*Disclaimer* – I do not own the copyright of Kingdom Hearts or Genshin Impact
*A/N* - Greetings there, it's been a minute. Fontaine came out and so far, it's looking like everyone is enjoying it. I'm for sure loving it and can't believe how quickly the new characters became so likable in a matter of a few quests. Navia and Furina really did knock it out of the park along with Neuvillete and Clorinde. I want to learn more about each one of them along with the areas surrounding the new region. Alas, that also means that Sora's journey through the different regions is going at a slower pace than I would like. I have no one to blame but myself. However, we'll get there when we get there… I hope. Either way, with the Captain of the Crux, Beidou, about to truly meet the Keyblade's Chosen One, I'm sure she's in for quite a friendship to blossom. Along with a bit of mischief to play out. With that being said, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and stick around for what's to eventually come.
Thanks for stopping by!
Standing there with a shocked and confused look on her face, the one-eyed brunette captain didn't know where to start nor did she know if this was a joke or not. Either way, she could only stare at the spiky-haired boy in front of her who looked to be completely serious with his declaration.
"Uh… what?"
"Ha, it's nice to meet you, captain!" Sora happily greeted her. "Not my first time out at sea but I'll do what I can to lend a helping hand."
Looking the boy up and down, Beidou had to admit that she had never seen him around and his attire was certainly not that of Liyue Harbor. Hence, she wasn't sure what to think about the boy as it didn't look like he was messing with her and genuinely meant what he said about sailing with her. Moreover, that point alone made her completely confused about what was going on.
"Sora, would you mind explaining what you mean by that?"
"Before you do, Sora, I think we owe the captain here a bit of explaining. It seems she's at a loss of words" Ningguang said while glancing over at the brunette woman.
A sort of amused look appeared on her face.
"*sigh* You really know how to make things complicated, Ningguang," Beidou said before looking over at Ganyu. "Were you also in the loop by chance?"
"No, this is the first time I've heard of any of this. Plus, I've never met Sora before this very moment" Ganyu replied, tilting her head at the conjecture occurring.
"Curiouser by the minute. Well then, would either of you two care to catch Ganyu and me up to speed?" Beidou addressed the Tianquan and Keyblade wielder.
Shooting the white-beige-haired woman a glance, Sora saw that she seemed to nod her head in acknowledgment and would take the lead on this matter.
"Very well. I assume you two remember our conversation earlier about the mysterious creatures causing quite a ruckus?"
"Of course, I do. That's not exactly a topic you can just forget about so shortly" Beidou remarked.
"I agree. The dangers of what we learned… I've already made headway in constructing a well-thought-out plan for dealing with these monsters. Lady Keqing was also hard at work when last we spoke."
Nodding her head at the topic becoming a central point now among these high-end individuals, Ningguang now decided to play her new substantial trump card.
"Well then, I have great news to present to the two of you."
At this point, Ningguang's eyes and body were directed toward the spiky-haired boy who was unsure what to do so he essentially awkwardly waved his hand.
"Uhm… Am I supposed to be doing something now?" Sora said while rubbing the back of his head.
"Sora?" Ganyu murmured.
"Huh? What does he have to do with those monsters?" Beidou confusedly questioned.
"Everything. Sora is, well, forgive me for the on-the-nose quotation…" Ningguang said to Sora who simply waved it off like it was nothing.
"Go ahead. I'm used to it at this point."
Ganyu was a bit confused about this whole situation but judging by how Sora was reacting now, she guessed that he had some part to play in this whole thing.
"Mm. He is quite familiar with these creatures and has journeyed from Mondstadt on a particular mission. If you could, Sora, would you elaborate to us what you are here in Liyue Harbor for?"
The two girls' faces seemed to have a bit of shock on them as Sora was the one person who could help shine a light on the current developing situation.
Nevertheless, seeing that getting everyone on the same page would be the best choice to do now, the spiky-haired brunette cleared his throat and began to gather his thoughts on the exact story he would tell to Beidou and Ganyu. Telling them too much might confuse the story, so he'll stick to a clear story about arriving in Mondstadt and discuss encountering the creatures and his sudden adventure to learn all that he could about them along with the chance of him learning more about this world.
"Well, I guess I should start from the beginning. After washing up on the outskirts of Mondstadt…"
Elsewhere within the harbor
Standing within what appeared to be a small conference room stood the red-haired known as Childe. Of course, there were other names he went by but to those who really knew him that was his name.
Moreover, what Childe was currently doing right now was waiting for a response from the man and woman standing right across from him. Their faces conveyed a sure sense of frozenness. One that he had seen on an individual's face when they had been only seconds away from seeing something horrific.
"…*sigh*…"
"S-Sir?" the male said while still wearing a perplexed expression and tone.
"I'm not dismissing your claim outright. It's just that… what you're saying makes no sense at all. And I've heard quite the bundle of ridiculous stories but this one might just take the cake" Childe replied while massaging his forehead.
What he had just been told seemed to leave him in a state of unsureness.
"But it's true! Everything we've reported. Down to the… exact…detail…" the Fatui officer weakly said.
"Now, now. I'm not saying that I'm dismissing your report. It's just that I'm finding it hard to believe and would find it erratically wrong. However, that's not the case." Taking a few steps to the side, Childe seemed to cast his eyes around the room to make sure that it was only the three of them. "I received intel about a case very similar to your own. The context I've been given must have taken place before you two reported back to me which is leaving me in quite the predicament."
As Childe said this, his memory of the letter he received not that long ago came playing back in his mind. This whole situation of strange monsters appeared around the region of Liyue, and nobody seemed to be familiar with them which was raising some flags in his mind.
"For now, I'm taking a stricter way of going about this whole thing. Until we have enough information to make a well-rounded and fundamental decision, I'm going to analyze every bit of news coming my way. Not my usual forte, but we aren't exactly in normal times, are we?" Childe said to the two.
Seeing the Fatui Harbinger being serious about this issue caused them to realize just how serious this whole situation might actually be. Besides, these two Fatui members knew well about Childe's behavior so to see him in a completely new light was slightly worrisome.
"Understood, sir."
"Good. Thank you for your cooperation. Now then if anything else comes up do report back to me. I'll be spending some time in the harbor monitoring the situation."
With nothing else needing to be said, the two Fatui members left the area leaving the orange-haired man to let out a tired sigh.
"Great… this whole monster situation just had to show up now of all times. This issue better not keep me long. Otherwise, I won't be able to make it back home and see everyone." Childe then took a few steps and looked around his surroundings before uttering one more thing. "At times like this, I wish you two were here now. Perhaps you guys would have a better idea of what's happening."
The two whom he was referring to were his friends/rivals Aether and Paimon. Granted, even though the floating girl didn't fight, she was still a vital key to the Traveler's strength and will to keep on fighting. In addition, it had been a minute since he last saw those two. Perhaps they would have a bit more knowledge about the monsters. Alas, he couldn't stand by and wait for them. He would need to take charge of this situation. His stance as a Harbinger said so.
Passing through the close-knit alley and into one of the busier parts of the harbor, Childe figured that the best way of learning more about these creatures would be to have a lively encounter with them. Besides, the prospect of dueling a strange new dangerous monster got the red-headed man to grin a bit. His eagerness for a tough opponent was building up in his heart by the minute.
'Let's see how dangerous these monsters really are.'
Meanwhile, back in the Jade Chamber
"…And that's how Ningguang and I ended up crossing paths."
