A place where the echoes of a forgotten era still linger, the jagged cliffs standing like silent tombstones for the old gods.
It was here, amidst these towering stones, that Morax, now known as Zhongli, once clashed with Osial, a god and sea monster of unimaginable power. The stone lances that pierce the islands are the remnants of that fierce battle, each one a testament to the violence and destruction that reshaped the land.
Now, bruised and battered, Zhongli stands beside you, having guided you here by your command. You stand at the edge of the highest cliff, your gaze fixed on the ocean where Osial lies sealed beneath the ruins of the Jade Chamber.
The waves crash below, quiet yet chaotic, as if they too remember the horrors buried in the deep. The sky above is shrouded in grey clouds, a fitting shroud for the sorrow that hangs in the air.
Your eyes, usually cold and unyielding, hold a deep sadness as you stare into the distance. This place, once filled with lively memories and the warmth of your first love, now only reminds you of loss and betrayal. The memories of joy that once flourished have long since faded, leaving only the harsh reality of mortality and the fragility of existence.
This is where it all ended โ where your belief in the worth of mortals began to waver. The same place where your faith was shattered, and where the light of your love was extinguished, leaving only the lingering question of whether any of it was ever truly worth it.
You remember his eyes โ those stark, marine blue eyes that gazed into yours with a gentleness you had never known. It was as if he saw you for what you truly were: something fragile, something that could shatter at any moment. In his gaze, there was a softness, a tenderness that made you feel different, something almost like hope.
Before him, your life had been nothing but a long, lonely journey through the cosmos. You wandered from planet to planet, from one universe to another, without a purpose, without a destination. You fought, you killed, you survived. That was all you knew.ย
Those who crossed your path, who dared to stand against you, became nothing more than casualties in your relentless march. The stars themselves were silent witnesses to your existence โ an existence without meaning, without a place to call home, without anyone waiting for you at the end of your journey.
You were lost, adrift in a sea of countless stars, each one a reminder of the infinite emptiness you felt inside. You had no roots, no ties, no love. All because you followed the path of Nihility, presided over by the Aeon IX. You were an Emanator, an anomaly that should not exist. The Emanator of Nihility.ย
Your very presence was a harbinger of war, a force that could spark countless conflicts across the galaxy. And yet, despite all this, he looked at you with those soft, understanding eyes, as if you were not a harbinger of destruction, but a fragile being in need of care.
He could see the void within you, the emptiness that had consumed you long ago. He knew you had lost the will to live, that your existence had been reduced to nothing more than a series of battles and bloodshed. He understood that you had only known fighting, killing, and surviving. And yet, he looked at you as if you were something precious, something worth saving.
As you stand on the cliff, staring out at the ocean where Osial is sealed, those memories come rushing back.ย
Will he still remember you? Will he recognize you? Will he still be alive, or has he become nothing more than a mindless beast, driven by a desire for destruction?ย
You don't know. The past, as you know, always returns to Nihility. But even so, you find yourself unable to let go of him, of the memories you shared.
For so long, you have believed that all that is past is meaningless, destined to fade into nothingness. But here, now, you find yourself clinging to those memories, to the gentle gaze of the one who saw you not as a weapon, but as a person.
And you wonder, for the first time in a long time, if perhaps there is something in this vast, empty universe worth holding on to.
"Follow me." Your voice, cold and detached, broke the silence as you commanded Morax, your presence both calm and aloof, though tinged with an unspoken sadness.ย
Without a second thought, you leapt from the cliff's edge, landing effortlessly on the sands below. The impact was insignificant, as if gravity itself dared not challenge you.
Zhongli followed suit, maintaining a respectful distance, his gaze occasionally drifting to the wound on your neck, where dried golden blood clung like tarnished gold.
You strode towards the ocean, your heels sinking slightly into the icy water. Without so much as a pause, you raised your right arm and, with a single, effortless motion, slashed through the air.
The ocean responded instantly, parting cleanly down the middle, as though nature itself bowed to your will. The walls of water stood tall on either side, held in place by your mere intent, defying every natural law.ย
Zhongli's eyes widened in awe, a silent acknowledgment of the power you wielded. There was no doubt in his mind now โ you were not just a force of nature; you were the Creator of Teyvat.
Without a second glance, you began to walk through the parted sea, your heels clicking against the exposed seabed, the sound echoing eerily between the towering walls of water.
Fishes swam alongside you, trapped within the suspended ocean, their movements graceful yet confined. From a distance, the sunken Jade Chamber came into view, its once-grand structure now a shadow of its former glory.
"We need to hurry," you said, your voice resolute, your pace quickening as your thoughts centered on one thing โ Osial.
You finally stand before the sunken Jade Chamber, the remnants of its grandeur submerged beneath the ocean's surface.ย
As you approach, you feel the unmistakable pulse of elemental energy radiating from beneath the water, a force both powerful and familiar.
This energy โ Osial's energy โ wraps around you like a long-lost embrace, filling you with a bittersweet comfort.ย
Memories flood back, clear and vivid, of the times he would conjure a massive heart out of water, floating in the air, with the words 'I Love You!!!' written boldly beside it.ย
He had always been so proud of his displays, a creature of immense power who wielded it not for destruction, but to create beauty and express his affection.ย
Despite the stories that have twisted his image over the centuries, you know the truth โ Osial never sought to harm the innocent, never reveled in chaos. He loved to fight, yes, but it was always with purpose, always with restraint.
You clenched your right fist, this time wearing your metallic finger guards before tilting your head to Zhongli, "Unseal Osial." You ordered, leaving no room for an argument.
Zhongli stepped forward, his expression serious as he channeled his elemental energy. His amber eyes began to glow with the power of Geo, and in response, the Jade Chamber shimmered with the same golden light.ย
The structure cracked, the stone and debris crumbling away as it was consumed by his energy. Piece by piece, the Jade Chamber disintegrated into a cloud of dust, revealing the true source of its power โ a sealed barrier, glowing faintly with an ancient light.
Inside the barrier, you saw him โ Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex, his form massive and imposing, a five-headed hydra with a body of swirling water. His presence, even in slumber, was overwhelming. Your eyes widened as you took in the sight, your heart tightening with longing.
The barrier around Osial began to glow brighter, its light intensifying as Zhongli extended his hand, focusing his power on the seal that bound the creature. With a final surge of energy, he removed the seal, and in that moment, the barrier shattered into fragments of light, dissipating into the air.
Freed from his imprisonment, Osial roared with fury and liberation, the sound echoing across the ocean and shaking the very earth beneath your feet.
The ocean itself seemed to tremble in response, waves crashing violently against the remnants of the Jade Chamber. Osial's enormous form, now fully unleashed, surged forward, his roar reverberating through the air, a powerful and primal sound that signaled his return to the world.
You could feel Osial's elemental energy crackling in the air, a familiar yet overwhelming force that once brought you comfort.
Osial's five hydra heads thrashed wildly, each one a towering, serpentine figure made entirely of water, their eyes glowing with an intense, almost blinding light. The ocean rose to meet him, waves towering like mountains as he unleashed his wrath upon the world. His power was immense, a force of nature that few could ever hope to challenge, let alone survive.
But you weren't here to fight โ at least, not to harm him. The thought of cutting down the one being who once showed you love, who once made you feel something beyond the void, weighed heavily on your heart.ย
You could still remember his gentle voice, his playful nature, the way he would create hearts out of water just to make you smile. Yet, here he was, consumed by rage and destruction, no longer the Osial you once knew.
He struck first, all five heads lunging at you simultaneously, their jaws snapping with the intent to tear you apart. You moved with lightning speed, your body reacting instinctively as you dodged his attacks, your form a blur against the backdrop of the stormy sea.ย
Each of his strikes was a testament to his power, each movement capable of leveling mountains and causing tsunamis. But you were faster, your movements precise, calculated. You dodged, twisted, and weaved through his onslaught, refusing to counter with lethal force.
"Osial, please... stop this," you whispered, though you knew he couldn't hear you, couldn't understand the pain in your voice.
He responded with another attack, a jet of water so forceful it cut through the ocean itself, aimed directly at you. You spun out of its path, the sheer speed of your movements causing the air around you to crackle with energy.ย
But despite your evasions, Osial's attacks grew more relentless, his anger fueling his power. Each missed strike seemed to enrage him further, and you could feel the sorrow in your heart deepen with every blow you dodged.
His fury was palpable, a mix of betrayal and pain that resonated with the turmoil within you. He was no longer the gentle god you once knew; he was a creature of pure elemental fury, driven by a desire for vengeance that you couldn't quench. But even so, you couldn't bring yourself to strike him down โ not yet.
