his way, an innocent look on her face.
"Very well. When one's journey ended, so did the other's. Either your journey for a happy life or mine for vengeance."
"One would think he would be bothered by stating such a fact that seemed so important but he did not." The reader speaks. "He seemed content with the end result as if he's made peace."
"Hmm. Sounds like a race." The woman muses taking a carrot.
"It felt like it after a while. In the end, you won. And I am a man of my word so here I am."
"Aweeeeeee!" The girls coo in delight.
"Ew." A single boy mutters to get harsh glares from the opposite gender.
Chuckling, the reader continues.
"Reaching for the next vegetable, the woman stops. Giving a glance, she finds her hand on a small cubic box. Looking to her rival, she takes note of him warm smile."
"You saved me from the darkness that nearly swallowed me whole. It's thanks to you I was saved from that life and now I wish to start a new one with my savior. What do you have to say about that?"
The speaker pauses seeing the children, especially the young girls invested. Smiling, she closes the book.
"Two words. I do."
"AWWWWWWEEEEE!"
"Ugh, my ears!"
Watching the children leave, she can only wave until they are out of sight. Watching the last turn the corner, her hand drops for a tired sigh to finally release.
"About time." She mutters rolling her arm.
"I can't tell what is more amusing." A new, masculine, voice cuts through for the woman to pause mentally groaning before her relaxed visage sharpens to a scowl at the figure leaning against the doorway. "You pretending to show no signs of fatigue or watching you make up a romantic ending on the spot to satisfy a little girl's heart. It's quite heartwarming, Knave."
"I wouldn't expect one who was too weak to even be of use in changing the world twice when the time came to spout as if they have such superiority." She hisses rising to her feet slowly. "Pretending in front of you fools is only a foolish action. Hiding my status from the children I've been tasked with raising is a choice I make as to not have them see weakness. Something I wouldn't expect you to understand. Considering you're nothing but a Childe." She spits walking past him out the room.
Chuckling, he can only look at her back before speaking up.
"Nice pun." She stops. "You're right in my being too weak back then to assist in the manipulation of the inhabitants as well as the gods themselves but that just makes me more viable now while the rest of you recover though you're at what. 90% fighting capacity? A little more? A little less?"
"More than enough to kill you if I chose." She turns meeting his amused look with a deathly one of her own.
"Hmpf. You always say that." He rolls his eyes leaning off the door to walk past her. "That was a nice story you made up on the spot. I bet you wish it could come true. Too bad plants can't survive the harsh cold."
"As if. I'm simply amusing the children's minds before they become soldiers." She walks in stride with him down the dark corridor. "Love? Who needs it?"
"You say that now but the future remains unknown even now. We can try to warp it however we want but it remains a mystery until it becomes the present. You never know who you may end up falling in love with."
"Keep spewing that nonsense and I'll sever that tongue of yours. Now hurry up, the others are waiting."
"Yes, yes. Whatever you say. As always, it is a displeasure working with you, Knave."
"The sentiment couldn't be anymore the same, Childe."
Love? Who needs it? All one needs is enough determination to survive. Besides...
Her irked expression wanes for a single moment.
Who would fall in love with me…?
Narukami Shrine
"The Harbingers? Who are they?" Relon blinks in confusion.
"Our true enemy." Sara answers. "It's because of their doing that our armies are what they have become."
"What have they become? What do you mean?" Rosaria narrows.
"The Cryo Army, the Electro Army, the cause behind so many individuals of the same element having migrated to their respective nation; they're the cause for it all." Lisa speaks up.
"How do you know? And how did they even do something of that caliber exactly?"
"There is much to discuss and answer but that will have to wait." Sara states, rising to her feet.
"What?!" Both Relon and Rosaria exclaim. "Why?!"
"If we are to explain something as grand as this, I would like to not have to repeat myself." Miko sighs.
"You want Eula here." Relon widens in realization.
"Exactly." She says rising to her feet. "But first we must purify the malevolence that has corrupted her mind."
"Miko…!" He calls, joy evident in his tone as it's plastered on his face.