Sora had just finished giving a brief overview of his journey in Tevyat while also sticking to a safe approach of not mentioning anything that would seem strange. Well, out of this world strange was the goal of the spiky-haired boy's guideline. However, what he soon found out based on Beidou and Ganyu's reactions was that they were completely perplexed and somewhat dumbfounded by it all.
"Hold up, you're telling me that… these things- "
"The Heartless" Sora quickly corrected.
"Err, right, can just appear out of nowhere?" Beidou questioned.
The brunette captain couldn't believe what she was hearing. Of all the monsters and creatures, she has encountered in her many journeys across the sea and into other nations, the Heartless were a fiend that shot up in the ranks of danger. Moreover, the idea that an enemy could appear out of nowhere due to some teleporting trick. However, in those cases, you could actually see the foe with your eyes. Based on what Sora had described the Heartless as capable of doing, it sounded like they could appear anywhere without any warning.
"Yeah, that's one of the many reasons to be wary about the Heartless" Sora replied with a serious tone.
"But that's… unheard of. Why are there no prominent records of creatures like this? Would Cloud Retainer and the others know about these creatures?" Ganyu muttered while lost in thought.
Ningguang on the other hand had been hard at work making sure that all of Sora's vital knowledge was sincerely captured and documented. His encounters over in Mondstadt were very concerning and the Tianquan did not want to be left three steps behind were the Heartless to attack Liyue Harbor.
"That's another reason why Eula and I came to Liyue Harbor. To see if we could find any books containing even a mention of the Heartless. Based on the many reactions I've seen from people, this is either the first time they've ever appeared in Teyvat or the information regarding the Heartless has been lost to time. Either way, any information would be great" Sora explained while feeling a pit in his stomach.
Lying was not one of the Guardian of Light's strong suits and the realization that he was twisting and turning so much information regarding the Heartless and this world's history was starting to dawn on him. Sooner or later, he might slip up and say something that might contradict what he was saying now and when that happens, he'll be left stammering for a clear answer which might result in him having to do a bit of rule-breaking again. Granted, he never really was one to follow rules to a T. However, the real concern with that possibility would be the reactions from others.
That was a thought Sora would need to steer his head and heart toward clearly.
"Still… is no one more concerned about the fact that these yellow-eyed monsters can just show up anywhere?" Beidou retorted again by glancing over at everyone.
"No one is saying that, Beidou. This is clearly too much information to truly process and handle all at once. Moreover, we don't know if the Heartless can appear everywhere. Sora, would you care to elaborate since it appears you are the only one who heavily knows about them?" Ningguang asked the spiky-haired boy.
"Well, I understand where Beidou's coming from," Sora said while patting the back of his head. "The Heartless can spawn anywhere. Land, air, and sea. Plus, they do come in different forms and sizes but it's seeming like they're only the landform."
Beidou's eye widened at what she was hearing.
"What do you mean air and sea? Are you saying that they could appear as fish?" the brunette girl asked.
"Not… exactly like fish. But they do adapt to their environments and change their forms but that's more in line with Emblem Heartless and not Purebloods."
Confusion was once again evident on the girls' faces.
"Emblem? Would you mind clarifying that, Sora?" the white begie-haired girl asked.
"Ah, right. Sorry. This might clear some things up. So, the Heartless can come in two forms. The form I've been talking about this entire time has been the Pureblood. They are natural Heartless which are born from the darkness in people's hearts consumed by darkness" Sora started explaining.
"The heart… do you mean our body part?" Ganyu questioned, lowering her head to stare at her chest in bewilderment.
"Haha, not that heart. The heart I'm referring to is an imaginary force that dwells inside of you with different parts making it whole. Memories, light and darkness, will, goals, ambitions, and parts of yourself that make you who you are. That's what I mean by saying the heart."
As the spiky-haired brunette said this, he could see that a bit of confusion was evident on Beidou and Ganyu's faces. He wanted to fix that as it would be vital to understand at least briefly just how important it is when discussing the Heartless. Plus, he had a feeling that as he continued his journey through this world there would be more people lost at the notion of a heart that is invisible.
"I… I think I'm starting to get it. Or at the very least understand that it's more akin to our desires and whatnot. Is that a good take?" Beidou asked Sora.
"Yep! You're on the right-thinking path. Don't think about it too hard. There are even parts of the heart that I don't fully understand. I just know that…" Sora stopped himself while gathering his thoughts on what he wanted to say and brought a hand over his heart. "Deep down there's a light inside of you that's full of all kinds of feelings. Good, bad, happy, sad, hopeful, fearful, and many more emotions make up who we are as a person. Aspects of light and darkness influence us in our lives without us really thinking about it. If you consider all of that within yourself… you can assuredly know that your heart is strong."
Sora said all this with a content and affirmed smile on his face managing to get the three girls to consider and take to heart what he was saying. Each of the Liyue residents also started thinking back on their past and how their hearts played a part in making them who they are today.
Beidou recalled her tragic and difficult past growing up in the small fishing village where she was taken in by the village chief but soon after fell ill and passed away. Leaving her to deal with the brunt of a bad omen placed on her for the bad harvest. While her past was not of the kindest, looking back now and how her drive to survive and live to see the rest of the world, the Captain of the Crux couldn't help but let a bright and confident smile appear on her lips. Sora's words surrounding the heart were something that she would be considering now. His words had managed to touch her heart and remind her of how much she had truly accomplished.
Ganyu, meanwhile, placed a hand over her heart and did her best to recall her past knowing full well that it was essentially full of many wonderous tales. Some good, some bad, and some… she would prefer not to dwell on. But more than that, she curiously pondered what Sora said and could see the impact of such a term as the heart and how it applied to her upbringing. Even with her meek, socially shy, and determined tones of character, she realized that her heart had grown along with her through these thousands of years serving as secretary of the Liyue Qixing. This new bit of information regarding the heart would be one that she'd like to share with Cloud Retainer and the other Adepti as well as Shenhe when she'd get the chance to run into her.
Ningguang had a different reaction from hearing Sora's elaboration on the metaphorical and imaginary heart. Hers was that of a newfound appreciation and mark of respect for herself and her past. While growing up in the depths of poverty working to survive and having an upbringing of great ambition to reach the top, the white beige-haired woman could honestly see where the heart came into play with her life. All the ambitions and goals she dreamed of seemed to never falter. The pursuit of happiness and seeking to have her dreams and aspirations touch the sky were all but realized now.
However, she knew that there was still much to accomplish in her life given that she was still in her early twenties and had achieved a countless list of things that most people would never be able to complete. And yet, with how things were beginning to change around her in the situation presented to her now… she deemed it only fair and reasonable that her next set of goals would only be achievable with the help of a certain someone. A certain spiky-haired boy who was standing only a few feet away from her.
At this point, there had been a moment of silence playing throughout the Jade Chamber which was technically caused by Sora as his heartfelt speech reached each one of the girls and got them thinking deeply about the heart. One on hand he was glad that they were pondering about what he said as it would help them better understand the Heartless. But on the other hand, it also made for an awkward moment which he felt could be sorted out.
"Ehehe. Sorry for creating a moment. I tend to do that a lot."
"Never apologize for something like that, Sora. Those who can truly move… well, a person's heart, and get them inspired is someone I would rather listen to for the rest of my life than someone who spews utter nonsense that is nothing more than a waste of time" Ningguang directed at the boy while also sending a teasing smile to him when mentioning the heart.
