Published: 01/15/2023
The Harbinger's Commission!
Ajax was not a bright person.
Childe can be smart, amiable, and funny with jokes. Tartaglia is cunning in a fight, and monstrous in his crusade for the Tsaritsa's battle against the Gods. But feelings? It was one of the many things Ajax lacked since that fateful day he clawed his way out of the consuming darkness. Climbing out of that forsaken hole after months of hellish training, monster hunting, and learning of dark revelations about the cruel world, Ajax did not hesitate to beat his former bullies bloody.
Ajax's heart ceased to care for anything apart from the sensation of violence.
He never got a kick out of it, and was just confused by the fear permeating around him. From former friends, neighbors, and even from his own family.
Since then, Ajax lacked the sensations of any normal being. He wasn't even normal in the first place, picking fights is one thing, but challenging gods? Show him the directions, and stay out of his way. Those are the only options.
And yet, he still cares. His younger siblings meant the world to him. Ajax may have broken any semblance of normalcy within his family, notably between him and his older siblings, but he still cared for their well-being.
There are also his parents, but it was a mixed-bag in his opinion.
His mother was still sweet on him, and a little hard on his "career," but they got along well enough. It was his father he had a hard time reconciling with. There are days where they still go fishing, and the rest are spent staring at each other with varying degrees of tension. The older man treated Ajax as a stranger at times.
It never really changed his aspect of life, about the thrills of battle and strife, but those emotions were barely in any way fulfilling. Not since he found purpose within the ranks of the Harbingers. The dream of the Tsaritsa, a peaceful world seemed enough to him. A perfect excuse to pick fights, and still find a semblance of human reason to his adrenaline-seeking life.
In recent days, he found that life seemed more precious alive and breathing than lifeless.
And that is why he was here, to find out why Ajax went this far for something so trivial. For someone so insignificant in the grand scale of things, yet he still considers the companionship between them as a treasure he will treasure.
"Why the long face, comrade?"
"..."
Aether said nothing, ignoring Ajax's attempts. In fact, he was staring at the wall at the tail-end of his bed. Ajax would bet he spent most of the day doing that, and it was fascinating to watch. Not as fascinating as he was about to fall.
He was a warrior, a weapon of the Tsaritsa against her wrath for the heavens. Ajax was dangling like a sagging vine, and he finds that irritating. The frame of the window was far too clean and slippery, and his feet had nothing to brace on to. He could have brought himself up, but his aching hands were about to give.
Ajax fought demons for days without rest, but traveling this far, on his own, without notifying the Fatui, and especially keeping on his toes from Knight patrols, climbing the Cathedral walls were enough for his hands to give in.
"Um, I might need some assistance, comrade," Ajax said, as he was trying his best to poke his head into the window frame. "It's a little cold out here, and I normally find that comforting, but hanging like this? My dignity as a warrior might perish if someone was to find me like this. Comrade? Aether?"
The golden haired person could only give Ajax one long look with his tired eyes, before sighing in contempt. "Why is it that when I am being visited by idiots, it's always by the window. Did the church start taxing anyone entering by the doors or something? I'll complain to Barbara if that's the case." As much as it discomforted him, the Traveler flung out of bed to peer down the window.
Aether pulled the Harbinger out of the frame and into the floor of his room. "Thanks, comrade." Childe nodded, sitting at the floor exhausted. "It's not that the nuns were stingy with Mora, I'm a Harbinger for the Tsaritsa's sake! Literally."
It would be foolish for him to walk so callously in the enemy's territory, even to visit a friend. Mondstadt was not welcoming for a guy like him. His Childe persona would only hold to only naive fools or actual idiots. He heard rumors of an alert Cavalry Captain that hunts shadows across the city like a hungry predator. Childe was more confident he could take him on, all of the knights on their current strength actually, but for the sake of his friend Childe or Tartaglia was not around. Ajax only came to visit, and preferably without the trouble of the Knights breathing on his neck.
"Let's just say this handsome mug is known all over."
"So?" Aether perked his brow at the man in question. "Are global diplomats not allowed to visit a place of worship?" Childe noticed the bags under his stale eyes.
"Not with what had happened to their God by the entrance," Ajax groaned at the thought of the bold action Signora committed. "We might've desecrated their place of worship, at least enough to warrant an arrest from a knight. If there are any signs of resistance, attack on sight." He would not underestimate the determination of that Gunnhildr woman. "I doubt they would hesitate to swarm me like flies if they ever heard a pin drop with my name on it."
When they recognise him, that is. Childe bets a whole bag of Mora that the knights memorized the faces of every member of the Harbingers within well-scrutinized standards. He doesn't know if the church does too, but he won't take that risk. Not until he is pushed into it.
Aether flinched at the thought. It seems Jean was still pissed. "Sorry about that, Venti did not really care about what had happened, but some of the rumors got through the city about what your other comrade did." No one believed it, apart from the church officials and knights, but Aether had a feeling someone with a vendetta could've spread it. Spreading like wildfire was understatement, as the Knights were sent by the plea of the remaining Fatui diplomats in fear of retribution from their chain of command if word got beyond the walls of Mondstadt.
