Corruption
Chapter 2 : A heart for Scaramouche
Dawn shows its first rays over the world of Teyvat. Lumine opens her pretty golden eyes while yawning with fatigue, quests still await her today... But even during her night, she never stopped thinking about her meeting with Kaguya. The mysterious blind Fatui, having assured her that she would find her brother.
- (… Was she telling me the truth ? ) Wonders Lumine still lying in her bed.
- Lumine ! It's time to get up. Paimon shouts appearing on the bed with a big smile; we have quests to do today, plus it's time to go eat. Come on, come on, we have to go. Lumine smiles before yawning again. She gets up from her bed to go get dressed.
- Paimon... You think that girl was telling us the truth yesterday ? Lumine asks Paimon, Paimon gives a confused look before remembering.
- Ahhh yes, the pretty blind lady who is part of the Fatuis. She remembers, she crosses her arms with a questioning look; I don't really know, she's super nice to be a Fatuis but... Paimon feels that this girl is hiding something fishy, I even heard her servant say that she was looking for Scaramouche because he was the 6th Fatuis' Harbinger, but Paimon couldn't get more details. Lumine raises her eyebrows in surprise, how is this possible ? Scaramouche erased his existence... How come this girl remembers that?
Lumine puts on her shoes and rushes to Scaramouche's room, she knocks before entering, and strangely, her bedroom door is open... Usually, Scaramouche always locks his bedroom door, and he doesn't. never forget to do it. Moreover, Lumine believes to feel a weak presence in the interior of the teapot. Someone entered the premises during the night without being noticed.
A shiver runs through her whole body and she enters Scaramouche's room, he is lying in his bed, he who usually sleeps very rarely. He is motionless, lying on his back. Lumine approaches him.
- Lumine ! What are you doing ? Asks Paimon surprised by Lumine's behavior, this one is in front of Scaramouche's bed, gently she shakes him calling him. He opens his eyes immediately and even jumps.
- Hey ! What are you doing in my room ? And how did you get in ? He screams while being all red. Lumine doesn't answer, her eyes riveted on Scaramouche's chest, blue veins have appeared on the right side of his chest.
- Stop looking at me like that, dirty pervert. Scaramouche grunts while covering his torso, yet from this torso, Lumine can hear a strange noise. She allows herself to lay her hand on it, making Scara blush even more, she feels something beating in that chest.
- Lumine ! What are you doing ? Shouts Paimon in shock putting herself between Scara and Lumine, Lumine can't believe what she just felt.
- You have a heart... Lumine said suddenly with her trembling hand, Scara looked down at his chest and placed her hand on the site of the blue veins. Everyone is in shock, he wanted to take her back, telling her that he was just a heartless puppet, but he feels the beating of this organ that he so longed to have, in his own body.
- Where does this heart come from ? Did you steal it from someone? Paimon suddenly accuses him, Scara doesn't respond to this provocation, still in shock.
Lumine her, has her eyes riveted on the blue veins...
This veins... She's seen them before.
- What happens so early in the morning ? Comes to ask for Nahida entering the room, attracted by all the noise that Paimon was causing.
- Big Hat must have stolen someone's heart ! Even yesterday, he didn't have one and today, as if by magic, he has one.
- I would never steal the heart of a stupid human ! I didn't move from there, how could I steal kill a human, steal his heart and then come back here ? You're even dumber than you look, flying bug ! Replica Scaramouche who seems to be hurt by this accusation.
- Come on, come on, calm down. I'll check that right away. Calming Nahida with her adorable voice, she positions her fingers in the direction of Scaramouche's body and the famous organ is revealed to the eyes of the others.
An artificial heart very similar to that of a human being in a midnight blue and black color, the same color as the veins... The color of the Abyss.
- A Abyss's creation. Said Nahida, everyone is even more shocked, especially Scara who seems to have a strange memory resurfacing her. He sees again that room decorated with blooming white roses on the white walls of the ice palace with shelves of books, the dark ceiling above his head.
Above all, he hears a voice humming beside him.
- What should we do ? Asks Lumine intrigued, she knows that the Abyss is extremely dangerous, with in addition his own brother who is at the head of this danger, Scaramouche has a hard time choosing what he should do... With this question, he thinks as soon as he's going to have to drop that new heart to be sent to study. Still, a feeling of denial gnaws at him, no, he doesn't want to give that strange heart. It's certainly not a real heart, but this thing gives him an intense feeling of well-being, despite the heaviness of the thing.
- We can only keep an eye on it. Tell me Scara, how are you feeling ? Come ask Nahida.
Scaramouche is surprised at the question.
