DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail are owned by MiHoyo.

Please support the official release.

Chapter 3: Unplanned Departure

I am 12 and this would be my last year at the House of the Hearth. Not by long-planned choice, but due to a mistake.

An explanation is needed, after all I can hardly just say I am leaving without a good reason. And the reason was quite good since it was a matter of life or death - my life was in peril.

It all started as Crucabena had another brilliant idea: it was time to finally push for the 'King' plan to get a bit more 'proper'. Usually the fights to death were limited from those around 15 or older, but she had purposely lowered the bracket to allow kids of 12 to enter.

It was clear she was getting impatient with the overall 'lackluster' developments of her original plan, but I was not the kind of guy that would let her have any fun. While some more lives did end up being claimed by this change, I saw fit to up my game and create as many draws as possible.

At this point, there was no effort in hiding the conflict between us. And while she looked as tempted as usual to punish me, now that habit had dropped the moment she realized I could hold up against her. Winning? Not exactly within my odds if it was about a fair fight. Hence why I wasn't planning to play fair with 'Mother'.

The older kids, those that were keen to survive and join missions, taught me a few tricks such as lockpicking some of the doors at the orphanage, and even how to craft smoke bombs. It was only fair that Sampo had his own 'pompous' tools to leave a mark on his foes, and it would do for a nice distraction within any sort of combat situations.

Still, the status quo wasn't bound to last. And the breaking point occurred during one of those spars as... Crucabena picked up the pace.

"Today, we will have some good guests from Snezhnaya. Please, make sure to treat them well."

If a guest is visiting, the family has to be in their best behavior. Even though the guests are 'bad guests'.

I wouldn't say the trio was entirely evil, but I had a feeling they had been 'asked' to visit not out of 'educational purposes', but rather to do something about the duels. I just spared a quick look to the Anemoboxer Vanguard that towered over the other skirmishers, and I could tell he was the worst of the bunch.

They didn't cause any trouble, but it was clear they had been called to the orphanage for... me. It was during lunch that someone finally asked me what 'I' did to get those looks from the guest, and I found myself deeply offended by lil' Perry's perplexity.

"Silly sister, I have no clue who these fashionable people are. In fact, I would say that I may be up to a bigger surprise since I don't know why they dislike my lovable face so much."

In these four years I also taught both Peruere and Clervie how to fight. The former sponging this form of knowledge better than the latter. I also learned through this effort that Perry found lances to her liking- actually, any long weapon was her favorite, with scythes being her favorite tools.

Combat was rough between us as I saw fit to pick up her training to be ready for the 'King Dueling' and she was quick to adapt to the sudden rise in difficulty. Clervie was... she was the one that worried me the most.

She had tried to escape. Ten times now. And she had clashed with Crucabena a lot as of late due to puberty making her even more rebellious than she was as a little brat. My little Bulle-head was too soft-hearted for her own good. Actually, she was too public about it rather than be willing to conceal her heart from her heartless mother.

I was a bit surprised to learn that Clervie was actually Crucabena's biological daughter, especially since it implied someone found Crucabena hot and Crucabena found someone to get fucked by rather that reproduce asexually.

Still, Clervie was 'accident-prone' around her mother, and this was definitely going to be a big thing for Perry with how much she liked her sister. Sadly for the three of us, our bond was not meant to last beyond that very unusual day.

After we were done chatting more about the situation and 'discuss contingencies', the true move of Mother was exposed during the usual duel hours.

Mother picked me, saying that I was one of the 'best fighters' in the House and thus I had to show that to our guests. In that regard, it meant fighting these three one at the time on my own. To a normal kid, this was... well, an execution. And I could see that myself but...

I am Sampo, why would anyone think I was unaware of my bad luck?

Alas, I wasn't facing the top notch fighters of the Tsaritsa's troops. Those were just willing to beat a 'smug kid', and I showed them that I wasn't just smug. I was a fucking winner!

The first two I fought were 'Bracers', a Pyro and a Geo users. The fight was disappointing for those expecting me to struggle. Both were glass-cannons in their own rights, and were stubbornly latching into the powers they had. I had to merely remove their footing and strike them unconscious to get the victory.

The same didn't extend to the Anemoboxer. This was a veteran, someone that, albeit stuck with the same pattern, he had mastered it to some intriguing level. I almost got smacked unconscious the moment I tried to deal with him the same way I did with his subordinates.

He didn't smirk or snort at my quick retreat, rather he appeared crude with his own expressions. He wanted to be elsewhere, he didn't want to fight a kid and, much to his surprise, I wasn't exactly here to give him a 'quick fight'.

As soon as I realized he was looking forward to draw this fight to a quick end, I decided that I would give him a slow-paced and sloppy brawl. I was taking my sweet time and the Anemoboxer picked up on this very fast. And it started to grate on his nerves. Which in turn made him start acting out of his previously calm stance.

