A/N: Double update day!
Had to switch things up. Endless Hunt isn't ready yet.
Still writing these despite the pain. Meanwhile, "Breath of Fresh Air," "Lord of Frenzy," "An Endless Hunt" and "Whistle of Death" are nearly ready now. Slifer, meanwhile, is hard at work on "No Strings on Me" Claws of a Lion and Demon of Ashford are FIGHTING ME. You have no idea. Its maddening. Don't get me started on A Boy's Journey and Blood Upon the Snow. Bloody difficult to write long chapters like those.
Hope you're ready for this chapter. Its got a bit of everything in it.
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days, I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes or memes.
They're tributes to legends far greater than I, one and all~!
"Wait a second! You can't just run to another continent! Bad idea! Very bad idea! Even for you!"
What are you even going to do in Sumeru? Kidnap their Archon?
The ramifications of such an act-
"Hahaha, chakra go brrrrrr."
"LISTEN TO ME!
~?
What You Call Home
...what did you do to that Signora lady? Is she even alive?"
"Maybe." Naruto climbed to his feet with a sigh. "Maybe not. If she is, she's about to wish she wasn't.
A gulp was his reward. "Okaaaay...remind Paimon to always stay on your good side. Forever and always!"
"Noted."
He cracked his neck, dusted off his hands...and paused as a pang of guilt pricked his conscience.
When he looked back, he found Paimon staring at him with wide, round eyes, hugging both arms to her chest. For the first time since he'd met her, she looked afraid. Not of him, surely. She couldn't be afraid of him. He'd never harm a hair on her head. Didn't she know that? She'd flown out here to check on him after that last attack, arriving only moments ago. And yet the way she was looking at him...
.
..
...no, best nip that in a bud.
His face closed down as he loped her way.
The tiny fairy shrank back a little. "W-Wait a second! Why are you looking at Paimon like tha-hmm?"
Her yelp cut off into a startled squeak as he took ahold of her and pulled her into his chest, practically trapping her arms at her sides. She kicked out in surprise for a moment before she realized he wasn't going to harm her, and even then she squirm a little in his grasp.
"What're you doing?" she sniffled a little, trying to hide her anxiety. "You smell funny."
"Well, that would be all the fire and the smoke. Now, listen." He drew back, holing her at arms length. "I'm still me. Nothing's changed. That wicked bitch of a witch took Klee hostage, so I had to put her down and make sure she stayed down. Hard. I'm still ticked, but not at you. And I need to go deal with some very bad people, very soon. Do you understand?"
She blinked up at him just a little too quickly. He glimpsed tears on her lashes. She'd been crying. "So...you're not mad at Paimon?"
"Nope." he booped her nose with one finger, cutting her off. "And I never will be. We'll get something to eat after all this, I promise. I know you're hungry."
Something changed in her face. "Could we have some more Fisherman's Toast?"
"We'll have whatever you like. Now be a good girl and stay here." he poked her forehead. "I don't want her kidnapping you, too."
"Got it!" Her chin bobbed in a nod and that dazzling smile shone forth once more. "Paimon will be careful."
He patted her head in return. This time she didn't shy away. "Thatta girl."
She hummed happily and didn't budge.
With that done, he pivoted and strode toward the Harbinger's resting she lay prone in the crater where he'd left, broken and twisted, body curled in on herself in what might well have been her final moments. Was she dead? Alive? Feigning weakness to lull him into a false sense of security so she could take Paimon captive? He needed to know. Had to.
"Is she alive?"
"Shhh!" he waved Paimon down. "Stay there!"
Warily, he nudged Signora's shoulder with a boot and rolled her onto her back, ready for any attack. None came. A muffled groan greeted him instead. He squinted down at her and found her breathing; bloody chest still rising and falling as she coughed fitfully. Stubborn witch. She'd lost an arm and a leg besides -alongside most of her hair- and her body was a lacerated mess, yet she still clung to life...what was left of it.
"How annoying."
On that, he agreed with Kurama.
Would it be too much for one of his enemies to just stay dead?
That said, the Harbinger's body was a lacerated mess. No surprise there. As a whole, the Rasenshuriken didn't simply cut you, it attacked your very cells on a molecular level. There could be no greater pain than what he'd inflicted on her. There was a reason he didn't use it on anyone unless he absolutely must. It was, in a word, death. Annihilation pure and simple. Still she'd survived, if only just.
He didn't envy her life after this. It would be a miserable one.
A terrible thought occurred to him as he glared down at her trembling form.
No one in Mondstadt would be surprised if Signora died here. He didn't want her hounding him in the future, either.