That bard could be contradicting sometimes.
"You mean the rumor about a fat, blond-haired lady tourist from Snezhnaya stomping around Mondstadt, looking for more food?" Ajax wanted to meet the Archon of Mondstadt after he caught wind of such a rumor. It was a blast watching Signora's face contort from white-pale to tomato-red.
For once, Ajax and Dottore shared a good laugh from that.
Then again, those wistful laughters turned silent after he heard the news from Inazuma. Ajax was raring to go, but the Tsaritsa bid not to- at least, not yet. Scaramouche got what Her Majesty wanted after all, but disappeared without any signs. Childe could barely call that a victory, especially a pyrrhic one.
Not even ashes remain.
"Ah, you meant that rumor," Aether sighed in frustration. "What brings you here, Childe? I had enough visitors for the day, and one of them still pisses me off, but why here in Mondstadt?" It certainly wasn't everyday for a Harbinger to drop everything and visit a friend.
"I was wondering where you went off to," Ajax straightened up, "I heard a certain Traveler was sick when I arrived in the city. I came here for a quick report from the Mondstadt branch, you know, bureaucracy stuff." It was a lie, Tartaglia was a warrior, but he found paperwork undefeatable at best. He'd prefer fighting Lawachurls barehanded.
Aether narrowed his eyes, sensing his lie. "But why go in person? Shouldn't you have subordinates for that?"
He does, but Ajax does not have the heart to tell him that in all technicalities, La Signora's subordinates were still in Mondstadt and his own men were not allowed in the city as he was not the assigned Harbinger.
Signora was still the Harbinger for Mondstadt, as some of her followers at least stayed, but most were lost and missing, and probably avenging their late mistress... "Heh, I wasn't bored! Not at all! It's not like I killed the actual messenger to deliver the message on my own, you know?"
Aether gives up at this point. Sighing heavily, his shoulders sagged as the Traveler sat back again on his bed. His gilded cage, a soft and comfy bed. His weakened body, the chains. He could only contort his expression of distaste towards such thoughts.
"Hey, got a headache, comrade-" Ajax grew worried about Aether's sudden twisted look on his face.
"Stop!" Aether yelled. "Look, I lost my only privilege about dealing with Lumine leaving me, I got two overbearing friends, a stupid bard got into this room, and the nuns now bless me every few minutes. Even the bland walls started to get inside my head."
"Can't take being cared for?" Childe gave a knowing smile. "Some would say it is a privilege, but I can somewhat understand how you feel."
Sensing that the Traveler was about to indignantly reply, Childe cut him off expressively. "Not that I will say that I understand what you are going through, but somewhat similar in a way." He sighed, "You know what happened to me years back, right? When I fell from the world and into the Abyss?" Aether hesitantly nodded, remembering the solemn conversation they had. "Well, I didn't cope well. At all."
"What do you mean?" Aether asked, not getting what Childe was saying.
The Harbinger chuckled, recalling those days with fondness and sadness. "The next day after I was found in the woods, my bullies confronted me, mocking my heroic and naive ideals, and laughing about me getting nearly killed. Kids are cruel, you know?" Childe shrugged, not caring nor even remembering what they looked like. They were alive, as far as he knows, and Childe only remembers if they were corpses. Those he killed were more memorable. "Honestly, I haven't even registered what they were saying, only that they were looking at me with a glint in their eye. A familiar sight that caught me off-guard."
Childe pursed his lips, "Eyes that reminded me of monsters I hunt, and that has haunted me during my stay in the deep Abyss."
"What happened?" Aether laid down on his back, listening intently.
"I snapped." Childe said simply. "It was instincts, and my body got a hold of me. In my eyes, this was no child, but a monster that followed me here to hurt my family. At the end of the day, the townsfolk treated me differently. Even my family. I became the monster that I sought out to destroy."
The Traveler grunted, "I still don't get what this has to do with me."
"That's the best part, it doesn't." Childe smiled, caring not about the glare that was sent his way. He cared more for the lack of what made the Traveler a good sparring partner, and if Childe dares it, a friend. "All I'm saying is; that everyone around you is worried. Do not make them realize what is haunting you, changing you." He gave him a small smile, one that shrunk considerably. "Do not make the same mistake I did, alienating your family."
Aether silently regarded him, before shifting in his bed and said nothing.
Childe chuckled. "Alright, I won't bother you. The sun's about to set on the horizon anytime soon, and I gotta get going." Standing up, Childe decided to go to the door instead. Sneak across the hallway, and dared not to be seen. "Look, comrade, when the day comes you are on your feet again, and filled with spirit, come and find me." He smirked, "I'll test your mettle, and your resolve as a person."
"..."
Childe did not bother to even try to look back. "I know not what haunts your thoughts, and dark desires that enraptured your heart. As a friend, like many others, I only ask to look after yourself."