Osial lunged at you again, and this time you countered, a swift and precise movement that sent a shockwave through the air, deflecting his attack just enough to send him reeling back.ย
The force of your counter rippled through the ocean, parting the water beneath you as if cutting through the very fabric of reality itself. But still, you held back, refusing to unleash the full extent of your power against him.
"I don't want to hurt you, Osial," you said, your voice trembling with the weight of the words.ย
"But I can't let you continue like this..."
Osial's response was another furious assault, his heads snapping and thrashing with unrelenting aggression. You continued to dodge, countering only when necessary, each strike a reminder of the bond you once shared, now shattered beyond repair.ย
Your heart ached with every blow you deflected, knowing that each moment you held back, the more dangerous he became โ not just to you, but to everything around him.
Then, in a moment of clarity, you knew what had to be done. It was the only way to stop him, the only way to save him from the madness that had consumed him.
"Please, forgive me..." you murmured, your voice trembling with emotion. "I promise we will be together... Please, have a bit more patience."
With a heavy heart, you unsheathed your Divine Key, Nihility. Its monstrous power combined with yours created a shockwave that rippled through the air, a testament to the immense strength you wielded, yet it was far from its true, awakened state.
As Osial lunged at you once more, you moved with a speed that defied comprehension, dodging his attack and positioning yourself above him. In one fluid motion, you slashed downward with your blade, the force of your strike so powerful that it seemed to tear through the very air, creating a shockwave that reverberated through the ocean. The first of Osial's heads was severed, the hydra's water-like form dissipating into mist as it fell away.
A roar of pain and fury erupted from Osial, but you didn't stop. With a heavy heart and tears in your eyes, you slashed again, cutting off the second head, then the third, and finally the fourth.ย
Each strike shattered the air, each slash tearing at the fabric of the dimension itself. The ocean around you trembled as the power of your attacks broke through the barriers of reality, the very sky above you cracking like glass.
As the final head fell, Osial's massive form began to collapse, his once mighty power fading into nothingness. But instead of sinking into the ocean, his body was drawn into the cracks in the dimension, the force of your slashes creating a rift in the very fabric of space. The rift widened, pulling Osial into a dark, endless void, a dimension you had inadvertently created through your immense power.
Osial's remaining head, the last vestige of his consciousness, turned to look at you one final time, and for a brief moment, you saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes โ a glimmer of the Osial you once knew. It was a fleeting moment, but it was enough to break your heart all over again.
"Please rest... my dear," you whispered, as the rift closed around him, sealing him away in a place where he could no longer cause harm, but also where he could no longer be harmed.
"You will return to normal soon... The Doctor will see to it..."
The ocean slowly returned to its normal state, the waves calming as if nothing had happened. But you knew better.ย
You stood there, alone, your heart heavy with the weight of what you had just done. The sadness, the pain, the love โ all of it mixed into a single, overwhelming emotion that threatened to consume you.
Would you ever see him again, as he once was? Would the warmth of his smile return, or was this truly the end of the Osial you had loved? You didn't know. But for now, you had done what you must, even if it meant carrying the burden of that sorrow alone.
You looked out at the horizon, the remnants of the rift barely visible, and allowed yourself to grieve, to mourn the loss of what once was, and to carry the burden of the decision you had made.
"...Let's go home, Osial," you whispered, your voice trembling with sorrow as you took one last, lingering look at the remnants of the rift where he had disappeared.ย
Your heels sank into the wet earth with each step, leaving shallow imprints as you walked through the rain-soaked landscape of Sumeru, heading back to Snezhnaya.
The red paper umbrella you held aloft provided little protection against the downpour, but you didnโt mind.
Your crystal-embedded dress shimmered faintly beneath the large, heavy coat that shrouded your form, the hood pulled low over your head, concealing your sorrowful, emotionless face.
Do you still remember the story of the unknown lady?
In ages long past, she was spoken of in hushed tones, her beauty silent yet profound, a mortal with a presence akin to the gods. She captured the attention of Morax, the God of Contracts, and became his second lover.
His first love, Guizhong, wise and gentle, had already held a cherished place in his heart, creating what seemed to be a harmonious trio, bound by mutual respect and love.
But in the shadows, envy festered. Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex, was consumed with jealousy. He coveted what Morax had โ especially the Unknown Lady. And so, a battle of life and death erupted between these deities, a clash that shook the earth and altered the course of history.
Rex Lapis emerged victorious, sealing Osial beneath the oceanโs depths, and Guizhong stood faithfully by his side until her death. The Unknown Lady, however, vanished, her fate lost to time.
So...
Do you still remember the story of the unknown lady?
It was all a lie.
Because...
The victor writes history.
And the victor can always twist the truth to their liking.
A long, long time ago, before the Archon War had even begun, there was a beautiful lady whose name was never known. She was a mortal, yet she moved among the gods. She was not Moraxโs lover โ no, she was the beloved of Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex.
Morax saw her, and despite having Guizhong, he was captivated by her beauty, falling deeply in love. Guizhong, however, harbored feelings for Osial, a secret love that turned bitter.
She whispered lies, spreading rumors that the Unknown Lady was unfaithful, that she was entangled with Morax. When these poisonous words reached Osialโs ears, his heart was filled with fury, and a cataclysmic battle erupted between him and Morax.
In the end, it was Osial who lost, sealed away at the bottom of the ocean, not because he was evil, but because of a lie โ a cruel rumor that twisted love into hatred and set the world ablaze.
As you entered the dense forest of Sumeru, the steady rhythm of rain against the leaves was interrupted by a faint wailing.
At first, you dismissed it, assuming it to be some distant creature, but as the sound grew softer, almost desperate, a reluctant curiosity tugged at you, urging you to follow.
The ground beneath your heels was soft and muddy, your steps sinking into the earth as you moved through the underbrush, the cold rain seeping into your clothes.
The crying became clearer, more distinct, guiding you deeper into the heart of the forest. Pushing aside wet branches and overgrown foliage, you found yourself in front of a small, hollowed tree.
There, nestled within the hole, was a baby, hidden from sight and shielded from the rain by the natural curve of the trunk.
Your eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the infant, its cries now loud and clear in the stillness of the forest. You quickly scanned the area, searching for any sign of the babyโs parents, but there was nothing โ no footprints, no trail, only the sound of the rain and the rustling leaves.
The child was alone, wrapped in a simple, thin cloth that did little to protect it from the cold. You noticed the baby's shivering, its tiny body trembling as the wind blew harshly through the trees.
With a momentโs hesitation, you reached out and lifted the baby from the hollow, unsure of how to properly hold such a delicate being.
The weight of the small life in your arms felt foreign, unsettling, yet something within you softened. You gently tucked the infant beneath your cloak, holding it close against your chest in an attempt to share your warmth. The babyโs cries quieted slightly as it nestled into your embrace.
"What a poor child..." you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper, devoid of the usual emotion, yet carrying a faint hint of something more โ perhaps a trace of the sorrow you so often kept hidden.
Why would anyone abandon their own child? A baby is so weak, so defenseless โ an easy target for monsters and wild animals alike.
The thought was incomprehensible to you, leaving a bitter taste in your mouth. You will never understand humans...
As you looked down at the small, fragile life now resting peacefully in your arms, a new question began to form in your mind:
What should you do with this little one, who has found safety in your reluctant embrace?
You slowly wake from a deep, dreamless sleep, your body heavy with the warmth of rest. As your eyes flutter open, you realize you're nestled securely in Zhongli's arms. His body radiates a comforting heat, making you feel drowsy all over again.
Everything around you feels so perfect, so serene, despite the lingering soreness in your legs. Instinctively, you shuffle closer to him, nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar scent.
Zhongli stirs as you move, his hold on you tightening slightly before he gently presses a kiss to the top of your head. "Good morning, love," he whispers, his voice deep and soothing. "Did you sleep well?"
You nod sleepily, murmuring against his skin, "Yes, I did. How about you?"
His chest rumbles with a soft chuckle as he pulls you even closer, "I slept perfectly, with you in my arms."
A soft blush warms your cheeks as you whisper, "I love you."
Zhongli's smile deepens at your words. With gentle ease, he pulls you up, guiding you to sit on his lap. His amber eyes meet yours before he leans in, capturing your lips in a tender kiss. "I love you too," he murmurs against your lips, his voice a soft caress.
He pulls back slightly, brushing a stray strand of hair from your face.
"Let's get ready," he says, his tone warm yet practical. "Today is going to be a long day."