Paimon couldn't see him down here in the crater.
Perhaps it would be better for the world if Signora died in her sleep. His arm rose.
And her good eye snapped open.
"I yield!" she saw the cold look in his eye and threw herself on his mercy. "I yield! Whatever I did to you, I'm sorry!"
Naruto closed his heart to her miserable little whimper. He wouldn't be swayed. Not now. She could've lost her memories and he STILL wouldn't rust her. Was that what she was doing now? Feigning ignorance. Or did she truly not understand what she had done to upset him? No matter. If this was a trick of some sort, he wouldn't fall for it.
"I have a message for your Tsaritsa." He gripped her by her hair -what was left of it- and hauled her up. "You're going to drag yourself to her and deliver it for me. Listen closely now. Its very important."
He leaned closer still, eyes blazing with green Anemo light. She quivered under his livid stare.
"Leave. Me. Alone."
"...!"
Signora gibbered something that might've been a word in some circles. He wasn't sure. In the end, it didn't matter. Her good eye rolled back in her head and she fainted dead away. He let her slump to the ground, knelt down now, and slung her over his shoulder as one might a particularly surly sack of flour. Good riddance to bad rubbish. He never wanted to deal her again after this. At least Childe had some semblance of honor, rudimentary though it was. He knew he couldn't stay here much longer. Mondstadt was...nice, but he didn't feel welcome here...
.
..
...and besides.
He had a conversation to finish.
With an weary sigh, the whiskered warrior sat down, closed his eyes and focused on his Gnosis.
Wasn't hard to do; it was still resonating in his chest despite the bitter interruption; all too eager to take up the task. Really, all he had to do was trace the connection back to its source, follow the flow and...there. He felt something. Kurama didn't say a word and let him focus on it. The strange sensation grew stronger in his chest. He felt another tug, like gentle branches enfolding his spirit-
And the world fell away.
Nahia was waiting in the void when he opened his eyes.
She looked quite startled to see him, all things considered. "You came back...?"
"Of course I did." He rolled looked around, mildly nonplussed by the empty expanse." Is this going to be a recurring theme here?"
She gave him a small, sad, shy little smile. "I'm afraid so. I've never had much in the way of belongings and I'm still rather trapped where I am."
His nostrils flared in anger as he saw the sadness and sorrow in those luminescent green eyes. Protect the child. How could anyone hurt such a small, precious bean...?
"I just wanted to tell you I'm headed your way." he planted a fist on his hip. "Or I will be, in a few minutes. Just wanted to give you a heads up...
His conscience jabbed him. Jabbed him hard. He yielded to it with a grumble.
...and I might be a little rough with your sages."
Her face closed down. "You said you wouldn't kill them."
"I said I would try not to. It all depends on their response to my questions."
"Wait, wait, wait. You're coming here? Now?!" Horror dawned across her face, but with it, hope. "No! You can't just run over here and start popping heads!" she shook a finger at him. "Nevermind the fact that you're not that fast! It would take you a few days at least to make it to Sumeru!"
Kurama scoffed amidst his thoughts. "Dear girl, you have no idea."
His eyes sparked. "Wanna bet?"
She spluttered helplessly. "What about your city?"
Naruto laughed yet again. Mondstadt was in good hands.
"After all, I'm not the only one whose Order was disrupted today...
(.0.0.0.)
Rosaria hit the ground in a heap. "What was that?! What the devil are you?!"
Golden eyes considered her. "Order."
And the sky answered.
(.0.0.0.)
His bid his goodbyes to a worried Nahida and opened his eyes.
The faint sound of rapidly approaching footsteps snapped him back to reality.
"Naruto!" Paimon yelped a heartbeat later, voice piquing with distress. "Somebody's heeeeeeeeeeeere!
"Aha!" A relatively unfamiliar voice called over the lip of the crater. "So this is where that storm came from!"
Cresting the crater, he found a familiar face staring back at him. Hadn't he seen her before? He vaguely remember that bow and her outfit...
"Amber...right?" he distantly remembered hearing her name somewhere. Aha! Now he remembered. One of Mondstadt's outrider knights. "Perfect timing." A quick toss dropped the insensate Signora in her arms. "Put this one on a boat to Snezhnaya. Need her to deliver a message for me. Or toss her in a cell," he amended, recalling Childe's retreat to the city. He could always use him as a messenger instead. "I don't care.
The poor girl flinched. "That might cause a diplomatic incident...
Did he care? Not in the least. "Does she look like she's in any condition to protest?"
Amber glanced down, only now noticing the woman's wounds. "What did you do to her?"