"There is one thing," Aether said hesitantly. "I don't know if you would risk it, or be willing but…"
Childe halted, half-a-foot step from the door frame, and willing to listen intently. "Anything, comrade. Never underestimate a harbinger."
Aether smiled, albeit small and weakly, but it was a start.
Viktor was still waiting for orders.
And yet, as the day ended, the nuns prayed their last wishes, the children cheered when their parents finally decided to go home, and the lone staff of the Fatui stood still. His orders were clear, the last ones anyway.
Keep the logistics alive, make no one suspect the Fatui's dealings, and await for further orders.
He was never the patient sort, always clamoring for more attention and trouble. It got him this far, but it failed to uplift his mood in any way. He was still stuck in this Tsaritsa-forsaken church, still stuck ignoring the heated looks from the sisters, and suspicious gazes that fell his way. He stood still. Viktor never understood patience, but he did understand subtlety.
Let them gaze, let them think whatever, but he is a servant of the Tsaritsa. For what they want they shall not wanton have, not with him.
In a legal manner, he did no wrong. The knights seemed tired of the accusations that went his way as well, as most had given up on pointing any finger at him. Viktor was surprised, but pleasantly took a small sort of smugness at that.
Whatever his short peace was, it did not change the fact that was stuck here, in this specific location for a long while. Viktor's orders were clear: stay on guard, stay still on the location, until sundown. Viktor did not dare argue, or worse, follow up on whatever his next order was.
He was not blind, the turbulent events in the past months were loud enough to reach his ears. A Harbinger had fallen. It was heavy news, with dark implications. The Harbingers were always lauded as undefeatable, untouchable, beings with the honest grace of the Tsaritsa Herself. But such grim news made it clear to every member of the Fatui, and in Viktor's opinion the least worrying, that the Harbingers were fallible as the rest. What was the worse case scenario was that news would reach across the whole world of the Fatui's recent misstep.
The most prevalent rumor was that a mere mortal defeated the Harbinger, the Eternal Guardian of Inazuma just finished it.
It was a fine tale to behold the Harbinger's final fate, to be slain by a god. But to be brought low by another mortal? It was a blow that seemed too heavy for them to bear. And it made Viktor think.
Was the Fatui really invincible?
Sure, even with the fall of one of their best, many of his comrades boasted their strength still. Whilst insulting La Signora's meager strength. Her death was of her own volition, not the Fatui nor especially the Tsaritsa's. Easier to give blame to the dead, Viktor mused. Such insults would result in some members missing in action. Absolutely missing, with no hope of finding not even a body to confirm.
Viktor was not as familiar with his late mistress, and he was thankful for that, as La Signora was not familiar with him. He shuddered at the mere thought of accompanying her on Inazuma. That nation became a no-go for any Fatui member. Heck, even merchants from Snezhnaya were being scrutinized.
Honestly, he'd have preferred to serve under the Captain instead.
"Excuse me, fellow comrade." A cheery voice knocked him out of his idle thoughts.
It was a common thing for Viktor to do, losing his mind on his own violation rather than the world making him lose it. Self-thoughts are the only thing making his life less dull on his post.
He was tall, with a familiar youthful face Viktor can't put his thoughts to. "Hello there."
"I swear, another complaint from your mouth…" Viktor scowled. "Who dares approach the Tsaritsa's chosen few?" He turned towards the voice that dared to approach him. "What idiot is stupid enough to- to…!" Viktor would have continued berating the poor fool that dared approach him again, if not for that deadly smile. "-T-t-tar…" His voice clamped up, along with his tight lip, at the sight of a smiling young man.
A young man that shouldn't have such sharp teeth, befitting a dangerous beast instead of a human.
There was another reason Viktor dared not utter another syllable. He was a new blood among his peers, true, but every soul in the Fatui could never forget the young man that foolishly challenged the Captain- and got away with it.
Not only got away with it, but rather impressed Her Majesty so much the young man became a Harbinger. The youngest and the most recent member. Sure, the boy was no match for the Captain's indomitable strength, but he was stronger and braver than most. The years that followed only made this monster before him even stronger.
Now, the Eleventh of the Harbingers, Tartaglia, stood before him acting like an old friend.
Viktor despises his luck.
"The name's Childe," the Harbinger flashed Viktor another smile, this time a small and charming one. "I heard that you're the local sight-watcher around here? Know some stuff I would like?"
Viktor began to look around, and maybe beg for help, but instead the only ones left in the church were nuns that kept a wary eye on him- not at the very kill-thirsty Harbinger -but on Viktor himself. Do these people not know who this man is? Are they blind as well?!
"Y-yes, My Lord," Viktor replied with haste, and with fear. "I might know a thing or two around here." Laughing nervously, Viktor did not resist as the Harbinger hummed generously and placed an arm around his shoulder. "News, historical lectures, and r-rumors. I know and have heard a thing or two."
Was he here to punish the branch that let that scandalous rumor of the Fair Lady roam free to the wind? Viktor gulped. Or was the Harbinger here to play? For his famed "hunts" of the local "wildlife" that roamed the poor streets? He'd rather not know at all!