You find yourself back in the same luxurious dressing room as yesterday, the air thick with the scent of peach blossoms and the quiet rustle of silk.
The attendants work with careful precision, draping you in a revealing, shimmering white dress that clings to your every curve. The fabric is encrusted with crystals and diamonds that catch the light with every subtle movement, making you glimmer like a living constellation.
The dress stops daringly high at your thighs, each step dangerously close to revealing the curve of your ass.
The material hugs your body tightly, accentuating the seductive curve of your hips, the cinch of your waist, and the generous swell of your breasts. The neckline plunges low, leaving your dรฉcolletage exposed, with no straps or high collar to distract from the beauty of your bare skin.
Around your small waist, delicate chains of sparkling crystals are loosely draped, the ends adorned with larger gemstones that sway with your every movement, drawing attention to the seductive shape of your body. Your feet are encased in crystal-like high heels, adding height and elegance to your already alluring form.
To complete the look, a luxurious, fluffy fur scarf is draped over your arm, hanging loosely and brushing against your bare skin. The softness of the fur contrasts with the hard, glittering crystals, adding a touch of sensuality to the ensemble.
As you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, you can't help but admire the breathtaking effect of your ensemble โ the dress, the shimmering jewels, and the luxurious fur all combine to make you look utterly irresistible.
Yet, as you take in your reflection, a sense of incompleteness nags at you. Something is missing.
Your hand instinctively brushes over your bare neck, and a longing stirs within you.
Your collar.
The absence of it feels almost wrong, like a piece of you is missing.
Your eyes drift back to the mirror, focusing on the delicate skin of your neck. There, lingering like a beautiful secret, are the remnants of last night's passion โ faint kiss marks, bruised nibbles, and the deep, possessive bite where Zhongli marked you as his. The sight sends a shiver down your spine, reminding you of the intensity of his claim.
The marks are a stark contrast against your otherwise polished appearance, a hidden truth beneath the glamour. You can't help but trace your fingers over the sensitive skin, remembering the feel of his teeth sinking in, the way your body responded to his dominance.
The thought of it makes you yearn for the collar even more, the tangible symbol of his ownership that you crave to wear again.
Your legs began to tremble once more, the soreness from the previous night making it difficult to stand.
Sensing your discomfort, one of the attendants quickly guided you to a plush couch, where you could rest. With a gentle smile, they handed you a cup of peach tea. You accepted it gratefully, the warm, fragrant liquid soothing you as you sipped it, a contented smile playing on your lips.
The peachy sweetness of the tea faded faster than you expected, replaced by an odd ache in your right fingers.
For a moment, the thick, sweet scent in the room seemed to dissipate, and your senses sharpened. But as you took another sip, the familiar sweetness returned, filling your senses once again, yet the dull ache in your fingers lingered, a curious sensation you couldn't quite place. The thought of it drifted away as you finished your tea.
"Lady Y/N? It's time to meet Rex Lapis," one of the attendants softly announced.
A blush crept across your cheeks at the mention of Zhongli, your lover. It hadn't been long since you last saw him, but the craving to be near him again was overwhelming.
"Yes..." you murmured, anticipation tingling in your veins.
The attendants gently helped you to your feet, steadying your shaky legs as they guided you. Your excitement to be near Zhongli made you eager, and you tried to walk faster, though your legs trembled beneath you.
Each step you took sent the sound of your heels clicking sharply through the corridor, the delicate crystals on your dress rustling with each movement.
After what felt like an eternity, you reached the end of the long, opulent corridor, where massive golden doors loomed before you. The attendants pushed the heavy doors open, revealing the grandeur of the hall within.
The floor gleamed like a mirror, reflecting the golden light that seemed to emanate from everywhere. Dragons coiled around every surface, their intricate designs carved into the walls, pillars, and even the ceiling, where a stunning depiction of you and Zhongli embracing was etched into the golden surface.
Your gaze drifted forward, and there he was โ Zhongli, seated on a grand golden throne, the very image of regality. The throne, like the rest of the room, was intricately decorated, seemingly crafted from Cor Lapis itself, radiating a rich, amber glow.
His presence dominated the space, and as your eyes met his, your heart pounded in your chest. The sheer power of his gaze, coupled with the memory of the previous night, made the air between you feel electric, charged with a tension that made your breath quicken.
Zhongli tapped his lap, and with trembling legs, you hurried over, brushing off the attendants who tried to steady you. You were too eager, too desperate to be near him again. You sank onto his lap, your body melting against his, and looked up at him with wide, adoring eyes, meeting his intense amber gaze that seemed to pierce through you.
His gloved hand reached up to grip your chin, tilting your face so he could examine you closely. His eyes bore into yours, scrutinizing your pupils, which were now fully dilated, a clear sign that the drug had taken complete control over you. His lips curled into a dark, satisfied smirk. The last remnants of restraint fell away; now he could fully indulge in you without hesitation.
"You've been such a good girl, haven't you?" he cooed, his thumb brushing softly over your lips. His eyes drifted down to your neck, where his earlier marks โ his kisses and bites โ stood out starkly against your skin. The large, prominent dragon-mark he had left on you the night before claimed you as his, and he reveled in the sight. He leaned in, his lips grazing over the sensitive mark, sending a shiver through your body, before placing a kiss on it.
He pulled back slightly, his breath hot against your ear as he whispered, "Something's missing, isn't it?"
"M-my... collar," you responded, your voice tinged with a soft sadness as you realized its absence. The collar was more than just an accessory; it was a symbol of your submission, your connection to him.
Zhongli chuckled, clearly pleased with your response. "Good girl," he murmured approvingly.ย
He reached down to retrieve a new collar โ a striking piece made of white, shiny leather, embedded with glimmering diamonds. The luxury of it matched the importance it held for both of you.ย
He fastened the collar around your neck, tightening it more than before. The leather pressed snugly against your throat, making you gasp and moan in a mix of pleasure and desperation. The restriction on your breathing left you feeling lightheaded, a dizzying sensation that only heightened your arousal. You loved the way it choked you, how it made you feel so completely under his control.
With a click, he attached the leash to the collar and gave it a sharp tug, pulling you roughly closer to him. The force of it made your heart race, your breath coming in shallow gasps as you stared up at him with a look of pure need.
Zhongli's amber eyes captivated you completely, drawing you in like a moth to a flame. The longer you gazed into them, the more they seemed to expand, pulling you deeper into their hypnotic glow. It was as if those glowing amber orbs were your entire world, the only light in your existence.ย
The drug had taken full effect, warping your perception, amplifying every sensation until it was almost unbearable. Your thoughts swirled in a haze of desire and obsession, leaving no room for anything but him. The idea of anyone or anything else had completely evaporated.
Zhongli was everything. His handsome face, his powerful presence, the way his eyes held you captive โ it was all-consuming. Your mind could only think of him, and your body responded in kind, trembling with need, aching to be touched by him. You existed solely for his pleasure, to fulfill his every desire. What were you doing before? It didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was being by his side, being his.
You pressed your big tits against his broad chest, your gaze never wavering from his eyes, lost in the depths of his amber stare.ย
"I... ah, I am a good girl for you only..." you whispered, your voice trembling with desperation. Even forming words was a challenge; your thoughts were scattered, disjointed, as the drug clouded your mind. A trail of spit slipped from the corner of your beautiful lips, a testament to how far gone you were, how utterly under his control you had become.
Zhongli's eyes darkened with satisfaction, his gaze taking on a predatory glint as he leaned back into his throne, fully enjoying the sight of you unraveling before him.ย
"Aren't you such a mess for me, hm?" he purred, licking his lips in anticipation. He loved seeing the drug's effects, how it stripped away your inhibitions and left you so completely vulnerable to him.
His gloved hand moved to your lower back, sliding down to your big ass. He lifted your already short dress, revealing that you weren't wearing any underwear โ your bare ass exposed and ready for him. You were always ready for him, always eager to satisfy his every hunger and lust.
With a sharp, deliberate motion, he slapped your ass hard with his leathered glove, making it bounce under the impact. The sting of the blow sent a jolt of pleasure through you, and you moaned loudly, your body arching into his touch. The pain only heightened your desire, making you crave more. You were completely at his mercy, a willing toy in his hands, and nothing had ever felt so good.
The grand doors to the throne room creaked open, a subtle intrusion on your intimate moment with Zhongli. A soft knock followed, but before the person could speak, Zhongli's firm voice echoed through the chamber. "Come in."
As the doors parted, a young woman with cerulean blue hair and black-red horns stepped inside. She was Ganyu, one of the Adeptus. Her presence demanded respect, but her eyes flickered briefly to you before she knelt at the base of the throne, head bowed low to the ground.