"No need to thank me. I'm just doing what's right is all."
"More like doing what will make Relon happy." Sara mutters, the kitsune's ears perky at the remark to bat the tengu a look of irritation.
"Is that a crime, General?"
"No. Not in the slightest, Lady Guuji." Sara retorts to mirror Miko's face.
"Those two are always going at it." Keqing deadpans as the other electros nod in agreement as both snap their gazes away.
"Still. You all are taking this surprisingly well considering the scale of absurdity this sounds like." He looks at the five cryos.
"It all lines up so why wouldn't I?" Rosaria crosses her arms. "Given our circumstances, I doubt any of you would lie."
"She's right." Kaeya nods. "It's obvious your friends know more about the war as a whole. Even if we didn't trust you all, what choice at this given moment would we have but to believe what they say?"
"If there really is an evil plaguing the minds of everyone on Teyvat, then it is my duty as an exorcist to purify all and return things to how they once were!"
"We all want peace but we've gone about it differently." Ayaka speaks. "Not once did any of us question the method our archon used until now." She continues scrunching her hands against her lap. "Our army has taken the lives of many from numerous lands. Including yours. We trampled upon your land and caused nothing but destruction." She looks up meeting Relon. "That is something we regretfully cannot take back." Once more, her eyes become crestfallen as do the others.
"... no one is at fault, Ayaka." Her eyes snap back to meet the smile adorning Relon's face. "You all were simply following orders. No one can despise you for doing such. You're soldiers after all."
"But-"
"No buts." He cuts off in a kind tone as he motions for Qiqi to get off before walking and kneeling before the group. "What matters is the here and now. We're all alive and capable of putting a stop to this madness we call war. Regret is an inevitable emotion we all face in our lives." He says looking down to Qiqi before looking back up. "There are times we question what is right from wrong. There are times where we may not. For those that have fallen not just within our armies but the innocent victims as well; we must honor them to the best of our abilities. With our heads raised looking forward toward a brighter tomorrow. Not behind at our dark pasts." He finishes.
"He certainly hasn't lost his invigorating speeches." Beidou quips with a proud smile.
"Inspirational speeches are always an instinctive trait our little helper has been famous for after all." Lisa giggles.
"Teehee, you two look like proud parents." Hu Tao giggles.
"Pride is a definite factor." Sara speaks, gaining their attention. "We need a leader who's very being, both their words and their actions, will be capable of uniting all of the nations."
"Then tis be relieving that thou partner is up to such a task."
"Indeed, milady. Relon is certainly one capable of such."
"Though we need to make sure he doesn't try to shoulder such a heavy burden all by himself." Keqing reminds.
"He is famous for that."
"Ahem!" All look at Relon sporting red cheeks. "I can hear you!"
"Ahaha, whoops, we're embarrassing our leader." Lisa laughs though there is obviously no remorse as Relon twitches an eye. "Come now, you know we only care~."
"Hahaha, I forgot how easily Relon got embarrassed!" Beidou laughs walking towards him, another twitch of irritation leaving the demi-archon. "What's wrong? Are we embarrassing you in front of your new lady friends? Trying to get on their good sides, aye?" She grins elbowing him.
"BEIDOU!" He snaps, both girls blushing alongside him.
"Hahaha! Ahh, I forgot how good it felt teasing you. Lady Miko and Lisa do it so much I rarely get a shot myself!"
"The only shot you get is when you want to get wasted." Relon crosses his arms attempting to calm himself.
"Hehe, Relon is embarrassed~, Relon is embarrassed~!"
"Embarrassed, embarrassed…"
"Hu Tao, stop prancing around me! Qiqi, don't copy the bad influence!" He pleads, both stopping on a dime to salute.
"Aye, aye, Captain! Wait, who are you calling a bad influence?!" She pouts.
"You! The girl playing around during such an important meeting." He deadpans.
"Aye… aye…"
"No. Nevermind, sis..." Relon sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"And so much for our serious meeting." Keqing facepalms. "Well, at least Relon has things under control." She relaxes into a smile watching the two companions bicker.