"I'm with Ningguang on that one. Anyone can say a bunch of crap and try to come off as informative or inspiring. But it depends on the kind of person speaking. And based on what I'm hearing, you're speaking clearly from your heart. You mean the things that you're saying, and it shows. In the way, your body language and facial features come across. Not to mention, you're staring at each one of us individually while not wavering at all. I not only respect that greatly but it also shows just what kind of person you are" Beidou stated to the boy with a bright smile and nod of her head.
"I too have to agree with what they are saying. While I'm not exactly a hundred percent sure about what it is that you're saying, Sora, about the Heartless… I do know for a fact that your words ring a sound of truth to them. Not only are you saying what needs to be said but also making sure that none of us are completely lost. You have the attributes of someone who has taken the role of a leader based on how your words are reaching us just in our first real chance encounter. Your eyes say a lot and what I'm seeing is nothing but the truth regarding the topic of the heart" Ganyu explained, sending the boy a small smile.
Sora couldn't help but feel a bit sheepish at all the attention coming his way which resulted in him letting out a happy chuckle followed by resting his hands behind his head in his signature pose.
"Thanks, everyone. Well, I guess jumping back to the main topic, the Heartless being created out of the darkness in people's hearts basically allows for them to appear anywhere darkness is heavily present. I don't think you have to worry about the Heartless appearing in Liyue Harbor unless something really bad causes the people of the harbor to feel fear, anger, sadness, or anything super negative. Those dark thoughts compiled together would allow for the Pureblood Heartless to appear."
Letting a moment pass for the girls to comprehend what he just said, Sora also gathered his thoughts and organized the next bit of information he would tell them about the Heartless. He even pulled out his Gummiphone and brought all the data he had collected about the various Heartless types.
"Darkness… how much darkness are we talking about for one of these Purebloods to appear out of nowhere?" Beidou anxiously questioned Sora.
"Hmm. Well, I can't give an exact answer. But a good guess on how much darkness would need to be required could best be summed up as someone wanting to do a great deal of harm to people. Or even destroying without feeling any remorse. There's also the chance that someone could be overtaken by darkness leaving them without a clear head and completely consumed by negativity" Sora explained while recalling his past encounters with the Purebloods.
"And how exactly do the Heartless increase their numbers?" Ganyu inquired.
"When a person's heart is forced out of a body, the darkness inside the heart will suddenly grow in strength and consume the light of the heart. This heart is then consumed in darkness and then eventually becomes a Heartless" the brunette answered her question.
A worried sigh escaped Ganyu's lips as the realization was settling in with what Sora just said.
"I see…"
The acceptance that there was still a great for her to learn caused the blue-haired girl to slowly nod her head. Moreover, the old saying of there's always something new to learn popped into Ganyu's head.
"And the other type, Sora?" Ningguang suddenly brought up.
"The other type is known as Emblem Heartless. They're manufactured either by a machine or through some kind of magic. It can be either way. These Heartless also capture hearts within them acting as a sort of storage. One of the easiest ways to notice which Heartless you are dealing with is by noticing if they have an emblem on their chest. The Purebloods don't have any kind of emblem on their body."
"Isn't that nice? Spotting out the obvious" Beidou muttered.
Sora couldn't help but nod his head a little at that comment.
"These Heartless… I've never in my life encountered an enemy of this complexity. And that's saying something considering the kinds of monsters surrounding Liyue, Mondstadt, and Sumeru" the Tianquan clarified while keeping a somewhat mystified tone of voice.
The Keyblade wielder couldn't help but lend a bit of sympathy to Ningguang and the others. The Heartless were a completely new threat for them to deal with and from the looks of things everyone was thinking three steps ahead on future possibilities. Better to be extra prepared than caught off guard.
"I'm guessing there are all kinds of strange monsters in the other nations?"
"You better believe it. From different elemental monsters like slimes, mages that wield strange powers, the Fatui, and their officers, to the automatons that roam the land, to dragons. You can expect to find even stranger beasts while adventuring" Beidou explained to Sora while recalling the monsters she's encountered before.
"Whoa… I've fought a dragon before… I wonder what the dragons here are like?" the brunette mumbled.
"You've fought a dragon before?" Ganyu questioned.
"Yep. I've fought a few dragons now that I think about it."
A sly grin appeared on the brunette girl's face at the mention of Sora fighting a dragon before.
"Really? You have me very interested, Sora" Beidou replied with an excited smile. "What kind of dragons have you dealt with?"
"Well, let's see… one dragon I've fought was covered in a dark body while also having the body of a regular dragon with four legs and spitting out fire which had a green color to it. This dragon also liked to slam its hands on the ground and cause shockwaves of flames around the area which were a pain to deal with, but in the end, my friends and I managed to come out on top."
Sora explained all of this while recalling his fight against Maleficent after Riku had stabbed her in the chest and imbued her with the power of darkness.
Ningguang and Ganyu's interest in the tale was evidently drawing their attention as they wondered just what else that story of his entailed. Beidou on the other hand was smirking widely with admiration that she was amongst another dragon-slaying individual.
"Ha! That must have been something at the time."
"No kidding. It was a dire moment for my friends and I. The events leading up to our encounter with the dragon were… complicated to say the least."
"I'll bet. The times leading up to do-or-die moments are usually the ones that result in you overcoming a great obstacle. At least, that's what I've believed in my many encounters" Beidou confided to the boy.
The tone of her voice seemed to indicate that she had a story to be told.
"It sounds like you've also dealt with a dragon before, Beidou?" Sora asked the brunette beauty.
A look that seemed to hold a bit of excitement washed over the captain's face. Ningguang on the other hand seemed to let out a silent sigh while bringing a hand up to her face. Ganyu, however, seemed a bit intrigued to hear what Beidou had to say. Even though the half-qilin Adeptus had heard the Captain of the Crux's story a hundred times before.
"You'd be right about that. But the dragon I slayed happened to be a sea monster by the name of Haishan. Are you familiar with the name or tale?" Beidou excitedly asked.
"Sorry. Can't say I am, but I'd be happy to learn!" the boy enthusiastically replied.
"Great! Well then, to tell one heck of a story…"
And so, Beidou began to inform Sora with her tale of sailing the sea and encountering the sea-faring monster known as Haishan who was known to have the body of a hydra. The depiction of the monster was that its body had similarities to a large fish and dragon mixed while proving to be quite a dangerous foe. She then went on to describe her tale of challenging this creature many times before but always falling short. However, this time of her telling she could feel something different. Something stirred in the wind causing a chain reaction to stir in her chest and heart.
This time would be different.
The brunette captain then told Sora about the fierce sea battle involving cannons, harpoons, arrows, ropes, and wit against the creature for four days straight. Her battle against the famed monster had landed her in a battle of time with no real ending as she was caught in a fight for ten hours well into the night. The moment of Beidou's story coming to a turn was at this point. One strike was all that she needed. The details she told Sora were clear and precise to the point that even Ningguang and Ganyu, who had heard this story before realized that there was more in this version being told by the one-eyed girl. As the story progressed and the battle against the fearsome sea monster was told, Beidou seemed to stop herself right before explaining the finale of her tale.
"…And then, in one final strike… I ended Haishan's life. One quick slash across the leviathan's head and it was over. The days and nights my crew and I were stuck out there fighting against a monster of legend. It all paid off. Our story in this fight had reached a most favorable end. It was then I received my Vision as a memento. A reminder of what I… with the help of many… achieved on that day…" Beidou said before picking up her Vision in her hands and staring at it longingly.