- I'm fine, what is this strange question? Scara answers, Nahida nods. Lumine is not convinced of Scara's answer, this one gets up from his bed to go and serve himself a cup of tea. Paimon goes to the breakfast table to throw herself on the food, Lumine when to her, comes to Scara who sits at the end of the table.
- Are you sure you're alright ? She asks him, he sketches a smile, blushing a little.
- Are you worried about me ? How curious with the liabilities we both have. If you want to know, avoid problems and take care of yourself. As long as you do that, I'll be fine. Immediately, Lumine begins to blush slightly, provoking a chuckle from Scaramouche who finishes his tea.
- Do you want to come mining with us today ? Propose Lumine.
- Sorry, it will be without me. I have lessons with Lesser Lord Kusunali and I have no right to miss them. So go ask your " Geo Daddy". Scaramouche replies with a small smile.
- I hope Nahida will make you copy a good thousandth of pages. Lumine growls, Scara can't help laughing, Lumine has never seen him so happy before. Is it because of this mysterious heart he received ?
Lumine is challenged by Paimon who calls her to go do the quests and mine, on the way she asks Zhongli if he would like to accompany her. He gladly accepts, even Xiao and Venti want to join, leaving Scaramouche to leave for the academy where Nahida is waiting for him. Lessons begin and Scaramouche is already bored, taking notes half the time, staring into space, he runs a hand over his new heart. With his hand, he feels the palpitations in him and it makes him smile.
"…What if a heart could be born from the ashes ? '' He hears in his head, the memory of this child he took care of. Another voice resounds in him, the voice of a child who sings this same song.
Warabe-Uta ( Tale of the Princess Kaguya/ Ghibli movies ) He thinks he feels the very weak bite of the cold on his skin fearing neither the cold nor the heat, immediately warmed by the presence of this little girl on his knees, this little girl with very long hair wearing the color of the moon, studying a very large book with a map of the world next to it.
- ( Who are you...? Where do you come from ? ) Thinks Scaramouche wanting to touch this long hair within reach, suddenly the silhouette of this little girl disappears, other images are formed. He sees the Abyss again, this place where he suffered so many wounds, where he almost died several times, just for the pleasure of the Archon Cryo and the Fatuis. He, who may be the only one who can explore this dangerous place without dying. But one day, with his legs blown to pieces, he lay on rocky ground below a large dead tree with a chest at his foot, a sealed chest surrounded by plants, but mostly non-human bones. all around. Patiently waiting for maybe to die out, he saw the tree suddenly begin to bloom, shedding cherry blossom petals.
A flowering tree in this place that breathed death. Scaramouche still thinks that day he just hallucinated. By then, Dottore had tracked him down and brought him back to the Ice Castle.
- Hat Guy ! Hey, wake up. He suddenly hears, it's Nahida's voice, Scara opens his eyes suddenly, he had fallen asleep without realizing it.
- Something is wrong ? She asks, Scara shakes her head to collect herself.
- Everything's good. He replies, when he looks all around him, the other students are no longer there. It's just him and Nahida.
- You slept for the duration of the course... I took the opportunity to read you.
- You're afraid that I'll betray you again, right ? It's nothing serious, classes don't really interest me... Scara interrupts, annoyed that Nahida has taken advantage of his sleep to read his mind.
- The flowering tree you saw in the Abyss was not an hallucination. Nahida tells him in a serious tone, Scaramouche freezes at his words.
Nahida lowers her head, allowing herself to create a swing in the middle of the classroom.
- Lord Rukkhadevata once told me the legend of an immortal tree existing in the depths of the Abyss, it's a tree that gives the impression of being dead, but it's when you get closer to the death that this tree reveals its true colors and comes to the aid of those in need. It's a tree that can perform miracles, like creating tragedies that can change the course of history. The heart that beats in you seems to come from this tree.
- That's bullshit... Lesser Lord Kusunali. I don't want to know more about this tree, nor about my memories in the Abyss, if I forgot them despite the recovery of my memory and my true self, it is because there is a reason.. .
- You don't want to know who that little girl was in your dream ? Adds Nahida intrigued by this story, she wants to learn more. The Abyss Tree, an artifact that can be extremely dangerous.
- No. I don't care at all. Scaramouche retorts, heading for the exit of the classroom.
- Hold on ! Hat Guy, if you ever come across this girl again or even hear that Lumine has crossed paths with her again, please take her to my domain. I'm asking you as a favor... Scara grunts and leaves the classroom. He walks through the academy, wandering in thought until he sees two small red drops running down his feet. Scara is intrigued, several more drops fall, one, two, then three and four, Scara comes to put her hand on his face and realizes that he is bleeding profusely from his nose.