"For now." Miko corrects with a satisfied smile of her own
"Grr… Now I'm starting to better understand those troublesome meetings."
"I'm glad you see it now!" Keqing scoffs. "Left me alone for a year to deal with this!"
"I said I was sorry!"
"And I forgave you! Doesn't mean I'm still not spiteful over the entire ordeal. Hmpf."
"Well, it's certainly lively." Kaeya chuckles.
"It's never a dull moment." He groans in response. "Welcome to the team." He waves off tiredly, the sound of giggling catching his ears as he looks to Miko who takes notice quickly conforming herself.
"Why are you looking at me? I haven't done anything." She purses her lips innocently.
"Once again, I can't help but find myself somewhat peeved at the current situation. But now isn't the time for complaints." He eases.
"Are we going? Huh? Huh?"
"We're going." Keqing points at Hu Tao who puffs out her cheek looking away. "You're going back to the safety of the city where it's safe!"
"Bleh!" Twitching her eye as a tic mark forms, a low growl comes from Keqing who begins to pull at the pyro's cheeks.
"Ow, ow, ow! Let go!"
"For not being a fighter, you certainly can be real irritable at times you know."
Retaliating with the same attack, all can only watch with mixed expressions of slight surprise and genuine boredom.
"Reloooooooooooon! Heeeeeeeeeeeeelp!"
Blinking at the two, he ignores them, choosing to look at Razor.
"Hu Tao doesn't fight?"
"No. She's never liked fighting. On journey here, you and I did fighting."
"Huh."
So until we met them, it was me protecting Qiqi or… Pausing for a moment to glance down at said girl, she looks back up tilting her head. Or were we protecting each other?
Not sensing Ei, he leaves the thought alone for now. Turning back to the others, he finds the groups talking amongst themselves. Kaeya speaking with Lisa. Rosaria seeming unamused by the combination of Fischl, Oz, and Razor. Chongyun seeming to ponder a topic with Beidou and Hu Tao. Ayaka delegating herself to speaking with Sara, Keqing, and Miko. And all that left was…
"Ganyu."
Seemingly amongst the sea of friends and allies, the adepti stuck out like a sore thumb. Looking around, curiosity evident in her demeanor, the calling of her name snapped the woman from her inner thoughts. From curiosity to a smile of relief, she walks his way.
"Seems everyone is already getting along, huh?" He inquires for his eyes to lay around the bustling room.
"Yes. It is honestly breathtaking."
"How so?" He arches an eyebrow.
"Individuals of cryo and of electro. Simply put, if you belonged under one element then everything else was considered hostile."
"Yet here we are. Not fighting against each other but rather laughing together." She nods in agreement.
"Such peace is what I've longed for since the start of the tiresome war. And we never, I never would have gotten to experience my dream, if it had not been for you. Truly, thank you."
If it weren't for the gazes of certain females peering from around him, Relon could swear he'd fall back into his unhealthy blushing and child-like tendencies.
Feeling heat begin to rise, he scratches at his cheek.
"I made a promise didn't I?" He mutters, Ganyu's eyes widening slightly at the realization. "I reunited with Qiqi so next on the list is to stop this war. Honestly, it's thanks to you that I was able to do that." He looks back at her. "So let's agree that we helped each other. Deal?"
"... Teehee. Very well, Almighty Shogun."
"Oh God, not you too. Just my name is fi- holy crap." He blinks looking at the floor before returning to Ganyu wearing a look of amusement. "I never told you my name." He blinks dumbly.
"That is true." She nods.
"Wow, I feel bad. I was so caught up in everything back in the cell, I never even introduced myself." He chuckles scratching the back of his head.
"You needn't worry about something like that. It's quite understandable given the circumstances."
"True, but still…" Looking around, he finds Qiqi with Hu Tao.
Motioning her over with a hand, the girl stops next to him with a curious look.
"Yes…?"
"Can you introduce yourself for me?"
Bobbing her head, she pats her clothing before bowing.
"My name is Qiqi Lucinance. It's a pleasure… to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is mine, Qiqi. I've heard a lot about you from your brother. It's easy to tell he loves you very much." Ganyu smiles, returning the gesture. "My name is Ganyu. I hope we can get along." Nodding in agreement, both turn to Relon.