Sora couldn't help but be so enthralled in her tale that his eyes had not left her at all during her story. He felt a sort of connection with the remarkable girl standing before him. His time in Teyvat had taught him that those with Visions were able to do extraordinary things while those who did not have a Vision had a tougher time doing things. Were it not for the Keyblade, he knew that many of the things he did would be nigh impossible or at the very least difficult to do. His appreciation of his weapon was evident as he grasped his right hand with his left and had a small smile on his face.
"That's amazing…" the Keyblade wielder said this before raising his right hand forward and letting his weapon appear in his hands.
*Whoooooosh*
"I've been through a lot of difficult battles… some involving dragons and hydras… and others that might be hard trying to explain. But…"
Beidou had a surprised look on her face as well as her eye staring right at the strange weapon before her. Its design could best be described as a sort of skeleton key for a large door or chest. Ganyu had also tilted her head in confusion at seeing his weapon. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen in all her life.
"It's all thanks to the Keyblade that I'm able to do all that. Hearing your story of defeating this Haishan monster reminded me of just what amazing things are possible when you follow your heart" Sora warmly said while looking over at Beidou.
She took the boy's warm gaze and couldn't help but feel elated to some degree. His appreciation of her story along with making her start to consider thinking deeply about her heart caused the brunette girl to return a friendly smile. It was a nice feeling being this natural.
"Keyblade…?" Ganyu muttered while analyzing the key-shaped weapon.
Beidou couldn't help but give the weapon another look over before saying the first thing that came to mind.
"Looks more like a key-shaped club than a blade…" the brunette woman mumbled.
"That's one of the more common things people say when they first see it."
"What else do they say?" Ningguang asked, growing curious about the boy's answer.
Immediately, the hero from another world rolled his eyes at the many things he'd effortlessly heard about his weapon. Some funny. Some ridiculous. Some annoying. And some ridiculously funny. It really did vary on the type of reaction.
"Some have said it looks like a giant house key. Others have said that it must go to a really large chest. And other comments are… a bit too stupid to be said aloud, a haha…" Sora explained while shaking his head at some of the things he had heard about the Keyblade.
Beidou couldn't help but let out a stifled chuckle at that point due to her thinking about some of the responses Sora must have gotten. There were a few comedic answers that she came up with right now but would refrain from saying them aloud… at least for now in a good showing.
"That seems a bit rude" Ganyu added.
"Eh. It doesn't bother me that much anymore. It's more of a silly thing. Once they see the weapon it's all fun to laugh at it. But… when they see just what's possible with it that usually gets them to stop with the jokes."
Interest in the boy's weapon shot up in the girls' minds as they were now curious about what he meant by that.
"Sora. What do you mean by that?"
The brunette boy couldn't help but let a grin appear on his face.
"Well, to start things off clearer. The Keyblade is a mysterious weapon that can only be wielded by an individual who is chosen by the weapon and has a strong heart. They are also meant to fight back against the darkness which can be summed up as the Heartless."
"Wait. Time out. You said that only a certain kind of person can wield this Keyblade… So, what if somebody snatched it out of your hands?" Beidou questioned, folding her arms across her chest and wearing a puzzled look.
"Here. Wanna try?" Sora asked, holding the weapon up in front of her.
Deciding that there was no harm in taking the boy's weapon, Beidou picked up the strange-looking weapon and began to swing it around a little while getting a feel for it.
"Hmm. It's both lighter and heavier than I thought. The handle is something that's not my forte, but it also feels sort of- "
*Whooooosh*
In that instant, the Keyblade flashed from Beidou's hands and back into Sora's.
"There's your answer."
Ganyu couldn't help but look rather intently and in awe at the weapon. It appeared that there was more to this strange-looking weapon than she and the others originally thought.
"That's something else… I was holding onto the weapon, and it just vanished" Beidou replied, glancing back at her gloved hand.
"Yeah, that's usually the reaction."
As Sora said this, he couldn't help but recall a certain captain back in the Caribbean who tried to take the Keyblade from him but then had it disappear from his hands. He truly did wonder if Jack would one day try again to take it from him. That would be a sight to see.
"So, does it only do that if someone else tries to take it from you? Or are there other tricks up your sleeve?" the Captain of the Crux asked the boy.
There seemed to be a glimmer in her eyes that sparked a bit of excitement in the weapon.
"There's a whole bunch of things the Keyblade can do, but no, it doesn't just do that when someone takes the weapon."
The Keyblade wielder said this while lightly spinning the weapon around until it landed on his shoulder. With the handle in his grip, Sora soon recalled all the amazing things that were possible with the weapon.
"With the right equipment, it can turn into different weapons."
"Oh? It's not just a simple… different looking blade?" Ningguang questioned, intrigue evident in her voice.
"Nope. It can change its design along with turning into other weapons like a hammer, shield, guns, spear, and flag just to name a few."
"Such versatility…" the half-Qilin girl muttered.
At this point, Beidou couldn't help but think of one thing while observing the strange magical weapon.
'Imagine using something like that on the go. You'd be at a clear advantage.'
"And these Keyblades… they were specifically made to defeat the Heartless? What exactly does that entail, Sora?" Ningguang asked, wrapping her head around everything the boy was saying.
"I… This is one of the areas I'm not exactly sure of but from what I understand there used to be a lot of Keyblade wielders working to stop the darkness but then a war broke out. Only a handful out of thousands managed to survive. Even today, my friends that have Keyblades are a small number compared to the past" he explained while treading a line of making it sound somewhat reasonable.
At least, that's what he was thinking when he immediately came up with his response.
"A long time ago… "Ningguang's thoughts soon drifted elsewhere. 'Could that have been…'
The Tianquan's thoughts were directed toward an event that took place in the past and was cemented as history within the world of Tevyat. The Archon War. With the appearance of the Traveler and the many disastrous events taking place through Liyue recently, the topic of the Archon War has been something that caught Ningguang's attention. Furthermore, Ganyu's presence over 3,000 years ago is also something to consider. However, that sudden topic came back now with what Sora was saying.
'Could the old Keyblade wielders have been a part of the Archon War?'
Alas, that was a question she did not expect to find out any time soon. And based on what Sora was saying, it appeared that he also didn't know much of the past as well.
"Sora, when you talk about Keyblades being the weapon to fight back against the darkness is that a broad consensus of the weapon's power? Or is there more to it?" Ganyu questioned the boy.
"Mm. The Keyblade is really the only weapon capable of truly stopping the Heartless. Sure, anyone can defeat the Heartless, but over time they will soon show back up due to the influence of darkness. However, the Keyblade stops the Heartless for good. It's why they also fear and hate the weapon. Making the Heartless both afraid and attracted to the weapon and will seek to destroy it and its wielder."
Hearing just what the Keyblade was capable of, the three women couldn't help but see that this weapon was of grave importance in stopping the Heartless. And to hear that Sora was the only one who could truly stop this mysterious new and dangerous foe caused each of the Liyue residents to come to a sincere conclusion. They would extend a helping hand.
"A task this complex… it now makes complete sense why you're looking for information around the harbor" Ningguang added.
"There's a lot of land and sea covering the area. Might be an idea on where you could look" Beidou reasoned.
"Sounds like more areas to check."
It was starting to sound like a journey around the land might have to be something that he would set his mind to. Perhaps he could ask Eula for help. However, before pondering this thought any longer, Beidou suddenly spoke up.
"But don't let the sea part worry you."
"Huh? Sea part… What do you mean, Beidou?"
The brunette beauty shot the boy a look with her red eye staring right into his blue eyes and stayed there for a moment before he realized what she was conveying to him.
"Ah! How could I forget? You have a ship."