- Shit... What's happening to me ? Scara growls as he wipes his nose, he runs to a nearest waterhole to clean his face and especially his nose.
X
In the Ice Palace, the home of the Fatuis. Locked in this large room filled with white roses with snowflakes melting on them in the warmth of her room. Kaguya is lying in her large all-white bed, holding a small stuffed animal resembling Scaramouche close to her. She sleeps peacefully with the echo of a heartbeat in her mind.
- Kaguya ! Kaguya my dear, I'm going to need you for a mission, hurry up and get ready. She hears from her bedroom door, it's Pantalone.
- ( Another market mission...), she thinks when she wakes up, she hides her little stuffed animal inside her clothes and gets up from her bed to go to her bedroom door. Pantalone sketches a very beautiful smile, placing his hand in Kaguya's hair.
- You are always beautiful. Kaguya blushed at his words as she clung to her large black coat so she could follow him. They both leave from the ice palace to leave in the direction of Liyue, Sura comes to follow Kaguya and Pantalone.
This one stops at a building heavily guarded by the Fatuis, the bank of Liyue, where Tartaglia works. Pantalone turns to the girls with a smile giving them a bag of money.
- I have to leave you here girls, I have an important thing to settle before we take care of the most important, take the opportunity to go for a walk in the stalls between girls. I will meet you on the way. Sura bows accepting the money.
- Thank you Uncle Pantalone, we'll meet at Xiangling's restaurant. See you ! Kaguya answers with a pretty smile, she takes Sura's hand to guide her through the shops, she smiles until she feels a pinch in her heart and a slight nosebleed.
- Kaguya... Are you feeling well ? Sura asks worried, she hurries to give a tissue for Kaguya to wipe her nose.
- I'm fine Sura, just a little reaction, it should pass. How about we go see the kimonos ? She proposes, Sura can't help but smile at the positivity of the one she's accompanying.
Sura takes Kaguya to a stall full of colorful kimonos.
- Hello ladies, it's a pleasure to see you around here. Are you looking for kimonos ? I have received excellent quality lately. The salesman speaks until he is silent when he sees the Fatui emblem on Sura's uniform, but is especially surprised to see two Fatuis without any mask hiding their faces.
- Can you tell me what you see ? Kaguya asks excitedly, reaching out her hands to try to touch the fabrics, Sura observes absolutely everything around her, the salesman has his eyes on Kaguya and understands that poor little girl couldn't see the nice quality of those kimonos, but with her fingers, she crumples the fabric of a white kimono with golden patterns on it with a smile on her lips.
- Kimonos of all colors, you have blues, pinks, reds, greens, even one with cherry blossom patterns on it... Sura explains.
- That's the one I want. Said Kaguya grabbing the kimono with both hands, immediately the salesman comes to help her, placing it in front of her.
- Wonderful choice Miss, this kimono is a real work of art, it was made in honor of the traveler and savior of Liyue who passed by recently, this kimono was inspired by her clothes...
- You talk about Lumine ? Such intense joy invades young Kaguya's face in an instant that the seller is even more overwhelmed by her beauty.
- Sura ! I want this one, this is the one I need ! She adds to Sura who can't say no to her.
- Alright Alright. That's the one we're going to take, sir. Sura says, Kaguya jumps for joy and hurries to run behind a rock throwing away her original clothes, Sura blushes as she picks up the clothes and sees Kaguya dressing up in her brand new kimono and running through the streets of Liyue, dancing gracefully under the amazed eyes of passers-by.
Her laughter, her singing, her dance steps suddenly cause flowers to grow in the trees of Liyue before creating a shower of flower petals. Sura is amazed by so much zest for life, asking everyday why, such a beautiful flower grows in the midst of the darkness of the Fatuis and the Archon Cryo ?
Yes, she remembers... In this palace where the winter cold reigns, she was still only a child of barely 10 years old, taken by force to the Fatuis, her father being a soldier serving under the orders of Captain...
X
Several years back... At the palace of the Archon Cryo, the entire Harbiengers had gathered for a meeting with the Archon Cryo himself, and Capitano, the most glorious knight that could exist on Teyvat, had returned. at the palace with a huge open chest right in the middle of the room, it was also covered with flowers at his half-broken mask and at the shoulder, and on a large table where the Harbingers sat,... There was this tiny little girl blessed by the divine eye Dendro, barely 4 years old, half asleep, with very long moon-colored hair and intense blue eyes.
Sura, shy was spying on the conversation of his idols who are the Harbingers, remaining hidden behind a beam and met the gaze of this visibly lost little girl, refusing to move any of her limbs, the Archon Cryo then took him in his arms to lift her up to the moon before bringing her back to his chest like a mother would.