Annoyed by the interruption, you pouted, nuzzling your face into the crook of Zhongli's neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent. The possessiveness you felt for him flared, and you clung to him tighter, unwilling to share his attention, even for a moment.
"What are you here for?" Zhongli's voice, though calm, carried an underlying authority that left no room for disobedience.
"Lord Rex Lapis, I came to report," Ganyu began, her voice echoing in the vast, opulent hall. "We have successfully persuaded the people of Liyue that the Geo Archon is not dead and fabricated a believable story with evidence to support it."
You couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as she addressed your lover so formally. The way she spoke to him, the way she occupied even a fraction of his attention, made you cling to him even tighter. Sensing your unease, Zhongli's hand tightened on your ass, his grip firm and reassuring.
"Good work," he acknowledged her efforts before shifting his focus. "What about the preparations?"
"Everything is ready. The seal can be activated at any time," Ganyu reported, her head still bowed.
As she spoke, Zhongli's leather-gloved hand slid down between your ass cheeks, fingers teasingly brushing against your pussy. You shivered, trying to suppress the moan that threatened to escape as he began to play with you, pushing his fingers in and out with calculated precision. The sensation was overwhelming, your body responding instantly to his touch, but you buried your face deeper into his neck, trying to muffle the sounds of your pleasure.
"And the drug?" Zhongli's voice was steady, betraying none of the sinful actions happening beneath the throne. His fingers continued their relentless assault, making it increasingly difficult for you to stifle your moans.
"We have finally enhanced the effects of the Peach Drug," Ganyu continued, unaware of the intimate scene above her. "It now lasts over a year without the need for re-administration."
"Good," Zhongli responded, his tone satisfied. "You may leave."
Ganyu quickly rose, her ears tinged with red as she caught a glimpse of your writhing form, still seated on Zhongli's lap, your body surrendering to his expert touch. She left without another word, her eyes averted, as you moaned softly into his neck, the door closing behind her.
Zhongli withdrew his fingers, bringing them to his lips as he licked them clean, savoring your taste. "Now, where were we, my love?" he whispered, his amber eyes glowing with desire as he turned his full attention back to you.
Zhongli carried you effortlessly in his arms, his strength unyielding even after the intense session that had left you utterly spent. Your cheeks flushed a deep red, and your body felt heavy, filled with the warmth of his seeds.ย
Exhaustion clung to you, but Zhongli remained as composed as ever, his steps steady as he walked through the long, opulent corridor. You nestled your head into the crook of his neck, comforted by his familiar scent, while your gaze drifted downward to the shiny marble floor, where your reflection wavered in the polished surface.
Then, a sharp ache radiated through your right hand, more intense than before. The sudden pain pierced through the lingering fog in your mind, momentarily clearing the haze that had clouded your thoughts.ย
A sense of disorientation washed over you, a nagging feeling that something was amiss. Something important. Something you had always kept with you, something you never parted with except in sleep. But what was it?
Your puzzled gaze fell to your right hand, the ache still pulsing beneath your skin. The fog in your mind made it hard to think clearly, but as you stared, you saw something strange โ golden cracks forming along your skin, and from those cracks, delicate flowers bloomed, their petals shifting from gold to white. Your fingernails, long and sharp like golden claws, gleamed ominously.
A sudden, overwhelming craving surged through you, a dark desire for blood, for destruction. It consumed you, an intense bloodlust that made everything else feel insignificant, worthless. The urge to obliterate everything around you was almost unbearable.
But then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone. The flowers, the cracks, the claws โ all vanished as if they had never been. You blinked, confusion swirling in your mind. An illusion? The sense of dรฉjร vu lingered, as if you had experienced this strange vision before, but the clarity it brought was already fading, the fog threatening to return.
Why does everything feel so strange?ย
The fog in your mind, once so thick and all-encompassing, is starting to lift, but only just. It's as if you're standing on the edge of a dream, half-aware, but still lost in its clutches.ย
The words of that girl from before โ what did she say? Something about a drug... Yes, a drug. The word echoes in your mind, and then, like a flash of lightning, realization strikes.
Your eyes widen, heart pounding in your chest as the truth seeps in.
Morax drugged you.ย
But how? And why? The answers are just out of reach, hidden in the mist that still clouds your thoughts. You try to piece it together, but your mind is like quicksand, pulling you back into confusion with every step you take toward clarity.
You need to calm down, but it's nearly impossible with the panic surging through you. Morax... Zhongli... He's plotting something, something terrible. But what? Is he going to seal you away? Force you into a contract? The fragments of their earlier conversation swirl around in your head, but they're so jumbled you can barely grasp them. Time is slipping through your fingers, and you know you need to act, but what can you do?
You're so weak, so defenseless in this state, and the drug is still in your system, pulling you back into the fog with every passing second. You try to think, to remember anything that could help you, but it's like trying to hold water in your hands โ everything slips away before you can grasp it. Your thoughts grow more disjointed, more frantic, and you can feel yourself teetering on the edge of losing control.
But you can't give in. Not yet. You fight against the haze, struggling to keep your mind clear, to think of a way out. But it's so hard, and your strength is fading.ย
What can you do? What can you possibly do?ย
The more you try to think, the more elusive the answers become, and the more desperate you feel. The fog is thickening again, threatening to drag you back under, and you know you don't have much time left.
You glance down at your right hand, wondering if the strange illusion you saw earlier was a clue โ a way to break free from the drug's grip on your mind. Desperation claws at you as you try to piece together what's real and what's not.
"L-love? Where are we going?" Your voice wavers, laced with uncertainty, but also a calculated attempt to buy some time. Zhongli, fortunately, doesn't seem to notice.ย
He smiles, planting a tender kiss on your head, a gesture that makes your heart flutter despite your growing fear.
"We're going to a very special room," he replies, his voice soothing, almost hypnotic.
Shit.ย
You cling to him tighter, trying to ground yourself, but that kiss... It feels so good.ย
You shouldn't like it, you remind yourself. It's the drug, twisting your thoughts, making you crave his touch, his affection. But then another part of you whispers, Why resist? Why not enjoy the pleasure, the comfort, the security of his love?
'No, it's the drug...' you mentally argue, trying to push away the warmth spreading through your body. But it's getting harder to distinguish what the drug is making you feel from what might actually be your true emotions. You're slipping, and you know it.
"Wha... wh-what special room, love?" you stammer, struggling to form coherent words as the fog in your mind thickens.
"A special room where you will forever become mine..." His voice drops to a low, predatory growl, sending shivers down your spine.
"...Ah... fo-forever?" The word catches in your throat, a mix of dread and something elseโsomething that frightens you even more.
"Yes," he murmurs, his tone possessive. "You will become forever my good little girl."
Your heart races, but the confusion only deepens. A part of you thrills at his words, at the idea of being his, of being praised as his 'good girl.' It feels right, like it's exactly what you want. But another part of you screams that this isn't real, that you're being manipulated, drugged into submission.
"I... I am so happy," you say, but the words feel hollow, disconnected from your true feelings. Or maybe they are your true feelings? You don't know anymore. You can't tell where the drug's influence ends and your own desires begin. It's like you're trapped in a web, unable to distinguish between pleasure and fear, love and control.
You're losing yourself, and the worst part is you can't tell if you even want to fight it anymore.
"We're here, love," Zhongli murmurs, stopping before a colossal door that towers high above, stretching to meet the ceiling.ย
The door's surface shimmers in a pale peach hue, almost translucent, like a barrier between reality and a dream. Even in your drugged state, you can sense the immense power radiating from it โ a barrier that keeps something in, or perhaps, something out.ย
Xiao, standing stoically as a sentinel beside the door, steps forward and opens it for Zhongli. The door swings open with a soft creak, and as soon as you both step inside, it closes behind you with a resounding bang.
Zhongli gently sets you down, and your feet touch the soft, cool ground. You blink, trying to take in the sight before you. It's... not just a room โ it's something beyond your comprehension, something out of a fever-dream, or a paradise you might find in the most vivid of fantasies.
Your eyes widen in awe and confusion as you survey the vast expanse before you. The sky overhead is bathed in a pale pink light, almost as if dawn has just broken, yet it feels eternal, as if time doesn't exist here.ย
The grass beneath your feet is lush and green, dotted with peach-colored flowers in full bloom. Real peaches hang from the trees โ trees that are ancient, majestic, with leaves that shimmer in hues of lavender and gold. The scent of fresh blossoms fills the air, sweet and intoxicating.