"I know, I know, jeez." He mumbles taking a moment to calm his nerves as a smile graces his features. "The name's Relon. Relon Lucinance. A lot has happened so now I'm the Raiden Shogun. Though Relon is just fine."
"Very well, Relon. I look forward to our time together. You as well, Qiqi."
"Same here, Ganyu. Now let's go. Eula's waiting."
"HOLD IT!" Hu Tao shouts jumping in between them. "No fair! You three doing introductions! What about the rest of us?!"
"There's no need considering we already established ourselves while Relon was recovering." Sara crosses her arms.
"Oh come on, this is monumental, special! Electro and Cryo teaming up. It'll go down in the history books so we should all get in on this!"
"You can't be serious." Rosaria remarks.
"Sadly, she is." Sara sighs.
"I for one deem this to be a wondrous idea." Fischl speaks up.
"I should have known Fischl would agree." Keqing sighs.
"Idea not bad. Good for everyone."
"Even you Razor?"
"Teehee, come on!" Hu Tao jumps, latching onto his arm.
"Hmm, if Razor thinks it's fine…" Relon begins as he purses his lips in thought.
"That's three votes~. Come ooooooooooon~."
"Fine. We'll do it."
"Yes!"
"After we save Eula." He chuckles, glancing at the cryos. "That sound fair?"
"If it beats having to do something as silly as this twice then I'm all for it."
"Sounds good to me."
"Understood."
"As you wish, Almighty Shogun."
"Just Relon is fine."
"I believe we are all in agreement then."
"Alright." He turns to the sliding door. "Let's get going. We'll discuss details on the way."
Konda Village
Chivalry. That is all the Spindrift Knight has associated with. Her speech, her dancing, her skills with the blade, her very being was an example of the very concept. Honor, valor, justice, tranquility, compassion, urbanity, magnanimity, and righteousness. Each word stood for a single letter of the sole code she followed. Each representing a part of herself. So knowing this, having followed all of this since she was but a child, how had she been defeated? By a boy such as him?
The rattling of chains irritated her to no end. The cold, wet, and empty hall that once housed the man who defeated her now was her own place to rest. The irony couldn't be any more tactless. What had happened to those traitors? The thought came to mind but she quickly dismissed it. They were just that; people who betrayed her trust. As such, she no longer cared for them.
"HAAAAAAA! RAIKIRI!"
The behemoth roar that echoed once again caused her eyelids to shut. It was only for the briefest of a moment, but she could clearly detail the mental image her weakened body managed to catch. One moment the general was alive and the next, he was on the ground dead. His murderer, the very boy she easily dealt with just days prior, simply walking away. Holding his vision no less. She could only scrunch her fingers against the solid ice before she succumbed to the darkness.
The very concept of that boy being capable of doing so much. It was unfathomable. Cutting Trishula's wings as if his polearm was a hot knife through butter was simply unthinkable. Trishula, a being whose own power was strong enough to distort the very weather itself, be defeated in seconds by a boy who hadn't eaten or drank any water in over a week? Impossible! The sheer sight made no sense. Sudden lightning ripping down from the sky overtaking an archon's pet; it could only mean one thing. He was an electro, his weapon distinguished that already, but a very powerful one at that. But to see him also be a cryo. That made even less sense. How had he been given a vision of ice? The only one with the power to do that was their queen. There were no other ways. Only gods could give power such as visions out and just as they could give, they could take. Exactly… as… he… did…
Awakening in the place she has since been in, her unbridled rage could only stay in control for so long. The sounds of rattling chains drowned her unkempt wails. No one seemed to answer her complaints in regards to her once companions. People she once called allies, even friends, betrayed her.
"The mere notion of that so-called amnesiac being one of the seven… Inconceivable!"
The thought laid itself bare with plenty of evidence. No recollection of who they were lined up with the mystery surrounding their once prisoner. Speaking of, how had he escaped?" One glance over to a pair of destroyed cuffs told her something that simply left her baffled upon her prior awakening.