- From now on, your name will be Kaguya. The name that a princess from the people of the moon had before, with such a great and pure beauty that no one could match her. I'm your mommy, and here you are at home my darling...
- Mom... She managed to say with a baby voice, the Archon Cryo hugs her under the eyes of the Harbingers who weren't particularly happy with the news... Except Capitano, him so proud of have found it.
- Sura ! We already told you not to come here, you will be severely punished for that. Comes shouting her father grabbing him by the arm, Sura screams in fear and unfortunately this alerts the Harbingers and especially the Archon Cryo.
- What is happening here ?
Sura petrifies in fear as Tsaritsa, the Archon Cryo advances towards her.
- Please forgive my daughter Your Highness, my daughter has let her curiosity take over again and has allowed herself to come and spy on private conversations. Please excuse him. Speaks Sura's father kneeling before her.
Sura doesn't stoop down in front of Tsaritsa like she usually does, her eyes are on little Kaguya who is staring at her intensely, she bends down a bit and extends her little arms towards Sura, Tsaritsa looks at her new child then Sura.
- I will only forgive you on one condition. Speak Tsaritsa as she puts Kaguya on her feet so she can stand ; your daughter must become the guardian of my little Kaguya, I count on you to train her very hard so that she can protect her if we are not there. If you complete your mission, I will not turn you into a statue of ice until the end of your days.
- Yes Madam, I will make sure that my daughter Sura carries out the mission that you have just offered her. Thank you for entrusting her with the fate of your beautiful child. Sura's father concludes, Tsaritsa nods, picking Kaguya up in her arms to take her with her.
Before Sura was taken away by her father, her gaze met that of the 6th Harbinger. His deep indigo eyes, burning with unstoppable anger meeting Sura's small eyes as she froze in her father's arms.
X
Kaguya returns to Sura, arguing that she too had to find a kimono to match hers, Sura cannot refuse in front of Kaguya's good mood, her mission being to make her happy but above all to protect her.
- Hey! Little bamboo ! Suddenly shouts a voice in the distance that greets us. This red-haired boy, with a red mask and his gray clothes, Sura could recognize him among a thousand.
- Childe ! Kaguya yells recognizing his voice, she runs towards him and throws herself on him to give him a hug, Tartaglia grabs her to hug her.
- I knew I would find you here, Pantalone came to see me at the bank and told me to go find you, the restaurant is waiting for us girls. Tartaglia answers with her smile, not paying attention to the suddenly shaking hands. What he doesn't know is when, hugging him, Kaguya had just had a tragic vision, not targeting Childe... But his little brother.
- You have to go home Childe... Your little brother, in 3 days. He is going to have a serious accident, you must be with him now. Kaguya tells her, Childe who is more of an optimistic type, always cheerful and positive, Sura sees her expression change to real terror. He tries to keep his calm and his smile.
- I see... So I shouldn't hang around, it's a shame I wanted so much to spend a little more time with my favorite little bamboo, but my little brother comes first. I'll see you later. He salutes before leaving as soon as possible, Sura has a sudden shiver that crosses his back.
She knows what it means, every time Kaguya has a vision, the curse of the Abyss causes her to lose some of her memory, bringing her closer and closer to destruction. Sura bites her lip and comes to put her hand on Kaguya's shoulder.
- Kaguya... Are you feeling well ? She asks him, Kaguya turns to her with a weak smile.
- It started again, huh? I... I feel lost Sura. She says, Sura comes to hug her to comfort her and bring her to the restaurant where Pantalone is waiting for her, Sura saw that the veins on her friend's arms have grown even bigger and the gleam in her eyes is blinding suddenly disappeared.
- ( This gift is a curse...) Think Sura.
X
Back at Lumine's teapot, Scaramouche went to lie down in bed. Still the handkerchief covering his nose which had been bleeding for over an hour. He looks at the ceiling of his room with his hand on his heart. It's so hot in his chest, yet a strange melancholy different from his own seems to be gnawing at him. He feels his energy leaving him and a hand gently stroking his hair.
- Who are you ? Scara whispers trying to remember. This girl, this voice, this hand caressing his hair, and this strange feeling on his lips. The glint in his eyes fades as his indigo eyes close, only the beating of his heart can be heard in his chest.
And that's it ^^ That's it for chapter 2, a lot of things are happening and I thought it was cute to offer a heart to Scaramouche, he fully deserves it my little love ^^ And Kaguya is such a person's love . I'm so proud of my OC! Don't worry about Tartaglia, there will be an explanation of her short stint in the next chapter, I promise! See you soon for a new chapter ^^.