In the center of this strange paradise is a lake, its waters a mesmerizing shade of pink, surrounded by more of those ethereal peach flowers. The water glows faintly, as if lit from within by some unseen force. Far beyond the lake, a grand palace looms in the distance, its structure so intricate and beautiful that it seems to have been crafted by the gods themselves.
You feel like you've stepped into a world torn between a dream and a nightmare, a place that is both enchanting and terrifying. The beauty is undeniable, yet there's something unsettling about it all. The paradise stretches on infinitely, without borders, without end โ just like the strange hold Zhongli has over you. You can't tell if you're in a perfect dream or trapped in a beguiling illusion.
You clutched the fluffy fur scarf draped loosely around your arms, pulling it tighter as a wave of uncertainty washed over you.
"Wh-what is this place?" you stammered, your gaze drifting upwards to the pink sky where fish swam lazily among the clouds, an impossible, surreal sight.
"Your new home," Zhongli replied, his voice calm yet carrying an ominous undertone.
Suddenly, he yanked sharply on the leash attached to your collar, pulling you forward with a jolt. You gasped, struggling to catch your breath as the collar tightened around your throat, nearly choking you... not that you hated it.
He continued walking, leading you down to the edge of the lake, the collar pressing against your neck with each tug. The flowers beneath your feet seemed untouched, resilient under your weight as if they weren't really there at all.
"Are you excited to become my wife?" he asked, his voice soft, almost tender. You nodded instinctively, your thoughts clouded, unsure whether to feel joy or dread.
"Y-yes..." you murmured, your voice trailing off, the word barely audible.
Without warning, he pulled on the leash again, guiding you into the lake. The water was cool against your skin, refreshing in a way that sent shivers down your spine. It lapped gently at your thighs as you followed him to the center of the lake, the surface of the water shimmering like liquid silk. You had no idea why you were there, what he intended to do with you, but the tension in the air was palpable.
A sudden flare of pain shot through your right hand, more intense than before. You glanced down, catching a fleeting glimpse of golden cracks and blooming flowers on your skin before they vanished as quickly as they appeared. The pain grounded you, cutting through the fog that threatened to overtake your mind.
Zhongli jerked the leash again, pulling you forcefully against his chest. The sudden movement made you choke, the collar biting into your throat as you collided with his body. His arm wrapped possessively around your waist, holding you close. "You look so beautiful..." he murmured, his voice smooth and hypnotic. "So perfect..." Slowly, he began lowering you into the pink water, the cool liquid rising up to envelop your body.
"Tonight, your body, your heart, and your soul will become mine and mine alone," he whispered, his words echoing ominously as he submerged you deeper into the water.
Strangely, you found that you could breathe, the water slipping into your mouth, making you dizzy, your thoughts swirling in a haze. Yet, the persistent pain in your right hand kept you tethered to reality, resisting the drug's full effect.
"And you will become my dearest wife..." His voice echoed eerily through the water as he pressed you down to the lake's bottom, the pressure increasing, the pink water around you shimmering like a twisted dream.
The bottom of the lake seemed to melt away beneath you, the ground slipping from your grasp as you began to sink deeper into the depths.
The pink water, once bright and vibrant, grew darker with each passing moment, enveloping you in a swirling haze of color. You felt Zhongli's arms around you, holding you close as you descended, his amber eyes glowing with an ethereal light that pierced through the murky water.
As you drifted further into the lake's endless abyss, the water grew thicker, heavier, pressing against your body from all sides. It wasn't just water โ it was the enhanced Peach drug, saturating every inch of your being, seeping into your skin, your mouth, and your mind. The drug wrapped around you like a velvet shroud, pulling you deeper into its grasp.
The haze in your mind thickened, your thoughts becoming sluggish, like you were trying to swim through honey. You felt your consciousness teetering on the edge, slipping in and out of focus.
Yet, amid the overwhelming fog, a sharp pain flared in your right hand. It was the only thing that kept you anchored to reality, a burning sensation that cut through the drug's effects like a hot knife.
The pain intensified, pulsing with a strange energy that made you crave something โ something just out of reach. You couldn't tell what it was, but the need was powerful, a desperate, primal urge that gnawed at your insides.
You sank further and further down, the pink water darkening to a deep, almost blood-red hue as you descended into the lake's unknown depths.
Your vision blurred, Zhongli's glowing eyes the only constant in the swirling chaos around you. The drug's influence grew stronger, pulling you toward unconsciousness, yet the pain in your hand kept dragging you back, tethering you to a thin thread of awareness.
The world around you began to fade, the edges of your vision darkening as you drifted between consciousness and the drug-induced dream state. You weren't sure if you were still sinking or if you had reached the lake's bottom, lost in an endless void.
Zhongli gazed down at you, his amber eyes filled with an obsessive adoration that bordered on madness. Your face, serene and vulnerable, lay half-hidden beneath the water's surface, your eyes fluttering open just enough for him to see the flicker of confusion still clinging to your drugged mind.ย
He knew you were hiding things โ who you truly were, where you came from, the secrets of a world beyond his reach. But that didn't matter anymore. You couldn't escape him, not now. Not ever.
He had gone to great lengths to create this world for you, a gilded paradise where time stretched infinitely, a place where he could keep you all to himself. No prying eyes, no interruptions, just you and him in this boundless, dreamlike realm. It was a golden cage, crafted with meticulous care, where he could savor every moment with you, unravel every mystery you held, until there was nothing left but your raw, unfiltered devotion.
His fingers traced the delicate curve of your throat, gliding down to your chest, where they rested between the soft swell of your breasts. His touch was possessive, claiming you inch by inch as if he were engraving his very essence into your skin. A golden light began to glow beneath his fingertips, and slowly, a Geo symbol took form between your breasts, pulsating with an otherworldly energy.
You arched your back, a moan slipping from your lips as the symbol burned into your flesh, binding you to him in a way that was beyond mere physicality. Zhongli's breath hitched at the sound, his obsession deepening as he watched you succumb to the sensations he orchestrated. This was what he had been waiting for, what he had been planning for so long โ your complete and utter submission.
"This is your destiny," he murmured, his voice a soft, dangerous whisper. "You were meant to be mine, to surrender every part of yourself to me. Your body, your mind, your soul... all belong to me now."
The Geo symbol pulsed brighter, a tether binding your soul to his will, inescapable and eternal. His fingers pressed deeper, drawing out another moan, and he couldn't help but smile โ a dark, satisfied smile that spoke of his possessive nature. He had been patient, so painfully patient, waiting for this moment where he could finally seal the bond that would make you his forever.
"Your soul will tell me everything," he continued, his voice laced with a mixture of tenderness and cruelty. "Every secret, every desire, every fear. You won't be able to hide from me anymore. You will be mine, forever."
Zhongli leaned down, his lips brushing against the symbol glowing on your skin, and you felt a surge of heat that made you tremble. This was no ordinary contract โ this was a bond that would tie your very essence to his, ensuring that you could never leave, never break free. You were his, and he would never let you go.
"Now," he whispered, his voice dripping with dark satisfaction, "you will be my beautiful wife, bound to me in every way that matters. No one will ever take you from me. You are mine, and mine alone."
The finality in his words echoed in the depths of your mind, and as the last remnants of resistance faded away, you knew there was no escape. Zhongli had claimed you, body and soul, and in this endless, golden world he had created, you would remain by his side for all eternity.
As Zhongli pressed harder against your chest, his power surged through you, a searing force that threatened to tear your very soul from its vessel. The sensation was agonizing, like your essence was being wrenched from your body, dragged against its will into the cold, unforgiving abyss. The world around you blurred as consciousness slipped away, but in the darkness, something ancient and malevolent stirred.
'Did you know?'
Zhongli's focus sharpened, channeling his elemental energy to breach the barrier between your soul and his will. He sought to uncover your deepest secrets, to see the desires and fears that lay hidden within the recesses of your mind.ย
But in his arrogance, he failed to notice the transformation taking place on your right hand. The skin cracked, golden lines spreading like fissures, from which bloomed ethereal gold-to-white flowers, pulsating with a dreadful energy.
'If you gaze long enough into the Abyss...'
His voice rang out, commanding, "Show me everything. Every desire you hold, every fear, and... your entirety."
'The Abyss will gaze back into you...'
Zhongli's gaze met yours, your half-closed eyes barely responsive. Then, the vision struck him with the force of a tempest.ย
He saw a world devoid of color, everything cast in shades of gray. The air was thick with despair, the ground littered with the bodies of the fallen, severed in grotesque and unnatural ways. And there you stood, a spectral figure among the carnage, holding a long sword that gleamed with an otherworldly light. Your form, too, was gray and lifeless, save for your eyes โ those striking, golden eyes that bore into his very soul.