He looked back to the wretched woman who once called herself Rosalyne. "What does it look like?"
The shattered harbinger whimpered in her sleep.
"I think you broke her...
"Good." he scoffed. "There are some things worse than death. She never asked for redemption and she ain't getting it now."
Her brow furrowed. "Not to judge, but isn't that a little harsh of you?"
A blond brow rose in mild annoyance. "And your point is...?
"Yeesh." the girl shivered. "Jean was right. You're scary."
"Only to my enemies." he waved her down. "Just take care of that witch. I have places to be."
"What's the rush?"
Everything. Every second he let those Sages keep Nahida sealed away was an affront to all honor and decency. Every instant in which Grand Sage Azar drew breathe enraged him to no end. It was almost ironic; he didn't think he was capable of this kind of raw, visceral hatred anymore. You learned something new every day it seemed. Of course, he couldn't say that. Not aloud. Diplomatic incidents and all that. Real hush-hush.
Besides, if he said something, Amber might try to stop him.
Instead, he granted her a wry grin. "Things to do, places to be, people to kill."
"My lord Archon?!" she balked, pure girl that she was. "One of those things sounds illegal!"
"Probably because it is." he couldn't help but smile at her gobsmacked expression. "Say, you don't mind looking after Paimon for a few hours, do you?
The young knight winced under his gaze. "I don't know-
"Too bad, wasn't a request, take the small child."
"Paimon objects!"
He pivoted, quirking a blond brow her way. "To what? Staying behind?"
"No!" The little imp huffed and crossed both arms before her chest. "To you leaving without saying goodbye!"
It was almost adorable, watching her pout. He found his brief burst of anger much softened for it. "I'm coming right back, ya know..."
Paimon made angry Paimon noises.
Naruto felt his lips twitch in a small, rueful smile. It was such a Paimon thing to do.
"Alright, alright." he strode back to her and reached down to tousle her hair affectionately. "I'm off, Paimon. I'll be sure get you an extra helping of Fisherman's Toast when I get back.
"Heee~! Her happy cry healed his soul. "Alright, then!" She beamed to send him off as a daughter might their father on a long journey. "Take care and come back soon~!
Of course he would. He knew exactly where he was going.
And so he did. Simple as.
Run, Naruto. Run.
(.0.0.0.)
Azar had no use for his failed God.
Some might say it wasn't a matter of emotion, but logic.
He disagreed with that theory. He despaired her for both logic and emotion.
As Grand Sage of Sumeru Akademiya, he considered himself a learned man, and as a learned man, he knew full what Archons were, or at least he believed he did. Archon were akin to gods, beings that stood apart from humanity, capable of feats far beyond mere mortals and their visions. The very existence of one staved off the threat of war. They were beings beyond compare, shining beacons to which all aspired.
In that regard, Lesser Lord Kusanali was, in every way, a disappointment to him.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's successor was a failure; a pale shadow of she who had come before. Truly, she would have wept to see her.
What could she even do? Nothing! Less than nothing! No, a new god was required. A proper Archon.
An offer had been made by an old...colleague, toward such a goal; one he and the sages -most of them- had happily accepted. Those who resisted were summarily locked away in their quarters and placed under heavy guard until such a time as their goal reached fruition. He and his three cohorts were even now considering how best to go about it behind closed doors.
Knock.
As one, the sages stilled.
Azar looked toward one of said door, irked by the noise. "Begone. We do not wish to be disturbed."
Knock. Knock.
He scowled. "Are you deaf?! I said leave us be! Cease that at once!
Knock. Knock. Knock.
And still the tapping persisted.
His face purpled in anger. "I will have you expelled-
The door burst open, all but flying from its hinges to admit someone was most assuredly neither a scholar nor a sage. The brute looked positively haggard, like he'd come fresh from a sight. Yet his eyes burned a wild, raw shade green. As did his chest. Those keen eyes narrowed upon at them as someone stepped through, framed by blond hair and whiskered cheeks set in a stern scowl.
And despite that, or perhaps in spite of it, he sounded almost happy to see them. "Hello friends~!"
None of the sages dared speak. His comrades looked to Azar to lead them, as they always did.
Azar bridled. "Who are you?! Who let you in here?! Explain yourself!"
"In order? Alright." A rush of wind carried him forward. "Naruto, me, myself and I, aaaand," He took a quick, shallow breath to continue, "I wanted to have a little chat with you. I'm guessing you're the sages."
Azar puffed up indignantly. The gall of it all! The unmitigated gall! "We are indeed!"