"He broke the chains with force?!"
Surely, a boy such as himself couldn't do such a thing. Then again, it was clear now that he was no ordinary child. He defeated herself and Trishula, not to mention killed McGruff. The man was someone she looked up to, his skills with the blade were one thing equally amongst herself and the others but his intellect. That was the trait that kept him separated from the others. How he thought up scenarios and various possibilities that led to numerous victories both big and small. It was what led her to respect the late general.
The only ones she knew of with brain power of that scale were their very own archon, Shenhe, and Ganyu. Eula remembered oftentimes asking the adepti of her cause for not requesting a promotion but she would always avoid answering. Eventually, the knight simply left it be. Looking back, said adepti had become rather reserved throughout the boy's stay. She could only assume they had spoken to a point that switching sides seemed better. To think someone of Ganyu's caliber could be coerced into changing sides much less their entire army.
"Pathetic."
"Are you talking about yourself or the circumstances that led to this?"
Snapping up, her eyes widen at the sight of the young man before her. Vermilion eyes meet her purplish-yellow. As if having simmered, her rage spills full force as she attempts to lunge for the young man to no avail. Unperturbed, he crosses his arms at the seething woman.
"That's definitely a familiar sound I don't miss. Good thing those are reinforced with elemental resistances. No breaking yourself out like I did." He muses to himself.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?! Come to gloat about your victory?! Spout about being right in regards to your innocence?! Prattle about-"
"Are you okay, Eula?"
Frozen in place as if by her own cryo abilities, the knight's voice hitches upon taking in the concerned demeanor upon his face. Mind moving a thousand miles a second, every outcome she came to was foiled by some concept she came up with to oppose the cause behind his very being. In the end full of only a few seconds of silence, she relented.
"To what do I owe the Raiden Shogun?" A scowl gracing her features. "I see no guards so you must feel quite arrogant to come unattended."
"I'm not alone." He chuckles glancing over his shoulder to reveal Sara leaning against the wall wearing a stoic demeanor with crossed arms. "Sara would never let me go anywhere by myself." He chuckles.
Especially around someone she considers an enemy. Although…
You find the sight of a beautiful woman hanging by chains to be both upsetting and alluring. Hmm…
… Please don't read my emotions aloud.
"Sara Kujou. I'd say it's a pleasure but I am not one to lie."
Blinking, not bothered by the taunt, Sara shifts her head to Relon.
"I still think this is a waste of time as well as a terrible idea."
"It doesn't hurt to try, does it?"
"Ignoring me? How dare-"
"Eula." Relon speaks up. "If I unlock your cuffs, will you listen to what I have to say?"
Scrunching her face trying to make sense of his words, a smile creeps forth.
"Of course. Though you won't be able to say anything with my hands around your neck!"
"Told you." Sara sighs, pushing off. "Relon-" She begins to be cut off by a sharp glance from the lone male.
Sighing, she leans back once more.
"Eula."
Once again, she's met with that look of concern.
"Will you at least hear me out?"
"Hmpf. I'd rather befall the same fate as the general than listen to you! Deliver thou retribution, I won't yield!"
I really haven't missed the sound of those chains. He mentally sighs looking one last time to Eula.
"If one of the others asked you to listen, you wouldn't would you?"
"Pfft, why should I?"
"I figured. If I told you something was obscuring your sense of chivalry, what would you say?"
"I would declare you a godly buffoon. Nothing controls me and if it did, I would clearly have some recollection, much less act differently. Yet here I am. Every bit as chivalrous as ever." She answers knowingly, a smirk of confidence adorned upon her face.
"Uh-huh… Considering you lost your cool and nearly struck me down when I was chained up, I beg to differ." He barks back, the newfound info reaching Sara's ears for the tengu to widen ever so slightly before rehardening her gaze upon the icy maiden. "Then again, my fiancé and I repaid you back so I'm not complaining." He shrugs, the fierce pressure from Sara becoming ever lighter as Eula's is now the one to harden.