"Excuse me, did you ask?"ย
Your voice was a cold, raw whisper, devoid of emotion, yet it cut through the air like a blade. It was terrifying, inhuman, a sound that carried the weight of countless atrocities.
Zhongli's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, a torrent of raw, unfiltered bloodlust surged from you, a tidal wave of hatred and fury that consumed him utterly. The serene pink waters around you turned crimson, as if soaked in the blood of the countless lives you had claimed. The colorless world erupted into a vivid, violent red, the hue of slaughter and madness.
Your appearance shifted, becoming something out of a nightmare. Your hair turned stark white, your golden eyes glowing with a hellish intensity. From your head sprouted twisted, golden horns โ one torn as if in battle. The bloodlust radiating from you was suffocating, a force so overwhelming that Zhongli felt it crushing his spirit. He tried to pull away, but your power held him fast, dragging him back into the nightmare that was your true self.
He struggled, but it was like being caught in the coils of a monstrous serpent, a predator that had no intention of releasing its prey. Images flashed before his eyes โ a snake coiled around its victim, tightening its grip until the life was squeezed out; a cheetah pouncing on a gazelle, the sharp claws ripping into flesh; a bear tearing into a rabbit with merciless force; a shark circling, then striking with lethal precision. Each vision was a reflection of your nature, a being of relentless, primal violence.
And then, as if the universe itself recoiled, a black hole appeared โ a flickering image of IX, an abyss of unfathomable darkness. Zhongli felt an overwhelming fear, a terror that clawed at his mind as he was pulled inexorably toward it. The bloodlust was no longer just around him; it was inside him, devouring him from within, a dark, voracious force that threatened to obliterate everything he was.
He tried to escape, but there was no escape. The bloodlust gripped him like a vice, pulling him deeper into the abyss where only you existed โ an entity of pure, unrelenting destruction. And as the darkness closed in, he knew, with a cold, sinking certainty, that he had made a grave mistake in underestimating the true nature of the one he sought to claim.
Suddenly, the bloodlust dissipated, and the world snapped back into its eerie normalcy. The water reverted to its soft pink hue, and your appearance settled back into its familiar form. But your eyes remained different โ cold, intimidating, and brimming with a chilling clarity.
"What do you think you're doing?" Your voice cut through the silence like a blade, sharp and merciless. Zhongli's eyes widened in shock, but before he could respond, your fist connected with his abdomen with brutal force. The impact sent him hurtling through the air, tearing him from the seemingly endless stretch of water.
You glanced down at your right hand, noting the golden cracks and blooming flowers that adorned your skin. "This explains a lot..." you muttered, piecing together the fragments of your fragmented memories.
Where were your finger guards? They were vital โ they served as an extra seal, a binding force to keep your MANTIS form in check. Without them, the risk of losing control loomed dangerously close, and you knew all too well that out of the Fourteen, your mastery over your MANTIS form was the weakest. The drug's hold on you had vanished, its effects reduced to nothing more than a fleeting memory.
In an instant, you moved with a speed that defied reason, slipping out of the water with a grace that was almost unnatural.
Zhongli was still airborne, caught in the aftermath of your punch, when you appeared above him. With a swift, decisive kick, you sent him crashing into the ground with such force that the earth trembled beneath him, a cloud of dust rising from the impact.
Zhongli groaned in pain, clutching his abdomen, his eyes narrowing in realization. He had made a grave error in underestimating you, in attempting to peer into the depths of your soul. What he had found was not a well of secrets to exploit, but an abyss โ one that should never have been disturbed.
You stepped through the dust cloud, your form emerging like a specter of death. Your gaze bore down on him with disdain, as though he were nothing more than a worthless insect beneath your heel.ย
"Divine Key, Nihility, come forth," you commanded, your voice devoid of emotion. You extended your right arm, and in a flash of light, the Divine Key materialized in your hand, a weapon of immense power that seemed to warp the very air around it.
It was only then that Zhongli noticed the golden cracks and the blooming flowers on your hand, and a terrifying realization dawned on him. Could it be that you were...?
The thought trailed off as he stared up at you, the weight of his mistake settling heavily on his shoulders. He had unleashed something far more dangerous than he had ever anticipated, and now, he was at the mercy of a power he could not hope to control.
"I don't know what you want from me, what you hoped to gain..." Your voice was a low, dangerous whisper as your crystalline heels crushed the delicate flowers beneath your steps, each one wilting into nothingness.ย
"But what you did to me, Morax..." With a swift, decisive motion, you tore the tight collar from your throat, casting it to the ground where it shattered into fragments, the embedded diamonds and crystals scattering like worthless debris.
"I will never forgive you," you continued, your voice icy with the weight of your fury.ย
The memories of his violations, the sinful acts he had forced upon your body, surged to the forefront of your mind. But more than that, the binding contract he had dared to place on the entirety of your soul burned in your thoughts. A contract that, thanks to the other half of your soul โ IX, the Aeon of Nihility โ had been reduced to nothingness. The mere thought of it stoked the fires of your wrath. You grasped the handle of your Divine Key with a grip that promised bloodshed, your intentions clear.
Across from you, Zhongli slowly rose to his feet, his expression hardening as his spear materialized in his hand. He could feel the shift in your aura, the lethal edge of your resolve. But he was the Geo Archon, the strongest god and Archon in all of Teyvat, and he would not go down without a fight.
The battlefield was set, and the tension between you was palpable, a charged silence that promised nothing short of a cataclysmic clash.
The serene paradise he had crafted was now a battleground, the tranquil beauty of the endless lake and pink-hued sky a stark contrast to the violence about to unfold.
Morax, the Geo Archon, was a god of stone and earth, a being of immense power whose strength was drawn from the very bones of the world. His spear, a weapon forged in the crucible of countless wars, gleamed with a menacing light as he readied himself for the coming fight. The earth beneath his feet trembled slightly as his elemental energy surged, responding to his unspoken command. He was prepared to unleash the full might of his geo power โ shaping the land, summoning stone walls, and hurling massive boulders with but a thought.
You, however, were not of this world. Your origins were far more ancient, far more terrifying than the people of Teyvat could ever comprehend. The power of Nihility coursed through your veins, a destructive force that could reduce all matter to nothingness. The golden cracks on your right hand, still glowing from your earlier confrontation, were a reminder of the terrible power that lay dormant within you โ a power you struggled to control. But you had no intention of using your Divine Key, not yet. This fight would be won with skill, not sheer force.
The moment hung in the air, taut as a bowstring, before snapping as Morax launched the first attack. He thrust his spear forward, and the ground beneath you exploded upwards, a jagged pillar of stone shooting towards your chest. You reacted instantly, sidestepping with lightning speed, your heel barely brushing the ground as you avoided the lethal strike. The pillar crumbled into dust as it missed its mark, but Morax was already on the move, his spear spinning in a deadly arc toward your head.
You ducked under the blow, your body moving with a fluid grace that belied the fury simmering beneath the surface. As his spear passed over you, you twisted your body and delivered a swift kick to his side. The force of the blow sent Morax skidding backward, but his expression remained calm, his eyes narrowing as he adjusted his stance.
In response, the earth trembled once more as Morax summoned a wave of geo energy, the ground around you erupting in a series of stone spikes that sought to impale you. But you were faster, your form flickering like a phantom as you danced between the deadly spikes, each movement precise and controlled. As the last spike shot up, you flipped backward, landing lightly on your feet.
"Do your worst," you said, your tone aloof, almost bored, but the sharpness in your eyes betrayed the readiness of a predator about to strike.
His only response was a low growl as he lunged at you, the air crackling with power. This time, his spear was a blur of motion, striking at you from every angle. You met his attack with equal ferocity, your movements a seamless blend of offense and defense. Each time his spear came close, you deflected it with a precise strike of your hand or foot, using his own momentum against him. It was a dance of death, and you were both equally matched.
But as the battle raged on, you began to notice something. Morax's attacks were becoming more relentless, more aggressive. His calm, calculated demeanor was slipping, replaced by something darker โ something more desperate. It was as if he knew that despite his immense power, he could not afford to let this fight drag on.
And then, with a roar that shook the very air, Morax slammed his spear into the ground. The earth beneath your feet shattered, and a massive chasm opened up, threatening to swallow you whole. But you didn't falter. Instead, you leaped into the air, using the force of the explosion to propel yourself higher, out of the reach of the gaping abyss below.