"Haha! Took you longer than I thought. Either way, now that I've heard all of this, I doubt I'll be able to stand by and let you handle this threat alone."
Ganyu and Ningguang looked at the Captain of the Crux with a calm expression. It seemed that they had a feeling she would do something like this.
"Which is why you have my support along with the Crux's. If there's somewhere you need to be, then leave it to me. I'll get you there."
A bright smile appeared on Sora's face. How could he have forgotten that? The answer… was that he was a half-pint.
"Heh, thanks Beidou! Traveling across the sea is the first thing that comes to mind. Ningguang told me that you're planning to head to Inazuma soon. Think I can properly catch a ride with you there?" Sora said, calling back to one of the first things he said to her.
"It all comes full circle haha! Of course! I'd gladly take you there" Beidou happily replied.
With a sense of ease and content now flooding the Jade Chamber, Ningguang was about to ask Sora a question regarding the Keyblade but was stumped as the sound of a door slamming open and someone running in her direction stopped her.
"Lady Ningguang!"
Suddenly, a guard dressed in yellow, black, white, and red appeared before everyone and lowered his spear while lowering his head. It also appeared that Ningguang knew this guard already.
"Forgive my intrusion but I have received dire news."
"Zhenhai, let us hear what you have to say."
"Thank you. A report has just come in that several guards were scrambling to reach the harbor from a statement garnered from another group of Millelith sentries located in Tianqiu Valley."
A confused look appeared on everyone's face but Sora's.
"Tianqiu Valley?"
"Yes. It was reported that several dark creatures with yellow eyes were spotted in the area attacking some of the wildlife. It was also noted that the sound of yelling could be heard in the distance but by the time the sentries got close enough the sounds stopped. It was at that point the news started to spread" the guard known as Zhenzai explained.
Concern was evident on everyone's faces as they all looked at one another.
"Send a detailed report to Keqing right away. She may already be aware of the situation but to make sure please continue to do so."
"Understood."
And with that, Zhenzai took off immediately leaving everyone wondering what to do next. However, a certain spiky-haired individual already knew what he was planning on doing.
"Right then! I'll head over there and see what the situation is like."
"Eh? Sora, you're planning on heading over there now?" Ganyu questioned.
"Yeah, no time to waste. If the Heartless are in the area, then it's likely they're after the hearts of every animal and person in the area. The longer they are there, the chances of their numbers increasing is high. I have to get there" Sora affirmed to the group.
Without wasting a single second to pass, Beidou seemed to prop herself up and crack out a smirk.
"If that's the case, then I'm coming with you!"
"Really?" Sora asked, somewhat startled by her proclamation.
"Why not? There's a dangerous monster out there that needs a good smashing. I figure why not join in on the fun? Besides, I'm quite curious to see the Heartless expert do his job. Call it curiosity at its finest" Beidou explained while flashing Sora a wide smile.
"Hehe, the more the merrier."
"In that case, thank you, Sora. Here, take this. It'll show the Millelith that you are in contact with me. Granted, they'll already know Beidou" Ningguang addressed.
"Very funny."
"I'll also head down and alert Yanfei and Eula about what is going on. Ganyu, if you would, stop by the military office and start preparing a search party to be sent out around the surrounding area. We need to be sure that there are not any Heartless in the area around" the white-haired girl confided.
"Of course! It'll be done right away."
Now with a plan in motion, Sora looked over at Beidou who quickly nodded to him in confirmation.
"Right, we've got this!"
Both Sora and Beidou took off right there heading past the Jade Chamber's main doors and found themselves staring out at the vast mountainous region before them. The spiky-haired boy quickly took in the amazing view before looking over at his partner.
"Uh… might be a bad time but where exactly is Tianqiu Valley?"
"That way. It'll take a minute to get down but if we can glide down to the nearest area then- "
As Beidou said this, she failed to see Sora start taking a few steps back and getting himself ready. A quick inventory and equipment check was being done. The thought of Amber's spare wind glider came to mind but due to his head being focused on getting there as soon as possible, he apologetically moved that idea to the back of his mind. He had another idea come to the forefront of his mind.
One that was more… intense.
"Beidou, do you have a glider to get down?"
"Yep. What about you?"
"I do but…"
"Huh? But what?" the brunette woman was confused by what he meant.
Sora then flashed Beidou a bright and daring smile which caused her to stop in her step and ponder what that meant. She was at a total loss until she finally realized just what he was planning.
"You're not thinking- "
"Yep. See you down there!"
Before the captain could get another word in, she saw the boy sprint toward the edge of the Jade Chamber's structure before leaping off without any wind glider on his back. She then peered over the edge and could see him spread out with his hands and body while soaring through the sky. A hearty and amused chuckle escaped her lips as she couldn't help herself from smiling ear-to-ear.
"You truly are something else, Sora. Haha! I'm starting to like you more by the minute."
And with that, she also leaped off the edge, only this time she made sure that her wind glider was ready to be pulled out and help her descent to the ground. The sight of the two soaring through the air from the Jade Chamber was truly one that people would remember for quite some time.
Back with Sora in his unusual position
Soaring through the air while leaving a trail right behind him as he was falling right below the Jade Chamber and seeing the landscape coming closer, Sora readjusted himself and summoned his Keyblade while aiming for a clearing.
"There we go!"
Having marked his landing spot, Sora readied himself before…
*Boom*
The force of him slamming his weapon and body into the ground created such a shockwave of energy that dust and some dirt went flying everywhere. He then picked himself up and began looking in the sky to find Beidou who he spotted calmly gliding down with her dark wind glider. Within seconds, she was now several feet above the ground before she free-fell to the ground and acrobatically rolled around until she was standing upright.
"That's certainly one way to get down faster."
"Ha, sorry about that. Nerves kicked in and the next thing I knew I was in the air" he casually replied while grinning.
A smug smirk appeared on her face before shrugging her shoulders.
"That adrenaline rush always lands you in some strange situations."
"No kidding." Looking ahead, Sora was left in awe at the new terrain and confided to Beidou. "I'm a fish out of water here. Do you think you can take point and get us there?"
"No problem at all. Let's get a move on. It'll be a bit away from here."
"Hmm. Lead the way."
Hearing the go-ahead, Beidou nodded her head and gestured for Sora to follow her. Now, the two were right beside each other while keeping a steady pace and making sure to communicate on where to go. This would lead the spiky-haired boy to do a bit of sightseeing in the land of Geo and how mountainous it truly was. Having only gotten a small glimpse of the land while on his way to Liyue Harbor, Sora couldn't help but think back to all the various worlds he visited before that had mountainous areas that he had to traverse through. It excited him to see all the beautiful sights and he inwardly wished the circumstances were different so that he could snap a photo or two but that could wait for another time.
There were far more important matters to deal with now.
Meanwhile, over in Tianqiu Valley
The sounds of spears and swords encountering either the ground or an object were all that could be heard along with the sight of many Millelith soldiers sprawled all over the place. This once peaceful spacious area had now become a battleground involving unique and dangerous monsters none of these soldiers had ever faced.
Leading this squadron of Millelith soldiers was a familiar girl with long lavender hair and an outfit of various colors mixing and matching purple, white, and black. She also had two distinctive buns resembling cat ears at the top of her head followed by her amethyst eyes. Most people familiar with Liyue's business leaders knew who she was as her title was that of the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing.
Keqing was her name and right now, she had quite a scowl on her face.