"Inferiorities-"
"Before you even start, watch what you say considering we inferiorities defeated you." Sara interrupts. "So if I were you, I would be grateful for not being executed soon after the slaying of Trishula and listen to what Relon has to say."
Glaring coldly, no pun intended, her dual-colored eyes lay once more upon the relaxed sight of Relon.
"Why are you wearing that expression?" She mutters, unable to keep their line of sight locked as she gazes at the barren floor.
"Because I'm worried." He answers, his concerned tone matching his facial features.
"Pfft, worrying about your enemy. What a fool." She scowls slightly at the floor.
"We don't have to be enemies though."
"You expect me to become a traitor like the others?" She raises up meeting his red eyes once more. "I am loyal only to my queen. My defeat simply tells me I was not worthy. Against one as powerful as you, I fell short. I was weak. For that I deserve dea-"
"SHUT UP!"
Snapping up, her body recoils in a slight fright at the scowl he now wears, their visages having swapped. Glancing to his trembling hands now balled into fists.
"Excuse me?"
"Do you seriously mean that? Where's your so-called chivalry?!"
"You don't know-"
"What I do know is speaking of your own death isn't chivalrous!" His words making her flinch slightly. "You're a member of the Cryo Army aren't you? Then why the hell are you GIVING UP SO DAMN EASILY?!"
"WHAT IS IT TO YOU?! IT DOESN'T MATTER ANY-"
A loud slap resounds within the cell.
Eyes stunned facing the side, Eula's eyes slowly shift back to meet a stunned Relon. In between them, Sara with her hand outstretched.
"You really are pathetic, Lawrence." She hisses with such hostility that Relon takes a step back.
"HOW DARE-"
"SHUT UP! I've lost what little respect I had left. Giving up on your life. Have you no pride as a soldier? If you're saying that your life is insignificant, that your belief in your own army can be snuffed out within a single defeat, then you do not deserve to be a part of it, much less live." She speaks, conjuring her bow aimed at the prisoner's head. "Being a soldier means laying down your life for your cause, for you home! The moment we choose to fight, we're signing ourselves to the possibility of either victory or defeat. In the end, all it comes down to is the resolve of the soldier's heart! Something in which you clearly have lost."
"Sara, wait!" Relon exclaims, arms out in front of the chained woman to turn to her. "You've given up on everything, right? Then listen to what I have to say!"
"... Do what you will. I don't care." She mutters, her head discarding to the side.
"Eula…" Sighing, he glances at Sara.
"You're still…?" Sara arches a brow to receive a nod. "This remains a bad idea." She steps to the side, lowering her bow.
Looking back to Eula chained up, he steps forward raising his arms. Eyeing from the side, Sara's gaze remains ready. With a click of the lock, she drops to her feet.
"Let's go." Complying, Eula walks forward and out the cell with the two behind as they ascend the staircase.
Opening it, their eyes land upon a collection of individuals around the large, barren, room. Electro and Cryo-users alike stand in a circle.
It's weird being back so soon after escaping.
"Eula..." Ganyu murmurs as some allow for the three to walk through.
Looking to the ground, they find numerous goheis lodged in the ground in a circle. Walking to the middle, the three stop.
"Arms forward please." Relon speaks, Eula's eyes not betraying the ground as she looks his way.
Hearing another click, all watch as her elemental cuffs drop to the ground.
"Still want to choke the life out of me?" He asks, the woman rubbing her wrists not responding.
Feeling a sudden chill, his body tenses as she stops. Her eyelids lift to meet him as a wave of rage hits him.
"Crap!" He exclaims stepping back, the blue greatsword conjuring in Eula's hands.
"Vengeance will be mine!" She stomps, ice about to shoot in all directions for a single bolt to zap the woman having sprung forth to drop to the ground.
"Can't say I didn't see that coming." Miko quips with a bored look.
"You okay?" Sara asks inspecting the woman to roll her over onto her back.
"Yeah." He wipes at a bead of sweat. "Thanks for the save, Sara."
"It was obvious from the start. I hope you realized that."
"I did. Just wished it hadn't come true." He sighs kneeling before the woman, her sword vanishing into nothingness.