Granted, the name Tartaglia was known world-wide as befitting a Harbinger under Her Majesty's eternal grace. And yet, as the whispers of awe and fear were being spread across Teyvat, no face was shared among them. No description, or any sort of idea how young the Harbinger was. Or what gender they were.
Viktor, now at arms and shoulders length of such a monster, felt helpless.
"Come now, I'm not here for any of that," Childe said, as the young man shook poor Viktor's stiff shoulders playfully. "I'm here for a personal quest. You don't mind if you could help good ol' Childe, good sir?" He laughed, and Viktor sensed a feeling of dread. "Of course not! Good. I was wondering if you've seen a nun that goes by the name of Victoria?"
Viktor was many things, but if he was to live another dawn, he will subserviently comply. He was not stupid to question why, where, and when- only answer them.
"She's outside," Viktor hesitantly replied, and nervously added, "good sir."
"Oh? What for?"
Viktor wished he was out of here. Out of this stupid church, and crazy place. Monstadt was insane.
"She was waiting for a commision from what I heard."
Never did Viktor whimper at the sight of a young man that smiled graciously. He did now.
As the sun was dying down on the far horizon, the church went on a silent choir.
Barbara herself was lightly hopping away from the main doors of the cathedral. There was no point in staying, as the young deaconess had finished her duties to the church and to Lord Barbatos.
The winds these few hours were flighty and smelled fresh. Barbara thinks that Lord Barbatos was in a good mood.
She dared not assume, of course. But the atmosphere was undeniably pleasant.
It was a stark contrast to the mood in the early mornings. Barbara's step slowed to a crawl as she remembered the depressed look on the Traveler's face. She did not blame Jean for feeling a bit uncomfortable in his presence. Just breaking the news to him was soul crushing.
She'd never seen a person so downed like that when sickbed.
Barbara may have been young, but she had seen plenty of terrible things. People get hurt in more ways than physical injuries. It was why she tried so hard in the first place to learn how to sing, to cheer people up. If she can't heal them with her powers, then she could heal them through song.
Blushing at the thought, Barbara had dared not to sing in the Traveler's presence. Or at least not yet.
Jean may have been taking things seriously if what she heard was true last noon. Her sister was too dedicated in whatever she set her mind on, whether in her personal duties or to the knights, there was no better friend. It was funny to watch the acting-Grandmaster do commissions for the guild. She wondered if their mother had heard of such preposterous things.
That was when she frowned, Barbara realized how hesitant she was in helping a friend. Sure, she did her best to heal him, feed him some breakfast, and look after him. It was not the same, nor as personal as what Jean did.
Barbara had nothing against commissions, or the adventurers guild, but what could make a reliable man like Aether falter so?
Something drastic must've happened, to change the Traveler's brave demeanor to someone desperate. Whatever it was, Barbara had a feeling it was something truly personal and dangerous. Jean may have been a knight, and yet Aether had not trusted her with something terrible as a secret that damages his health?
Barbara frowned.
She had believed they were friends, the knights and anyone that had met Aether. The gut feeling of something not being right with the situation was sudden and ill bode.
"Barbara?" A fellow nun- Victoria -called out to her, a worried expression etched on the woman's face.
"You seemed troubled? Was there something troubling you?" She narrowed her eyes. "Was it someone? Should I call the knights? I'm tired of his charade-"
Barbara's eyes widened, "S-sister Victoria! I was just worried about the Traveler, he seemed down lately."
"Ah, you need not fear, Young Deaconess." Victoria's eyes were bright at the mention of the Traveler. "Young Aether was just praying to Lord Barbatos. He seemed tense, but he called out his name in reverence and in faith. He will get better, Lord Barbatos will see to it." She smiled, "He will not abandon those that calls out His grace and aid."
Barbara huffed. "What's about this person you're talking about?" She had an inkling to whom the fellow sister was exasperated about.
"I-" Sister Victoria stuttered, "It was but a slip of the tongue, nothing to worry about." The woman's eyes were darting back and forth from the windows and doors.
"Oh? You mean the poor fellow that seemed to stick around the cathedral waiting for me? Cheering for me?"
Barbara was not amused, in the situation, the person in question, and at Sister Victoria. "You think it was hard to spot something like that? He became a familiar face, especially since my debut." She sighed.
It was hard enough to perform at a stage, but to think that the fame would be brought outside of it seemed too far fetched. Barbara underestimated her fame. He was not the only one, though. As her fame grew, so did her fans, and her "followers."
The church and the other nuns did their best to quell any disturbances in the cathedral, but there was always a person around waiting for her next appearance. As much as she adored her fans, it was just plain creepy. Even an old, blind man could see who was waiting outside of the cathedral and why.
The people of Mondstadt respected Barbatos. But her fans worshiped her more than they did her patron Archon. It was a sad thing really.
"I'll deal with the poor man," Barbara sighed. "I'm sorry that the church has to deal with this."
Sister Victoria smiled. "Nonsense. You are the brightest star of our church, rabid fans or monsters, we'll do our best to give Mondstadt a smile."