The reason for such a reaction was due to the many small dark creatures that seemed to linger in front of her. It happened without any warning whatsoever. A single report that had made its way to her caused her to assemble a squad of Millelith soldiers to help her deal with the problem and ensure the safety of all citizens within the area. However, that plan soon fell apart as the first wave of monsters forced the group to lower their guard due to how easy it was to defeat them. Within minutes, the entire squadron was surrounded and multiple Millelith members were taken out leaving Keqing to fill in the gaps.
Now, the situation was quite dire as the monsters' numbers overwhelmed them in a case of fifty over ten. Not the ideal outcome one would want in circumstances like this. Alas, the lavender-haired girl would not be backing down without a fight.
Hence, in a blink-and-miss moment, Keqing shot forward leaving only a slight sight of lighting before appearing right in front of a monster swinging her sword right toward its head and causing it to go flying back. With this moment in her favor, she began a flurry of strikes across the creature's body ultimately killing it and leaving it dissolving away before diving to the ground and rolling away from another monster leaping right at her. Shifting her body to sit up, Keqing then caused lighting to flash in front of her before appearing behind the creature once more and stabbing it in the back causing a deathly blow.
Witnessing their commander take charge, the other Millelith soldiers began to fight back against the dark monsters with spears lodged inside the creatures' chests or heads. A renewed burst of energy and wit coursed through the squadron as this fight looked to be on the upbringing of a comeback.
Keqing then decided to amplify her attacks and make some more room for everyone by twirling her sword by her side and pointing it right at a small group of monsters while holding the weapon inches away from her face. With a purple light radiating from her blade, the Electro Vision holder spoke one last thing before commencing her Elemental Burst at the group of foes.
"Nowhere to hide!"
Instantly, a burst of purple lighting appeared all around the group of monsters before a series of thunderclap-blows appeared to strike the creatures all simultaneously causing Electrostatic energy to damage them greatly before a final attack was launched. The drastic result was the creatures paralyzed and unable to truly move before succumbing to the pain and disappearing in a puff of black smoke.
Keqing was now standing back on her two feet with her sword lowered to her side and scanning the area in front of her. The attack she commenced created quite an opening which immediately resulted in a sly smirk appearing on her face.
However, that joyful expression on her face instantly disappeared as she spotted more monsters appearing to crawl out of a dark puddle with their yellow eyes being the only real thing that she could identify. Keqing couldn't help but feel a pit of worry start to appear in her stomach while glancing over at the remaining Millelith soldiers and seeing evident fear on their faces. This was a dangerous foe that showed no signs of stopping. An enemy with no real signs of stopping was a fear that nobody had ever felt before and it showed with how stiff and wide their eyes were now.
This was a losing fight.
"T-There's too many of them!"
"Lady Keqing! We need to get out of here NOW!"
Quickly analyzing the area and her options, Keqing knew when to play her cards right and when to maneuver a tactful strategy. However, that was against a foe that she was familiar with or at the very least had a moment to study. Now, with these dark monsters diminishing that style of planning, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing was left uprooted.
"Fall back! Help everyone that's- "
"Aaaaahhhhhh!"
Suddenly, a scream could be heard as multiple of the monsters started to pile up onto each other and create a massive tower. The tower had the characteristics of being completely black while the hair-chilling sight of seeing many yellow eyes caused some of the soldiers to freeze in their spots. It didn't help that the tower was starting to spin and looked to be mimicking a vortex's movement with how fast the monsters were spinning while piling up on one another.
At this moment, Keqing's mind came to a halt as she was unsure what to really do now. Never in her life had she been put in a strange and developing situation like this. With the conflicts involving Osial and Beisht, she along with many others had an idea of what kind of powerful foes they were dealing with and managed to plan ahead to venture past the developing cataclysms.
In this situation, no one was familiar with these creatures and how strong they truly were. This left Keqing to have many of her ideas come crashing down within her mind along with a sense of worry and anxiety building up in her chest. Alas, in this critical moment, she forced herself to keep a headstrong view of things and gripped the handle of her sword tightly before pointing it at the monster tower.
"Everyone! Fall back! I'll take point" Keqing called out to everyone still standing.
"B-But! Lady Keqing!"
"Go! Get everyone wounded back and call for reinforcements. I'll buy you enough time. No further delays!"
Wanting desperately to retort the Yuheng's command, the Millelith soldiers knew very well that if they stayed behind, they would most likely get in her way along with leave their fallen comrades in harm's way. It was the bitter truth, but they needed help. Help that would prove to be actually useful and as incompetent as they had been.
"Understood! We'll be back shortly so just hang on!"
As one of the soldiers said this, the other remaining soldiers scrambled themselves and their fallen allies into their arms and hastily made a mad sprint to get away from the field of battle. Within seconds, Keqing was the only one left as she brandished her sword with a purple charge of electricity lighting the blade to glow.
This would be her battlefield now and she would not be beaten.
Elsewhere with Sora and Beidou
Sora and Beidou had picked up the pace as they were now full-on sprinting with both of their weapons drawn. At least in the case of the Keyblade wielder, he had the Kingdom Key gripped in both of his hands as he was running. The brunette captain on the other hand had her claymore, Blackcliff Slasher, floating right behind her and was running with both of her hands free. Time was of the essence as dark clouds began to appear over the area that was Tianqiu Valley leading Sora to recall the time in Mondstadt near Wolvendom when the Heartless were beginning to appear rapidly across the land.
This must have been a sign that the same thing was happening over at Tianqiu Valley.
Climbing up a small slope among the rocky terrain, Sora now called out to Beidou about where they currently were since he had no direction without his Gummiphone at the moment, and even then, he would be a bit slow at navigating his way around as this was really his first time not on a direct path.
"Beidou, how far are we now?"
"Give or take five minutes. Since we passed that body of water a few minutes back, we should be coming up on Mt. Tianheng and then we'll spot the mapped-out path leading to Dunyu Ruins. After that, it'll be another few minutes around a set of mountains before landing us in Tianqiu Valley."
Sora began to realize that while a map would have helped him find his way over to the targeted location, the map would ultimately not be able to account for the various elevation levels and how much land there truly was to cover. It truly was a good thing that Beidou was here and quite familiar with the landscape.
"Got it. Do you need a break?" Sora asked, paying attention to his partner.
"Nope. I'm all good here. Besides, we can take a break once this is all over. Keqing still needs our help and based on what I'm seeing… we might need to pick up the pace…" Beidou said while continuing to walk and observe how dark the sky had gotten now.
"Yeah… heads up. Whatever happens, don't let the Heartless number intimidate you. Just remember to keep your wit and believe in yourself… in your heart" Sora said in a serious tone as he started mentally preparing himself for a repeat of Wolvendom.
A small smile appeared on Beidou's face at hearing the Keyblade wielder's concern.
"Don't you worry one bit. Whatever's happening over there, I'll be sure to do a damn good job cleaning up the Heartless mess."
"Heh. Good to hear. Let's just hope Keqing and the others can hold out for a bit longer…"
As Sora said this, he and Beidou immediately nodded to each other before breaking out into a sprint and continuing to run across the multi-level terrain. A mixture of climbing and rapidly sprinting were what the two were doing to reach the place of interest as they also hoped that Keqing and the others were doing alright.
Sadly, the situation was becoming more drastic by the minute.
Back with Keqing
The fight against the dark creatures was taking a turn for the worse as she was forced back once again scrambling to her feet as her clothes looked to be a bit torn and ripped at some parts of her outfit. Mainly her leggings and dress had been damaged but everything else was still intact. Not to mention, she had a few scratches across her arms and a small cut on her cheek along with dust and dirt but other than that the one thing she could say for certain was that these monsters did not play around.