"Some things simply cannot be helped." Miko speaks, gaining their attention. "But at least freeing her mind is something we can do. So, are you all ready?"
"Yeah." He nods, taking his place amongst one of the spirals. "Do I even have to say who in particular?"
"Hmpf. Having the Shogun come with us… I don't know if that's a blessing or one in disguise." Rosaria steps forward.
"Um, you don't have to call me that, you know." Relon sweatdrops. "And I'd like to believe we're all friends here."
"Come now, we're all allies. Plus, should we succeed, we'll have our Spindrift Knight back to normal. Having someone as great as the Shogun is just extra reassurance." Kaeya shrugs, stepping forward.
"Seriously, you don't have to-"
"Tch, always with that nonchalant attitude. Sometimes you really piss me off."
"Yet you two act like the best of friends when drunk." Chongyun deadpans earning mixed looks from the two. "Look, right now, Eula is our top priority. She's our friend so we must purge the evil within her." He adds walking forward. "Having the Shogun with us will make any trouble we face minute.
"Aaaaaaand they're not listening."
"Those two always go into their own world whenever they banter. They mean well though." Ayaka chuckles, stepping to his left.
"Haha, I can believe it."
"They really are grateful to you." She gives a warm smile before turning to the bickering two. "As am I."
"Ayaka…"
"Eula has long since lost her way." He looks to the voice of Ganyu stopping on his right, her gaze down upon the knight. "I feel like a fool for not conceiving such a possibility but now isn't the time to belittle oneself. Relon!"
"Yeah! You don't even need to say it! I'm with you guys all the way!"
"Are you all ready?" Miko asks, snapping her gohei at the ready.
"YES, MA'AM!"
"Tell me again why we can't go?" Beidou crosses her arms.
"I can only send so many in." Miko answers. "Besides, we agreed about this on the way here, did we not? Relon and the cryos will go. After all, they claim this woman as their responsibility so they will be the ones to retrieve her. It does no good if something happens and Inazuma does not have any to defend it."
"Thanks, Miko." Relon smiles.
Complying with a confident smile, she begins her enchantment. Mesmerized by her elegance, Relon can swear that with every snap Miko's eyes make contact with her own. Too lost in the sight, his mind refocuses on the goheis scattered glowing purple. Looking around, he takes notice of the whirling wind within the confines of the room begin to pick up. Soon, dark matter begins to seep out of Eula.
"Prepare yourselves. You'll soon be enveloped by the darkness!" Miko warns. "Once inside, you'll need to find Eula and defeat her evil self."
"Brother…!"
"Don't worry, Qiqi." He looks over his shoulder sporting a grin. "This time I'll come back in no time! I promise!" With those final words, the darkness envelopes them whole.
Ending her ceremony, Miko remains still. Both hands reinforcing her gohei as it points towards the dome of darkness kept at bay by the barrier.
"Everyone…" All voices in unison.
"Big brother..."
"Come back safe!"
A/N: I got Yoimiya (even though I didn't want her because I was trying to get my pity up) but I also gto Ganyu's Amos Bow from the standard so I won't complain of two back-to-back 5-star pulls. Also, Genshin likes to drop stuff that corelates to my ideas/issues with this story. Deciding what would be an interesting way to implement a character related to Qiqi. Kusanali is revealed. Figuring out interesting dynamics such as with Lumine. Proceed to release the harbingers reveal. It's like my ideas that are 'meh" are answered by Genshin themselves. Not gonna complain so heh. Also, gonna slowly get around to other character's POV's. Aether's, Lumine's, the harbingers of focus, etc etc.
AndyKurosaki98: *Mentions the Harbringers* *fear levels rising*
*Looks over at notes*
Yeah, they're gonna rise some more that's for sure.
Jay: Nice. Relon is an isekai character right?
Not exactly but kinda. It'll be revealed later on but that's an accurate guess.
Temsen: Harbingers stirring up trouble, no surprise there, heh.
Hell yeah, harbingers (especially knowing what they look like) are gonna cause hella trouble in the story. We love em though. Most of them at least haha.