As you soared above the battlefield, you could see Morax below, his amber eyes glowing with a fierce light as he prepared for his next move. But you could also see something else โ something he had failed to notice. The cracks on your right hand were spreading, the golden light growing brighter with each passing second. And with it, your control over your MANTIS-form was slipping.
But that was exactly what you needed.
As you descended back toward the ground, you let the power of Nihility surge through you, allowing it to flow into your limbs, strengthening your attacks. The moment your feet touched the ground, you shot toward Morax, your speed and strength amplified tenfold. He barely had time to react as you closed the distance between you, your fist slamming into his chest with enough force to send him flying backward.
Morax hit the ground hard, his body skidding across the dirt before slamming into a wall of stone. He grunted in pain, his hand clutching his chest where you had struck him. But you didn't give him time to recover. In the blink of an eye, you were upon him again, your attacks relentless and precise.
"Is this what you wanted, Morax?" you hissed, your voice dripping with venom as you struck him again and again. "To see the true extent of my power? To gaze into the abyss and hope to come out unscathed?"
With each word, your blows grew stronger, faster. Morax could barely keep up, his defenses crumbling under the sheer force of your assault. But even as you pushed him to his limits, you could feel the strain on your own body. The power of Nihility was a double-edged sword, and you were walking a fine line between control and chaos.
But then, as you prepared to deliver the final blow, Morax did something unexpected. With a surge of geo energy, he slammed his fist into the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked you off balance. Before you could recover, he was on you, his spear aimed directly at your heart.
Time seemed to slow as you watched the spear tip inch closer and closer to your chest. But even as it did, you felt a strange sense of calm wash over you. This was it. The moment of truth. Would you let him win, or would you unleash the full extent of your power and risk losing yourself in the process?
But then, just as the spear was about to pierce your skin, you moved. In one fluid motion, you caught the spear with your right hand, the golden cracks flaring with a blinding light. For a moment, Morax looked stunned, his eyes widening in shock as he realized what was happening. But it was too late.
With a final, desperate burst of energy, you wrenched the spear from his grasp and snapped it in two. The force of the action sent a shockwave through the ground, and Morax staggered back, his eyes wide with disbelief. But you didn't stop there. With a swift, almost casual motion, you slammed your fist into his chest, sending him crashing to the ground once more.
As he lay there, gasping for breath, you stood over him. The golden cracks on your hand were slowly fading, but the power of Nihility still hummed beneath your skin, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.
"You should have known better, Morax," you said, your voice low and dangerous. "You cannot control what you do not understand. And you will never control me."
Your fury was palpable, a dark and terrifying force that seemed to pulse through the very air around you. Every step you took toward Zhongli was deliberate, each heel strike against the ground echoing with the promise of retribution.ย
When you reached him, you didn't hesitate โ you stomped harshly onto his crotch, your heel digging into his flesh with merciless precision. A pained groan escaped his lips, but you weren't here for mercy.
"Firstly," you began, your voice cold, yet tinged with an icy aloofness that sent shivers down his spine, "where are my finger guards?"
His breath hitched as he struggled to speak, the pain nearly overwhelming. "Ahโ... they are stored in the sealed store-room," he stammered.
Your gaze didn't waver. "Secondly, where are my necklace and earrings?"
"They're... also stored in the same room," he answered, his voice strained, the agony of your assault evident in his every word.
"Lastly..." Your voice dropped to a dangerously low tone as you looked down at him, your eyes narrowing with a lethal focus. "Where is Osial?"
Zhongli's silence was a mistake โ a grave one. You murmured a cold, "Huh...," before pressing your weight harder onto his crotch. He yelped in pain, a sound that was music to your ears. His dragon eyes glowed, but even his inherent power couldn't shield him from the sheer force of your anger.
As he remained silent, you kneaded his crotch harder, twisting your heel as if you were grinding out a cigarette. "You will guide me to Osial," you demanded, your tone leaving no room for argument. It wasn't a request; it was an order, an ultimatum.
Finally, he nodded, the submission in his gesture feeding the dark satisfaction that churned within you. But that wasn't enough. You leaned in, your voice dripping with cold, cruel sarcasm. "Ha? I didn't hear it. What did you say?"
"Yes..." Zhongli finally gasped, the pain twisting his words. "I will guide you to Osial."
You weren't finished. Not by a long shot.ย
"Butโ"
"There are no buts." Your tone sliced through his words like a blade, sharp and unyielding.ย
"You've had enough of me. Enough of my body."ย
Your fingers trailed up to the large, dragon-shaped mark he had left on your throat, a symbol of his twisted possession.
Without hesitation, your sharp nails dug deep into your flesh. The sound of your skin tearing was a grotesque symphony that echoed through the air as you tore the mark from your body, ripping away the symbol of his dominance. Golden blood โ sparkling and radiant โ poured from the wound, a stark contrast to the violence of your actions. You pressed your fingers against the bleeding flesh, showing no reaction to the pain.
Zhongli's eyes widened in shock, the sight of your golden blood confirming his deepest suspicions. You were no ordinary being โ his worst fears were realized.
"I remember what really happened here in Liyue millennia ago," you continued, your voice a chilling whisper. "And your little fabricated story... ha... what an utter lie."
You leaned closer, your lips curling into a cold, emotionless smile as you delivered your final, terrifying words. "But let me tell you something... The past is meaningless. All that is past... has returned to Nihility."
A single golden tear slipped from the corner of your eye, falling onto Zhongli's face. "Just like tears... eventually disappear in the rain."
Your words hung in the air, heavy with the promise of vengeance. Zhongli could do nothing but stare up at you, the true weight of his actions crashing down on him. You were no longer the person he had tried to control, to possess. You were a force of nature, a being of terrifying power and unrelenting fury, and you would not rest until he paid for every sin he had committed against you.
Everyone has a past. But for some, that past is a silent abyss, an endless void where the echoes of those who drowned in it are forever lost.
It is a dark chasm, filled with the memories of shattered lives and broken souls, leaving behind a trail of blood and corpses, forgotten by all but the one who created them.
Somehow, you found yourself in an opulent dressing room, the air heavy with the scent of peaches and the faint, warm glow of lanterns.
The room was decorated lavishly, every corner adorned with intricate designs of gold, and peach-colored flowers in full bloom.
Despite the richness of the surroundings, the lighting was subdued, casting long shadows that made the room feel almost dreamlike โ intimate, but with an underlying tension.
Zhongli sat nearby on a luxurious leather couch, his eyes never leaving you. His gaze was intense, filled with a possessiveness that made the air between you both thrum with anticipation. He watched every movement as a group of attendants surrounded you, measuring, adjusting, and dressing you with practiced hands.
The dress they chose for you was breathtaking โ and scandalous.
A tight, form-fitting garment in the deepest shade of black, it was designed to reveal as much as it concealed. Thin crisscrossing strings barely held the fabric together, leaving the sides of your body completely exposed. The smooth curve of your waist, the soft swell of your hips, and the tantalizing hint of side-boob were all on display, accentuated by the strategic cut of the dress.
The front of the dress featured a diamond-shaped cutout, drawing the eye to your cleavage, while the back plunged daringly low, the fabric skimming over your skin like a lover's touch.
Around your waist, they fastened a delicate chain of gold and crystal, each link shimmering in the dim light. From the center of this chain, a Geo symbol hung low on your back, drawing attention to the elegant arch of your spine and enhancing the voluptuous curve of your hips and breasts.
The dress made your figure appear even more striking, your body transformed into an object of worship, meant to be adored and possessed.
The attendants slipped your feet into sleek, black high-heels, the kind that made your legs look impossibly long, adding to the overall allure of your appearance. Each movement you made caused the crystals around your waist to glint in the dim light, and the soft rustle of the fabric whispered of secrets and seduction.
Zhongli's gaze darkened as he took in the sight before him. His expression was one of reverence, but beneath it was something far more intense โ obsession.
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes tracing the exposed lines of your body, the dress revealing just enough to drive him mad with desire. His thoughts were possessive, primal, as he imagined his hands where the delicate fabric ended, his lips following the curves that the dress so beautifully highlighted.
To him, you were perfectionโcrafted and adorned for his eyes alone. Every inch of you, from the graceful line of your neck to the elegant arch of your back, was his to admire, to covet, to own.
The luxurious setting, the decadent dress, the entire festival โ all of it seemed orchestrated for this moment, for you to be presented before him like a gift he had waited centuries to claim.