"I only see four of you. Shouldn't there be six?" a pause now, as he seemed to listen to a voice only he could hear. "Ohhh, I see. Only four of you consented to this. Sealing her away. Where are the other two?" he looked among them regarding them as one might a pack of petulant children." Did you try to lock them up as well? Did you kill them?
"You dare to suggest-
"Shhhh." a finger pressed to his lips, shushing him. "Your voice is starting to make me angry. Trust me, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry. I have just one question for you." he made a vague pinching motion with the other hand for emphasis. "One tiiiny little inquiry. Answer that for me, and I'll be on my merry way.
...speak it then, and never darken our doorstep again.
Azar smacked his hand away. What did it matter? This fool would be dead soon enough once the guards arrived.
Dead men told no tales. How little he knew.
How very little...
"Alright." the blond man -whom he was beginning to suspect was much more than that- tilted his head to regard. "Why did you seal her away?"
An icy pang of dread rang frigid fingers down Azar's spine, chilling him to the bone.
He knew. How did he know? It shouldn't be possible...!
Indignation rushed in, smothering his fear.
Another mistake on his part.
"Gods exist on a plane that far eclipses humanity's, you ignorant fool." he failed to see the slight twitch in the man's jaw."Lesser lord Kusanali...what can she even do? Care for the people? Fend of sandstorms? Fabricate silly fairy tales? Bah!" a scoff slipped past his lips as he shook his head, and in doing so, he also failed to see the look of murderous rage flit across the youth's face as he stepped closer. "In truth, the ascension of this so-called lesser lord has brought nothing but bewilderment to the scholars." With that in mind, it is better to keep her isolated in the sanctuary so our academy will not become embroiled in turmoil-
Laughter burst out of the intruder, startling him. How rude!
For he was laughing now, clutching his sides as he doubled over, shoulders quivering with repressed mirth. Had he taken leave of his senses...?
"Stop that!" he spluttered! "Stop laughing this instant, you reprobate!"
"That's your reason?" Remarkably, he did just that, wheezing out one final chuckle. "Because you thought she wasn't good enough? I thought you might at least have a good one, but you really are a rotten piece of dung, aren't you? Alright." he straightened up, wiping a mirthful tear out the corner of his eye. "No need to feel bad bout this then.
"Bad about what-
Naruto grabbed the nearest sage by his throat and snapped their neck to the left.
The awful sound of broken bone and shattered sinew filled the air. Screams went up.
Azar skittered backward, eyes bulging at the sudden execution. "Guards!"
No response came from the adjacent hallway. None at all.
A bead of sweat ran down his brow. "GUARDS!"
"They're not coming."
Naruto cast the corpse aside and made a sweeping gesture with his hand. A visceral blade of unseen air cut another sage in twine. His severed halves toppled to the floor.
Azar stumbled back, blood spattered across his face.
The third screamed and tried to flee.
It didn't save them.
"...!"
The blond beast slung some sort of spell after them. It struck their back and they simply ceased to be, disintegrating outright. All that remained were their bloody shoes and stains against the wall.
Only then did he deign to face him.
"Do you understand now?" he held up a hand, wind singing in his palm. There was no vision to be seen on his personage. "What I am?"
Azar choked. "You...you're a...!
"I'm an Archon, you vicious little shit. We look after our own."
Azar's vaunted mind fizzled. He tried to retreat. His spine struck a wall.
Naruto waded in after him, ripped a desk aside, and grabbed him by the collar of his robe.
"For a land revered for its wisdom, you're not being very wise. Try not to bleed everywhere, would ya? All these stains are murder on my clothes." The Anemo Archon swept an idle hand through his hair as he spoke, a red eye gleaming between the gaps of his fingers. "I don't want Paimon to see any blood when I get back."
Azar opened his mouth to speak. "Wait-
Clenched knuckles crashed into his face, shattering his front teeth and rendering his nose a red ruin. He toppled backward, clutching his face. The assault didn't end there. Even as his back met the ground a knee slammed into his chest, pinning him to the hard, cold, unfeeling floor. Green eyes met his. No words were given. No threats issued. No quarter offered. The blond's arm swung back.
And then there was only pain.
Fist after fist found Azar, slamming his head back into the floor with alarming regularity. Three punches. Four punches. Five, now. They thundered down on his face and skull. His world swayed side to side as a bloody fell over his vision. His monocle shattered beneath the beating, digging wicked shards of glass into his eye. He tried to cover his face to no avail; his arms were beaten, battered, broken, and brushed aside. Time ceased to be, to having any meaning to him. There was only pain.