Barbara felt relieved. But her fans were still her responsibility. "I still have to deal with this fan. He seemed too stubborn to give up." It was a nice trait, but it could be a headache as well.
"Hmm? Oh, I just thought that the poor fellow returned." Sister Victoria said. "A young gentleman dealt with him a few moments ago. I believe he is still cleaning the outskirts?"
Barbara was surprised. "Someone sent him away?" Perking her brow, Barbara wondered who this gentleman was. "You don't know who it was?"
"He seemed like a foreigner. The man didn't do much outside of warning the fan, and cleaning the outer section of the church."
"But why?" Barbara couldn't understand, intervening was understandable, but cleaning the church?
The sister shrugged. "He was the one to answer my commission, to deal with interlopers like your fans, but the cleaning part seemed to originate from the Traveler's rather amiable compromise."
"The Traveler?" Barbara had her eyes widened. "You mean to tell me that my fans kept pestering the church more than I realized and put up a commission to do it? And what does Aether have to do with this?" If that was not worse enough, Barbara had a feeling that it was only the beginning.
The sister seemed to shift uncomfortably. "It is more common than you realize, but the Traveler always seemed to handle it by letting whatever the fan wants in return for not bothering the church, or you, in exchange. Cleaning the mess gathered outside was one of them." She muttered, ashamed of the presence of a younger sister giving her glaring looks.
"Mister Childe seemed to take it into stride, following the Traveler's example of a compromise. And this is but one of the many commissions by the church." To the Traveler, but it went unsaid.
At that moment, her guilt in not helping the Traveler earlier piled on top of the revelation that one of the commissions that brought him here was to deal with a problem of her own doing. Her fans were her own responsibility, and learning that the Traveler got sick because he took an intricate care into her well-being, as well as the church, into his commissions, she felt guilty.
The sister couldn't look Barbara in the eye, but she sighed. Letting her frustrations show would be a terrible conduct to a fellow sister. Turn the other cheek, people would say. Barbara was a nice person, but it was the same reason she could be fierce as well.
"Where is this "Childe" now?"
Her gut feeling was telling her that the person was part of this somehow.
Cleaning was a discipline on its own.
Having swept another pile into the corner, Childe wiped the sweat off his brow. To think the Tsaritsa's bravest and most deadly weapon got exhausted by cleaning was a hilarious thing. It was a silent task nonetheless. It was also quite the task of solitude.
Childe got to thinking the first minute of sweeping.
Contrary to popular belief, thinking did not hurt at all. He was a warrior, but his teacher was too prideful for her idiot apprentice not to use his smarts in a fight. To think fast is to survive long, after all.
With nothing much to do other than sweep, Childe wondered how his strongest rival was reduced to an empty vessel filled with regret and solemn expressions. This person was not the same fiery spirit that stood against him, against all odds. The Traveler that helped defeat one of the Four Winds, the one that aided in the effort to stop the vile Osial, and the person that stood against the Fatui's strongest.
Instead, the person he met in that recovery room was a stranger. An odd, yet moroose stranger. Childe never pitied anyone, not even his foes, but even he understood the pain of losing a sibling. Aether admitted it in exchange of doing his piling commissions, as to who this Lumine was and why he was like this. "Still, to lose a sister…"
He never lost any, but it was as if Childe ever will. Not on his watch.
The Traveler lost his sibling, went on a journey across half of Teyvat looking for them, and only found disappointment and pain upon a brief reunion.
It would have been a sad fairytale, but reality was much harsher. The Traveler did not just lose a sibling, he never did, the Traveler found his sibling abandoned him. Childe could never comprehend such an act. Sure, he may have left his family, but he never truly went out of his way to avoid them like the plague. He loved his siblings, and respected his parents.
Just thinking of truly walking out on them was a foreign thought, if not a horrifying one. Never did he even start thinking, nor even begin to imagine without that desperate look on the Traveler's face. Childe did not just see grief, he saw resignation.
The Harbinger's hand grip the handle of the sweeper tight, letting the wood sing its agony. He would've probably crushed it to dust if not for the sweet melodious voice that greeted him suddenly. It seemed that the idle work distracted him, how solemnly arrogant of him. His teacher would have laughed her ass off, and probably beat the idea of staying guard on his skull whilst she was at it.
Fortunately, the person was no knight. So no blood would be spilled today. Yet, the danger lingered longer, which was worse if he handled it terribly.
Childe knew who approached him very well, better than most other Fatui. Whilst they would focus their sights on the higher ranked knights, Childe often found the innocent ones more dangerous. Suspicious was fine, he was used to that and can play well to expectations. Anger or hatred was great, he could use people challenging him to lift off nerves. But innocent curiosity? People usually found it not a priority, but having innocent people suspicious or angry at you was worse than the other two.
They were the ones who usually shoot first and ask questions after the bruising. And so, Ajax brought up his most used mask. The cheery guy, Childe.
"Well, hello there Princess." He gave off his winning smile. "Came to cheer me on?"