Having lost count of how many she killed, the lavender-haired girl had gotten to the point of combat experience with these creatures and she was able to predict some of their movements and how they tended to act against her. Some leaped at her with their claw-like hands which resulted in her parrying them and finishing them off with a clean cut to the head. Others tended to sway side-to-side leaving her to burst forward in a fit of lighting and land an electrifying blow against them. All in all, her prowess and combat experience heavily paid off in a vital situation like this.
Now, Keqing found herself turning around on the back of her feet after narrowly dodging a monster attempting to slash right for her leg. She soon found herself teleported forward thanks to her Elemental Skill which was initiated by hurling a lightning stiletto at the monster which managed to create a blast of energy around the spot and allowed her to warp there instantly. With this monster dealt with, she had to quickly leap to the side to swiftly bypass a group of creatures flying right at her location.
The overall speed of these creatures was still not one that she had become accustomed to as they didn't all move at the same speed. Whether that was something on her part of overanalyzing or it was the creatures just messing with her, she wasn't sure about it. Nevertheless, she had to plan and move faster than before.
Immediately scanning the area around her, she saw that there was a small clearing which gave her enough time to catch a break. However, the reasoning behind this strange event was that all the monsters were now rushing to the dark pile which had now become a constructed vortex of creatures moving at a fast pace. There was no way she could directly attack the vortex without getting heavily damaged by the monsters. She was stuck in quite a predicament.
Coming to terms with her situation, Keqing calmed herself down and decided to take quite the initiative move and ready herself to jump into the vortex and find a weak point to the monster formation. This was undoubtedly a bad plan, but there was no time to really come up with any other idea. Letting her breath become shaky for a moment, the lavender-haired girl knew what she needed to do and would not let anyone else come in harm's way.
"You're not hurting anyone else!"
Saying these words, Keqing charged forward with her sword raised right next to her and was prepared to dive headfirst into the dark vortex. She wasn't sure what exactly would happen to her when she contacted the incoming wave of darkness. But she was ready to take that chance. However, something else happened. Something that she had not accounted for at all and left her utterly speechless.
"Light!"
Suddenly, a blast of white light appeared right in front of her and impacted the dark vortex practically causing it to collapse and scatter all the monsters on the ground. This random action had caused Keqing to grow wide-eyed and immediately turn around to see who caused that explosion. What she found was quite a strange sight.
Standing there holding what appeared to be a large skeleton key was a spiky-haired boy who had a strange attire that she had never seen before. He was also followed by a familiar brunette captain that she recognized immediately.
"Beidou?"
"Keqing, it's good to see you're alright. I take it you told the soldiers to leave?" Beidou questioned the girl while summoning her claymore into her hands.
"Yes, I sent them back to get some help. And based on you being here, is it safe to assume that you two managed to run into them?" the tired girl asked.
"Afraid that's not the case. We were just at the Jade Chamber when we got the news that a report of these monsters showed up. It was then that we learned about you taking a group of Millelith soldiers out with you to deal with them" Beidou clarified.
Hearing this, Keqing couldn't help but let out a stifled sigh while glaring at the dark monsters all clambering to pile back up and form another vortex. She could worry about the soldiers under her command later. Right now, she had bigger problems to deal with now. At this point, she also noticed that the spiky-haired boy next to Captain Beidou had his weapon pointed right at the creatures which seemed a bit strange.
"Thank you for your assistance. I'm afraid I don't think we've ever met."
The brown-haired boy couldn't help but let out a light chuckle.
"Not a problem. My name is Sora. It looks like you've been fighting the Heartless for quite some time" the boy now known as Sora said to Keqing.
"Sora… thank you for the help. And yes, though, I don't exactly know how long it's been since encountering these… what did you call them?"
"Heartless. And they're not a foe to underestimate."
Beidou gripped her claymore in her hand while purple lightning started jumping all around her weapon which she stabbed right into the ground and sported a confident grin on her face.
"Alright, then, let's see how tough these little guys are!"
About to retort the brunette girl for getting too confident, the many Shadow Heartless began to grow exponentially in size until the dark creatures had now reformed themselves to create a familiar foe that Sora was quite used to dealing with.
A Demon Tide.
"Watch out! If you get close enough, then it will- "
Before Sora could finish speaking, the Demon Tide seemed to shift its entire body so that it was now facing the trio. With the wind picking up, it was proving to become quite the spectacle that these monsters were conducting. Suddenly, multiple dark beings were being flung right at them resulting in Sora jumping in front of Keqing and holding his Keyblade up. This helped defend the two of them while Beidou instantly lifted her claymore and created a purple shield around her that seemed to glow as the Heartless were launched into it.
The barrage of Shadows hitting the two continued for a good whole moment before multiple Heartless now surrounded them. However, what they didn't account for was that Beidou's counterattack was ready to go.
"Back off freaks!"
Releasing her purple shield, a burst of purple lighting hit all the nearby Heartless and managed to kill them in one hit. Sora was a bit in awe at her ability and wanted to say something but realized that something was up with the Demon Tide as it was not acting normally.
Instead of trying to go after them, the Heartless tower suddenly shot forward into the air and started spinning around in a circle. This reminded Sora of his first encounter back in Twilight Town and how the sight left him beyond confused.
"What is it doing?" Keqing questioned, eyeing the dark mass.
"And how is it flying?" Beidou blurted out.
"I don't know. But whatever it's doing is probably not a good thing."
As if by chance, the Demon Tide immediately shot forward through the air and away from their location seemingly leaving Tianqiu Valley and heading elsewhere.
"We can't let it get out of sight!" Sora yelled before bolting away and running to catch up to the swarm of Heartless.
Not needing to say anything else, the two Electro Vision wielders nodded to each other and sprinted forward to catch up with Sora and the monsters somehow flying away in the sky. It didn't help that the weather had taken a turn for the worse and the wind had picked up in speed. Additionally, droplets of rain could be felt along with the roar of thunder sweeping the area and causing quite an unsettling mood. It didn't help that flashes of lightning were scattering across the once peaceful sky which was now covered in a dark blanket.
The situation with the Demon Tide could change at any moment leaving Sora and the others in quite the predicament. One that would surely lead to quite a challenge.
Elsewhere, in Liyue
Standing on what appeared to be a stone flower pedestal next to a body of water that looked to be quite worn down due to erosion and other geological reasons, a figure wearing a long dark coat was simply standing there whistling away without a care in the world.
*Whistle* *Whistle* *Whistle*
This figure, better known as the Master of Masters was simply biding his time as his on-the-spot plan was starting to come to fruition. He needed to wait just a bit longer until-
*Whooosh*
*Boom*
"Right on time," the Master of Masters said under his breath while turning around and seeing just who appeared.
Now seeing the figure that caused such a noise, the hooded man was met with the appearance of a stag that had orange glowing hoofs and a brown body with white tattoos on its back followed by a green and yellow upper body. The stag's antlers also seemed to have a sort of luminescent glow to them while being a dark brown and orange color while its eyes were a plain glowing yellow.
A low grunt was heard from the stag before a deep voice called out to the Lost Master.
"Hmm… you have a peculiar scent to you. One that I am not familiar with. Who are you?"
"Well, a greeting to you as well. Though I have to say, talking about someone's scent upon meeting them is kinda off-putting if you ask me" the Lost Master all too casually replied.
The stag wasn't exactly showing much of a reaction to the man's words and simply kept a close eye on him. This stag also wasn't like any other creature. He was an adepti, one that was among others who were rallied by the Geo Archon to fight in the Archon War.