Finally, he found some semblance of his voice. "Mercy!"
Here at last, the beating paused.
Azar slumped with a whimper.
"Mercy?" Naruto blinked back at him, and said whimper became a bloody gurgle as another fist found his throat. "There is no mercy." cold green eyes gazed down into his bloody, swollen face, uncaring of the blood all over him. "Don't worry. I won't kill you. See, I'm starting to realize something." he leaned down to leer at him. "Death is easy. You don't get the easy way out. Not after what you did.
Horror dawned and with it, realization. "No, no, no, wait please! I beg of you-
Naruto's fist descended anew. Azar screamed. And screamed again.
Screamed some more, now.
(.0.0.0.)
Nahida heard it.
A faint shattering, like so much glass.
She felt it a heartbeat later, the cracking of her cage.
Her eyes remained closed, so she couldn't see, but she could hear all the same. Incredulity and fear reared their ugly heads in her hears. He couldn't be that fast. No one was. Not even the Electro Archon. It just wasn't possible. Time got funny here in her cage, but she was sure it had only been a few minutes. Nevermind getting here; he must've made it past the sages, which meant...well, it meant they were dealt with. She could not find it in her heart to be angry about that.
Another crack etched itself into the emerald sphere containing her. She didn't need to see it to hear it.
When was the last time someone had gone to such lengths for her. She couldn't remember. There had never been such a time.
And yet here he was, A New Archon, younger than her, doing what none had done before him.
The cage shattered, and with it, the wards binding her. Her eyes opened.
There he was. Waiting for her. Bloody, but triumphant.
Smiling.
Seeing that smile felt like coming home, finding a haven, shelter she'd never realized was there.
"Yo." Naruto waved a hand, sauntering her way as she descended to the ground. "Should I say its nice to meet you...?"
Nahida felt her eyes burned with unshed tears. The emotion startled her. "That's my line...!"
"Sorry." he managed to look a little sheepish. "Wanna start over?"
That tore it; a hiccup tore out of her, followed by a sob.
She leaped into his arms.
A/N: PROTECC THE CHILD!
Ironically, the Sage beatdown was nearly a LOT bloodier. Had to tone it down.
We'll pick up here next chapter. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you do not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, anger an Archon.
Once more, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story? Well...I'll not continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
Right then, as ever, Reviews are love, Reviews are Life.
Reviews keep me safe from any and all strife.
So in the immortal words of Atlas...
...revieeeeew, would You Kindly?
Enjoy these humble previews.
Far though some are.
As ever:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
(Preview)
He grabbed her hand.
Her world blurred.
"Protect the child. That is all."
Jeanne bowed her head. "I...overreacted. For that, I wish to apologize."
Shenhe latched onto his arm. Latched hard, and turned a fearsome pout upon him. "No running off again."
...you're not letting go, are you?"
"No. No, I am not."
"Are you certain you won't go to Liyue?"
Lumine squinted at him. Naruto squinted back. Grinned now.
"Did we just become best friends?"
Naruto flicked her forehead. "You're acting like a child."
The Archon recoiled with a yelp, clutching her stung brow. "Excuse me?!"
"Losing your loved ones...yeah, that hurts, I know. It makes you want to scream at the world. I can understand that. But this?" He swept a hand up, indicating the desolate landscape around them. "This isn't the answer. I know it hurts. I know you want to hide away from it all. Yet
"And what would you know of it?"
"More than you could possibly imagine."
How dare he...! "You cannot even BEGIN to imagine what I have lost."
"You're right." his nod startled her. "I can't. But you don't know me, either. So why don't we sit down and talk this out like adults." those piercing blue eyes glimmered green, glancing to her weapon. "We've got plenty of time in here. Or we could fight." he planted his feet and strengthened his stance, ready to move at the slightest provocation. "Kill each other again and again until death finally sticks for one of us. Is that what you want?
"..."
"Neither, then? Fine. Be a coward. Think about it. You know where to find me when you're ready to talk."
His peace said, he turned his back on her.
"You would walk away from me...?"
A continent away, Venti winced. "Oh, dear. I heard that from here. He's really angry...
Blood spattered his face.
His victim laughed. "There he is. There's the monster. You can be surprisingly...heartless...when push comes to shove...
They died in his arms, still laughing.
...why are you in a tree?"
"Dunno. Why are you dancing where no one can see?"
Ayaka felt heat spear through her face. "You are...a very strange man."
"Lady, you don't know the half of it.
EDIT: Hey, thanks for making it!
As my fifteen year anniversary on this site draws near, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work tonight~!
~Nz.