Whatever suspicious or curious thoughts the girl would have, Barbara if he remembered correctly, they disappeared whilst a storm of embarrassment and confusion raged on the young girl's face.
Put off by the blunt flirt, Barbara replied, "W-we just met. I'm no princess!" Stomping her feet on the ground, the girl indignantly gave a cute pout. "I-I was just wondering what you are doing."
Childe resisted to smirk. Putting his foes off balance worked well beyond the battlefield. A confused person is an easy person to manipulate.
"A favor for a friend," Childe replied, "He seemed bothered by something, so he asked me to take his place. I would, of course, oblige." Like a good friend, or so the the image would bring.
"You mean the commission?" Barbara asked, having quickly recovered from his pre-emptive strike. "I didn't know the Traveler had friends from Snezhnaya." Narrowing her eyes at him, Childe wondered what churning thoughts the girl had.
Impressed with the girl's brave quality and recovery, Childe found it amusing that Barbara used the first card of accusation against him. Question the legitimacy of his so-called friendship. "Me either, but the Traveler has a surprising quality in making friends anywhere. We've met in Liyue briefly, but he and I kept missives with one another." He etched a grave look on his face. "When he hadn't responded for a while, I grew worried." To buy the image, he turned his gaze to the fading horizon with a worried look in his eyes.
Whilst he was genuinely worried, he came to look for the Traveler for another fight, and thought he must've forgotten the missives they sent one another. But playing the worried friend always worked charms for innocent people like Barbara. Impressively sharp as she may be, friendship was more important than other priorities. Especially from the despondent Traveler himself.
Childe already knew which choice Barbara chose even before talking to him.
The young girl flinched. "I see. My sister and I grew worried too, especially when we found him dead-exhausted on the ground right outside Mondstadt after a commission went wrong." The suspicion disappeared, replaced by the heavy worry she has for the Traveler.
It seriously worked like a charm. With that out of the way, Childe began seeping into the conversation more. "I have yet to visit him." Officially anyway, as he didn't want the knights to be alerted to his presence. "But I knew some of the routine commissions that seemed to pop up every now and then." And oh boy, were they alot them.
Barbara's eyes widened. "Really? How often?" Her tone was soft and filled with worry. Childe almost felt bad.
Almost.
He grinned, "Well, if you count feeding Timmy's birds, traveling to Dragonspine for flowers, doing some of the Stormwatch's duties, cleaning the local Statue of the Seven, clearing out slimes right outside the city- seriously? Are the knights lazy or something? -gathering some materials, traveling to Dragonspine again but this time for other Adventurers' own commissions they can't do themselves." Childe paused to catch his breath. "-Dealing with Ruinguards at Old Mondstadt, good ol' treasure hoarders, hilichurls, and some Ruin Hunters here and there. Oh, there's another commission from Dragonspine, what is wrong with that place really?"
It was a hilarious sight, watching the famed idol open and close her mouth like a Koi fish. Barbara was bewildered, more horrified, but was still confused on the sheer amount of things the Traveler had busied himself with. Alone.
Yeesh, even Childe found that excessive.
"Oh yeah, that alone was for Mondstadt," Childe said nervously. "That's not counting the amount from Liyue, or even Inazuma from what I heard." As he was pondering, Childe did not see the shocked revelation the Deaconess learned. "Challenging samurai daily, dealing with countryside bandits, and even going down a semi-Abyssal realm to fight monsters on a weekly basis." He shrugged nonchalantly, not acknowledging the things he said might've broken the poor girl's psyche. "From what I heard anyway."
"I wha-" Seeing as the poor girl was grasping at straws of her sanity, Childe decided to laugh off for a while.
"Look, girlie, whilst I find your expression amusing, I find that excessive too." Childe nodded, calculating how much work that requires. "No job in this world is worth that much effort." He hummed conspirationaly when Childe saw her serious look at his words. "Think something is off?"
"I don't know," Barbara admitted softly. "I've never seen him this broken up before, something must've bothered him badly."
"Or someone." Childe smiled knowingly. He then smirked when Barbara's eyes shone with realization.
She gasped, "His sister! Oh, how could I have forgotten?"
"Don't beat yourself up over it," Childe said, feeling guilty as well when he too prioritized the Traveler's fighting capabilities and stubbornness over his desperation. "I heard she was not officially found yet."
"Still?" Barbara asked with a tinge of sadness. "I see why he is moping, but I couldn't understand why he would give in so readily and busy himself with such nonsense like meaningless commissions."
"I guess he is just coping," Childe shrugged.
"Coping?" Barbara looked incredulous. "What should he cope with? He's the Traveler!"
"Yeah, yeah." Childe says dismissively. "He slays gods, and saves nations. Has anyone ever thought that he only did so to believe it was just another step on finding his sister? He may have aided in defeating Stormterror out of the kindness of his own heart, but in Liyue he was casted as an assassin and guilty of a crime he did not commit. When he was awarded for his efforts, he only asked to put up more posters."