It was a rather good waiting game that I, eventually, won. The man got too annoyed, started to expect me being less prepared for more aggression from him, but he was given a wake up call as I ditched my duel sword and used my fists to do the 'talking'.

While I couldn't beat him up, I could give him a concussion or two by smacking the weak spots of his head and then forcing him on the ground. The fight was lengthy, but it was still far from the brutality we were forced to face.

Right as I finished, however, I was surprised to hear Mother applauding at my success.

"A wonderful victory, Sampo. I suppose you will do a fine new skirmisher thanks to you passing this test."

...

"What?"

"This was a test, boy. One that you passed. These three are examiners for the Fatui Skirmishers and I have personally recommended your name for that assignment. Congratulations."

Her hands didn't clap for long, not when she saw me actually not smile for once. I think Crucabena felt slapped by such a reaction. She would have expected me to lash out or something, but this was such a minimalistic and yet powerful response that it made her hesitant.

There wouldn't be any duels for the rest of the day, and I was to leave for the morning of the next day. I wasn't happy. This was such an infuriating development that I felt the urge to just gut her for good. But what good would have that truly done? I would have been put to trial and killed for slaying a harbinger.

No, I had to improvise a bit for what was to come in that regard and... and yet the last night I spent in the House of Hearth was the most. It would be an understatement to say that the male dormitory had been swarmed by all kids. Everyone in the House, even those that loathed me, was there.

The unifying point was how this came to be. The House would never give up anyone to the Skirmishers unless they were 'utterly weak'. It was such a silly concept that it was clear how Crucabena had rigged the situation to truly shit on me.

But the worst part was how some of the younger siblings were taking it. I had been their protector up to this point and-

It would be a lie to say that they were being that tame with their plans of 'smuggling me out'.

"It's not needed, I already have a plan to escape," I assured the family. "But that's not why everyone is truly concerned. Or most of you at least. Once I am out of the house, things will change and it will only get worse."

"Who will replace you?" One of the older siblings asked.

"No one."

There was shock at my comment, but I wasn't done talking.

"If I decided to choose someone to play my part once I am out, then Mother will play the same trick and just weed out those willing to be the lambs for slaughter. The truth is that there can't be another 'Sampo' after tomorrow. But... I have a plan."

Hope was once against lifted up for the younger siblings, but the older ones held a cynical look on the situation.

"Which is?" Clervie asked and I turned to Peruere.

"Show them."

The girl frowned, annoyed but understanding of the simple idea I was trying to express. Her Pyro Vision was soon in sight, and all those around were stunned by this revelation. But I added to the surprise by revealing my own Anemo Vision.

"While it's true that there can't be another Sampo in this House of Hearth, there is a Peruere. And she has the chance to win in due time. Not now, not in a few months-time... I will give you five years to train yourself and be ready to do the one thing I wanted to do but can't."

Perry bowed her head sorrowfully. "Kill Mother."

"And free the House of its malevolent Shadows. Your flames shall scorch the pollution and give the chance for this broken home for broken kids to be born anew."

There was silence, and I slowly reached out to give her a hug. She was stiff in the embrace, but she also started to twitch and sob as the others tagged for a big family hug.

"I may not be here and... some may not make it," I pointed out quietly. "But we trust you to save those that are too young to be slaughtered and those that will join us in the future. Be not the dreadful father... but a cold and unfeeling parent that, deep down, knows what's best to care for their children."

I felt her shaky arms finally wrap around my waist as she nodded against my chest.

This House was broken, but there was hoping to patch up something somewhat functional in the long run.

"And that's how I ended up leaving the House of the Hearth," I spoke up, yawning as I enjoyed the suave silence of the river while the bamboo boat took me deeper in Chenyu Vale. I turned to the boat-master with a smile. "Whaddya think? Fascinating story?"

The old man frowned. "That's it? How did you escape the Fatui that were to take you out of Fontaine?"

"Oh, I forgot to mention that, now... did I?" I hummed lazily. "Well, with a few smoke bombs and by bolting away by boosting my steps with my Anemo powers. Nothing crazy, but it worked since I have a bit of a plan on where to go for the time being: out of reach from the Fatui, that is."

The old man nodded, looking relieved that I wasn't planning to turn the Vale into a target by lingering for long. Then again, I was planning to explore Liyue a bit just so I could get some Mora for any future expenses. At least until I made it to Mondstadt to get some more training and then...

Maybe I will check Inazuma. Who knows.

AN

Plan? What plan?

Sampo is about to learn that long-term plans are not bound to survive under the guidance of his patron. After all... Aha can get amused by mundanity for so long before shit hits the fun for shit n' giggles.