Moon Carver.
"I will repeat myself once more and no more. Who are you?" Moon Carver demanded to the man.
"I'm nobody special. Just a wandering wanderer looking into this world's mysteries. You know, a man on a mission. Looking to seek the unthinkable. An explorer of things hidden and old."
The magical stag simply stared at the man once more and seemed to be wearing a frustrated expression on his face.
"Your words are nothing more than a ruse. Leave this place and never return."
"Hey, hey! Calm down. Geez. If you're getting this worked up about my name, then fine. I guess it won't be that big of a problem. My name is _" the mysterious hooded man confided.
Moon Carver did not exactly have any lasting reaction to hearing the figure's name. Instead, he narrowed his gaze to him.
"But for the sake of everything that's good and all, I'd prefer that you address me as a Lost Master."
"Hmph. To claim that kind of title…"
"Surprised? Trust me, you would not be the first one. Besides, appearances can be deceiving. You shouldn't just judge someone based on a first-running idea. The truth is what you see with your eyes, not what you hear."
As the Master of Masters said this, he nonchalantly put his hands behind his back and waited for the stag to respond. Moon Carver on the other hand was a bit put off by the man's words. A hint of knowledge was behind what he said but that alone did not allow the Adeptus to lower his guard.
"Wise words… however, that still does not prove to me that you are not an individual to be cautious around. I suggest you leave while circumstances are what they are."
"What? You're not curious as to why I was here in the first place or how it was that I even caught your attention? I sincerely doubt that you don't have questions gnawing at your… hoofs? Legs? Antlers? Ah, whatever body part of yours that tingles the most" the Master of Masters aloofly said.
The black-coated man began to walk over slowly and calmly to what appeared to be a small stone table with three small stone chairs. On the table, there appeared to be several empty cups and bowls with no presence of food apparent anywhere. The Lost Master then picked up one of the cups and examined it closely before placing it back and looking over at Moon Carver.
"So, care to ask the question on your tongue?"
"Which is?" Moon Carver asked, closely watching the mysterious figure.
A moment of silence seemed to pass before the Master of Masters spoke up.
"How was I able to summon an Adeptus to my location? And not just any Adeptus but the Moon Carver" he said in a condescending tone of voice.
A sense of tension was now present in the area.
"…You are treading on thin water."
"Wouldn't be the first time I've done that."
"There will be no exceptions, nor will there be any chance for redemption for you. Now, answer the question."
"Don't you mean my question?" The Lost Master teased the Adeptus.
Moon Carver's eyes were now glowing brightly while glaring at the coated figure.
"You have been warned."
Before anything else could happen, the Master of Masters quickly raised his hands in the air.
"Whoa, whoa! Easy there. I get it, I get it. Let's not destroy this place or better yet this mountain."
"You believe that you can withstand the power of a disciple of Rex Lapis?" Moon Carver questioned the man.
"What did I tell you before? Don't assume something on a first impression."
"Grrr…"
Left in an awkward position, the stag Adeptus simply decided to play his cards right and close to this chest. Where one plan failed, another would need to be upheld.
"Tell me… why are you here?"
Even though it was not visible, it appeared that the Lost Master had a smile on his face.
"Why else? I'm here for a lesson."
"A lesson?"
"Yep."
Again, a moment of sincere silence played out between the two before Moon Carver dared to say anything else.
"Why?"
"Why? Why not!? Isn't that the number one thing they teach you in school? Pay attention to the lesson. Well, I was absent that day of class and would like to hear the lesson for myself."
"Pray tell, what lesson are you talking about?" The stag's head was now tilted in confusion.
The Lost Master then took a few steps forward and was now looking up at the mountain right in front of him that seemed to have a beam of light connecting to another mountaintop.
"Everything. The Archon War. Celestia. Teyvat's Laws. And…" Taking a few steps forward, the hooded figure held out his gloved hand to the stag. "The Heavenly Principles. I wish to learn about it all."
"…"
The stag's eyes were kept open watching the man carefully. He had now jumped up several levels of danger and caution.
"You are asking for the impossible."
"Oh, no. I know exactly what it is that I'm asking for. The question is what would you like in return?"
"Hm? Why do you mean by that?"
"Well, it's simple. You'll be giving me a history lesson of this world while I… can share my own lesson."
A stark laugh could be heard from Moon Carver as he could not believe what he was hearing.
"You believe that you have knowledge that I do not know about? Hahahaha. You are an amusing one."
"…First impression huh?"
Suddenly, the Master of Masters raised his gloved hand and let it stay there for a moment. It looked as if nothing was truly going to happen.
Until… something did happen.
And when it did, Moon Carver could not hold the distraught and shocked expression on his face. Many questions soon flooded the Adeptus' mind but the one thing that remained prevalent was the smug body language appearing on the Lost Master.
"Well? Proof enough for you?"
"…Very well."
"Great! Now then, can we get the lessons going now? I might have somewhere to be soon."
"My time is not something that should be wasted."
"You're right. But… also wrong. You see, it looks like the action is going to pick up again here soon, and about time. I was dying of boredom. Took you long enough, Sora!" the Master of Masters shouted out.
This entire conversation with this man was unlike any Moon Carver had ever had before.
"What exactly is your deal?"
"Well, a bit of information sharing to catch you up to speed… even though you are a stag and could probably run faster than me…" The Lost Master snapped his fingers and began speaking again. "There are these dark creatures, Heartless, and to give you the really short version of a long generational… well, most likely longer story, they are the darkness within people's hearts. And right now, they are starting to appear in this region. They are not a mess you want infecting this nation or this world."
Concern was now present in Moon Carver's face.
"What do you mean? I demand a straight answer. These Heartless- "
"All in good time. I'm sure you'll be getting a visitor here soon. Besides, there's already someone here to clean up the mess. Trust me, he's great. He's a really friendly guy. Though, a bit too friendly at times."
Questions were piling up in the Adeptus' head, but he would get no time to voice them at all.
"You can even see the main event starting up soon. See? Over there" the Master of Masters said while pointing over to the distance where dark clouds covered the entire sky in what could be accumulated to be a blanket of darkness.
Moon Carver couldn't help but feel a bit of distraught balling up in his chest. It was as if his heart was telling him that something bad was about to transpire and it somehow connected to the hooded man standing before him. Alas, before he could say anything else, the mysterious figure coughed into his fist which drew the stag's attention back.
"Right, so then, mind getting to the lesson now? Time is of the essence, you know? Plus, I don't want to be late for the main event. I'd like front-row seats… actually no. I'm more of a third or fourth-row kind of guy. Not too close but not too far. Just right."
Hearing the Lost Master's gradual jump in character, the Adeptus stag couldn't help but wonder with great worry.
Who was this mysterious man?
*A/N* - Hey there, long time no see… again. *sigh* I have to stop that lol. With Sora's adventure into Liyue, it looks like things are going to be picking up with the Heartless appearing out of nowhere. Not to mention, with the MoM encountering Moon Carver and wanting to learn a bit more about Teyvat, things are going to get complicated soon. I'm also thinking about including hints of characters from the other regions seeing that Sora will soon have to venture to Inazuma, Sumeru, and now Fontaine. Additionally, I'm also working on a new way of getting stories out sooner without having this massive time gap between chapters. Sorry about that. This time, I blame everything entirely on the bonds that we call friendship. Especially the chaotic problem is known as peer pressure. Nevertheless, stories need to be told and updated as well as for our friendly Keyblade wielder to discover more of this world.