Childe scoffed, "They scammed him, as all merchants do." He slowly then added, "What if the Acting-Grandmaster used him as well?"
Barbara glared at him, "My sis- Jean wouldn't do that! How could you say that?"
"Even if it was for Mondstadt?" Childe gave the poor girl a mirthless smile. As a warrior, he knew where to hit it fast and hard. But even for him, it was a new low at best.
"I-" She wanted to disagree so badly, to shout at him, to tell him he has no right as a foreigner. But what if it doesn't matter at all? It did not matter if this man was wrong or right, but rather that Jean thought of Mondstadt first when they first met, not for the stranger that somehow stood against Stormterror. Would Jean really be that resolute in recruiting the Traveler without asking why or what he was doing in Mondstadt in the first place? Without thinking of his well-being first?
"No, but she…" Barbara found it hard to defend her sister, but she was still strongly against thinking about something terrible towards her. She owed her that much. "But there were already posters around Mondstadt, we clearly helped him!"
Childe shrugged, "Only after the incident. And it was that Outrider doing most of the work, I don't see knights dispatched to keep an eye out for his sister or actively looking for them." He stared at her, his dark abyssal eyes piercing through her weak soul. "Only an Outrider, with shoddy drawings filled with genuine heart, and her meager effort."
"The knights are understaffed, though…"
"And yet still enlisted his help? Without due aid in return? He never asked, nor complained. He's no local with deep connection to Mondstadt, and yet he still took an effort in battling for your sakes. Did he at least get a bottle of wine for that?" The last part was a tasteful joke, but neither of them found it amusing. Childe was still serious when it came to his friend's wellbeing.
When the time comes that Childe was ordered personally by the Tsaritsa to get rid of the Traveler, he would at least have the courtesy to say so in front of Aether. Tartaglia owed him at least that kindness. Who wins or loses, Childe only hopes his family is taken care of and that the Traveler finds his peace and his sister.
A monster has to be put down, sooner or later. His mentor instilled that fate into his head that day when he stepped foot out of the Abyss after endless days of suffering and darkness.
A hero always slays the monster.
Childe only hopes it won't end that way. He doubts the Tsaritsa would be fervent enough to demand his head, as she was more interested in him than his death. At least for now.
"But…" Barbara was suddenly feeling tired. Not from the church duties, or from her fans, but by a stranger. How embarrassing.
"I will admit, the Acting-Grandmaster is a good person," Childe said reassuringly. "I'm not accusing her of any misconduct or mistreatment. Just the fact that the Traveler never seemed bothered by the unfair scales of his efforts, accidental or otherwise. Aether did say he treasured his friendship with the knights, more than any other groups in other nations at least." The Abyss would rule the heavens if the day comes that Aether would ever consider joining the Fatui.
"...Jean is a determined warrior." Like their mother, but that went unsaid. "But she is far softer when it comes to the wellbeing of the knights and their allies."
Barbara paused, before she sighed. "The title of Honorary Knight is not an empty title. It is a rank held in honor for those willing to fight for the rights of others and their freedom." She smiled, "The last Honorary Knight was Vanessa herself, Jean's hero whom she looked up to. It was not given to those who held loyalties for themselves, but for others."
"Is that so?" Childe wondered if it was siblinghood that factored into her answer, or her duties as a citizen of Mondstadt.
"No, I believe so." She said it so fiercely and so determinedly that Childe was caught off-guard. "Out of the dozen Knight Orders of Vanessa's time, half of them were loyal to the greed of House Laurence, the other half feared it." She stared at the setting sun, a reminder of the day's end. "And yet, they fashioned her a Knight, honorary or not, as a lone gladiator stood against the cruelty of the few against the innocent many."
"With Barbatos on her side," Childe reminded her teasingly.
Barbara smirked, "Oh, how could I have forgotten! That Barbatos aided her truly- ONLY when she showed her determination to stand against the tyranny of House Laurence. Not after." She gave a smug look at Childe, who only scoffed and yet smiled. "I truly believe my sister thought of it that way, as a sort of heavy burden was lifted off her shoulders that day. A kind stranger, who had the power and capability to stand against a force of nature, that was wholeheartedly willing- Just like her Hero, a lonely gladiator like Vanessa."
Childe clearly underestimated her, but his heart felt a small sensation of warmth. Huh, how weird. Such feelings were only reserved for his family and the Traveler. And yet, this naive nun, who was giving him the biggest smug look in his life, awakened a warm feeling of understanding. He will fight tooth and nail, and probably shatter their teeth, if a fool ever badmouthed his siblings.
But a warrior never concedes.
"Ah, "my sister" is it now?" Smirking like a madman, Childe took pleasure in her shocked and pale face. "An interesting development indeed."
Barbara stuttered a reply, "I- But that was- Cheating! You are cheating!" The nun, without much thought or hesitance, tried to slap him away. Childe only indulged her by dodging each hit, but spared her the embarrassment by letting her at least hit once.
"Ow!" Childe yelped when he felt a hard palm strike his shoulders. "I give! I give!"
To Barbara's chagrin, she realized that she was hitting a stranger with a sense of ease. "I'm not sorry," she huffed. "But I suppose there was no point, as everyone seems to know."
"It was hard not to." Childe admitted that it was easy to see the connection, but the reason for it being severed was left unanswered. A matter that he had no right in, and without any sort of tactical advantage whatsoever. "Anyway, the cathedral seems clean enough. I should get going, the sun is down now."
"Oh," Barbara realized how late it was already. "I'm sorry for bothering you. I was just wondering as to why a stranger would sweep the church."
Childe laughed, "You should instead ask why a creep was allowed to wander around, and why is there an official commission to get rid of him. The church is so weird."
"It's not so bad," Barbara said, blushing at the thought of Rosaria and her fans. "The church is lively at least."
"Yeah, at least so," Childe chuckled, stowing a broom to the side of the walls. "My job here is done, and I have a feeling the Traveler might be at rest when hearing of it."
"I'll tell him," Barbara said, and Childe nodded gratefully. She had a few words of her own concerning commissions and whatnot. Barbara will make sure there will be no other commission concerning the church given to the Traveler. Her sister would certainly be grateful to know about this.
When she saw the stranger- Childe -walk away, words seemed to pop out of her throat. "Would you like dinner at least? As an apology for the commission, I mean." It was her fault after all, as it dragged the Traveler to this state, and even dragged a stranger! Barbatos help us, a grave sin was committed.
"Huh. What?"
It seems like Childe has hearing problems. Without hesitation or misstep, Barbara grabbed hold of one of his arms and led him away from the area of the church. Confused, and a little concerned, Childe was hesitant to be led by her. Understandable, as she too did not want a stranger leading her off away, but he was patient to hear what she had to say.
Instead, Barbara did not let him argue at all. "Dinner. As payment for your troubles."
"Oh, that's unnecessary," Childe said, sweating profusely. Just the thought of going to lively places, in Mondstadt, with the Knights roaming, sounded… "Sounds lovely, but I have to decline."
"What for, I wonder?" Barbara held no reluctance as they ascended the stairs to the statue yard, with her arms held tightly into his.
"My, uh, sister!" Childe begged, "I promised to write to her soon, else she'd threaten me with a sweet embargo." Even if he found those candies disgusting, he will always write to her no matter what. It did not matter that he already did, before entering Mondstadt this morning, sent by the Mondstadt branch already. Any excuse was needed at this point!
He would've pulled bullshit excuses out of his ass at any moment, and yet as Barbara led him deeper into the city, with Knights giving him a wary look, Childe found himself tongue-tied at the audacity of it all.
"Well, I'm sure your sister would find it interesting if you would describe Mondstadt cuisine to her," Barbara said, with a smile that does not allow any arguments. "More interesting and exciting than sweeping the floors of the church for a friend's favor, now will it?"
He had faced monsters of the Abyss, trained by a cruel teacher, and part of an international force that enforces the will of a cold Archon. Childe decided it was wise not to earn the ire of this nun instead, as he feels she could make his life a living hell every time he was in Mondstadt. He could feel it in his bones.
"I… I suppose I could give it a taste…?"
Barbara cheered, "That's the spirit!"
They passed by a pair of Fatui diplomats by a fountain on their way down, giving looks to Barbara. Not at him, as they avoided his gaze, but rather stared at Barbara with a sense of… Respect and fear? Now, what are they whispering about? He'd rather not know, as to not develop a headache before eating dinner.
On their way to the town square, Barbara hummed a song before she looked at him in question. "I know it was one of my fans that bothered Sister Victoria, and probably the Traveler too, but how did you convince him to leave? I heard from Sister Victoria that he usually waits until the floors have been swept before leaving the church alone." It was hard, listening to a fellow sister be so ashamed of her admission to protect her.
"Oh, him?" Childe gave her a clean smile, "He grew bored of it and scampered."
"Really?"
"Yeah, usually the Traveler would use Anemo to clear them fast, but well," He gestured a free hand to himself. "I'm a Hydro user, and I doubt water would help in cleaning leaves off the ground. Boring work, really."
"Oh! You're a Hydro user? Me too!" Barbara's eyes shone with interest. "And the more reason to treat you to dinner. Must be a dull favor to do."
He chuckled nervously, "No, not at all! It's for a friend, and I'm more than willing." He had a feeling he had dug himself a deeper hole there, and felt that dinner would last a little longer. He hopes that his hole he dug for himself would not go deeper, at least not deep enough to reach the Abyss!
She sighed, "I hope he is well. Never really thought fame would be this troublesome…"
"I wouldn't worry!" Childe laughed with eased vigor. "He seemed fine the last I saw him."
He wonders how deep it was behind the Cathedral? No matter, the rope should last a little while longer.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
No, he did not kill the guy. At least not yet. He was so annoying, though. Sorry for the late update! I'm just getting back on my feet with writing recently. Holy shit. More than a year since the last update. Wow! This was not a priority update like OCF or VoE, but it feels wrong to leave it alone for so long.