You squeezed your legs together, trying to suppress the warmth pooling deep within you, a futile attempt to regain control as you shyly covered your chest from Zhongli's gaze. Your big breasts strained against your arms, the dress offering no real modesty. Your cheeks burned with a sweet hue of pink, a mix of embarrassment and something far more dangerous.
What are you doing?
The question echoed in your mind, but no answer came. You hated this. You hated all of this โ the way Zhongli's eyes devoured you, the way your body responded to his gaze, the way the room seemed to close in around you with its stifling opulence.
But... you loved it too.
Each breath felt heavy, almost laborious, as if the air itself was too thick to inhale. The cloying scent of peach blossoms clung to you, coating your lungs with every inhale.
The sweetness was overwhelming, suffocating, and yet you craved it. The delicate fragrance mixed with the added potency of the special peach incense, filling the room and your senses, making it impossible to focus on anything else. You noticed that the other attendants didn't seem affected at all, their faces serene and unbothered, while you were drowning in it.
You were losing yourself.
Your grip on your arm tightened, nails digging into your flesh as you tried to anchor yourself, to wake up from this haze.
'This isn't right...' you thought desperately, the clarity of your thoughts slipping away with each passing second. 'Something... Something is drugging me...'
But even that realization was fading, dissolving like sugar in tea. Your mind felt like it was being slowly pulled apart, the pieces scattering and drifting away, out of your reach.
You tried to hold on, tried to think of something, anything, but it was meaningless. The room spun, the air thick and heady with the scent of peaches, and your thoughts grew fainter, like whispers in the wind.
You couldn't think anymore... You couldn't fight it... The warmth, the sweetness, the pleasure of just letting go โ it was all too much. Your body relaxed despite your internal struggle, leaning into the sensation, into the inevitability of it all. As your mind dissolved into the overwhelming haze, you realized with a final, fleeting thought that you were utterly, hopelessly lost.
Zhongli's amber eyes glowed with a predatory intensity as he watched you struggle to maintain control, the drug working its way deeper into your system. He raised a hand, curling his finger in a subtle gesture that commanded your obedience. The other attendants silently left the room, leaving you alone with him. The dim lighting cast shadows across his sharp features, but his eyes remained like molten gold, glowing with dark intent.
You felt compelled to move, your legs trembling with each slow, hesitant step. The crystals around your waist tinkled softly, the only sound in the oppressive silence. Your body seemed to act on its own, driven by an unseen force, until you stood right before him, between his legs.
"Kneel." His voice was smooth, yet held an unyielding authority. Without a second thought, you sank to your knees before him, your mind too fogged to resist.
You gazed up at him with hazy, adoring eyes, your breath shallow and quick. Zhongli leaned forward, a dark smile playing on his lips as he assessed how deeply the drug had taken hold.
"Open your mouth," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for disobedience. Your cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink as your mind swirled with anticipation. What would he do next? Your soft, plump lips parted, and you opened your mouth as instructed.
Without hesitation, he leaned closer and spit into your mouth. The sensation was unexpected, a sudden warmth that made you moan involuntarily, a sound that surprised even yourself. The intimacy of the act, the sheer dominance of it, sent a shiver down your spine.
His spit felt strangely wonderful, a warmth that spread through you, igniting something primal within. Your body was aflame with need, your core aching for friction, for release. You gazed up at him, your eyes pleading, silently begging for permission to swallow.
Zhongli watched you with a dark satisfaction, his tongue flicking out to wet his lips.
"Swallow," he ordered, his voice smooth and commanding.
You obeyed immediately, savoring the taste as if it were the finest delicacy, a nectar sweeter than any peach. The warmth spread further, settling deep within you, making you tremble with the need to be closer to him.
A smirk curved his lips as he looked down at you, clearly pleased with your response.
"Good girl," he murmured, his voice low and sensual, the praise sending a wave of heat through your body.
You squirmed in place, squeezing your thighs together in a desperate attempt to quell the burning desire that had taken hold of you.
But there was no relief, no escape from the fire that consumed you. Not until Zhongli decided to grant you the release you so desperately craved. And as his golden eyes bore into yours, you knew that moment was entirely in his control.
Zhongli reached for a collar, sleek and black, its leather gleaming in the dim light, with a leash already attached.
"Good girls deserve rewards, don't they?" His voice was a low murmur, dripping with dark promise. You nodded, anticipation thrumming through your veins.
He fastened the collar around your throat, the cold leather pressing into your heated skin, tightening just enough to make every breath a bit more labored, yet somehow, the restriction made you feel even more alive. There was a strange thrill in the sensation, in the way the collar claimed you, marking you as his.
With a firm tug on the leash, Zhongli guided you toward him. The movement was instinctual, natural, as if you were born to follow his lead.
As you rose, your ample breasts brushed against his growing bulge, and a tremor of excitement shot through you. The contact was brief but enough to ignite a fire in both of you.
You settled into his lap, your soft curves molding against his hard body. The heat of his chest seeped through the fabric of his clothes mingling with your own warmth.
His scent enveloped you, intoxicating and heady, making your mind swim with desire.
Zhongli's amber eyes glowed with a potent mix of desire and something darker, more obsessive. He could feel the press of your breasts against his chest, the soft, yielding flesh driving him wild with want.
His gloved hands traced a slow, deliberate path over your exposed legs, each touch sending sparks of pleasure through you. As they traveled upward, they slipped beneath the hem of your dress, the leather cool against your heated skin. When his hands reached your hips, he didn't hesitate. He grabbed your ass roughly, squeezing hard enough to draw a moan from your lips.
You pressed closer to him, your hands clutching at his chest as if he were your lifeline. His grip was firm, possessive, and each rough massage of your ass sent waves of pleasure coursing through you. The contrast between the smooth leather of his gloves and the coarseness of his touch only heightened the sensation making you crave more, making you want to lose yourself completely in him.
Zhongli's gaze never left yours, watching the way you responded to him, the way you worshipped him with your eyes, your body. The hunger in his eyes matched your own, but it was laced with a deep insatiable need to own, to possess every part of you. His hands moved with purpose, exploring every inch of you that he could reach, claiming you over and over again with each touch.
As you rubbed your wet core against Zhongli's hard bulge, the friction sent shivers down your spine, each movement intensifying the heat pooling between your thighs. His grip on your ass tightened, his fingers digging into your flesh as he guided your hips to grind against him. The rough, almost desperate way he kneaded your ass made you moan, the sound slipping from your lips uncontrollably, a sweet melody that spurred him on.
Zhongli's breath grew heavier, his chest rising and falling with barely restrained desire. He pressed your ass down harder against his bulge, forcing you to feel every inch of him through the fabric. The pressure was maddening, the sensation of his arousal against your sensitive pussy almost too much to bear.
You whimpered and mewled, your sounds a symphony of pleasure that made his heart pound faster. He couldn't resist any longer. Leaning forward, he captured your lower lip between his teeth, biting down just hard enough to draw a gasp from you. Before you could recover, he claimed your mouth in a searing kiss, his tongue slipping past your parted lips to explore every inch of your mouth.
The kiss was deep, almost punishing, but it felt so incredibly good. His tongue moved with purpose, swirling around yours, teasing, tasting, dominating. Each stroke of his tongue sent waves of pleasure cascading through you, making you hotter, making you ache with a need you could no longer control.
Your body responded instinctively, your hips moving in rhythm with his rough handling, grinding harder against his bulge. Every rub, every press of your wet core against him sent sparks of ecstasy through you, driving you closer to the edge.
You moaned into his mouth, the sound vibrating against his tongue as it continued its relentless exploration. The kiss was overwhelming, consuming, a mix of passion and raw need that left you dizzy, your mind clouded with desire. You clung to him, your hands fisting in his shirt as you surrendered completely to the pleasure he was giving you.
Zhongli could feel the way your body melted into his, the way you responded to every touch, every kiss. It fueled his own desire, the need to claim you, to make you his in every possible way. He deepened the kiss, his tongue moving more aggressively, dominating your mouth just as he was dominating your body.
Your mind was lost in the sensation, every thought dissolving into pure, unfiltered pleasure. All you could feel was him โ his touch, his kiss, his hardness pressed against you โand it was driving you wild, making you crave more, making you want to give him everything.
The sudden chime of bells from outside startled you, breaking the intensity of the moment and pulling you out of the heated embrace. You blinked, disoriented, your breath still heavy as you glanced toward the window, searching for the source of the interruption.
Zhongli let out a sigh, his frustration barely masked as he pulled back slightly, his amber eyes dark with lingering desire. "Ah... it's already time for that," he murmured, clearly disappointed at having to cut the moment short when all he wanted was to indulge in you a little longer.
"Time for what?" you asked softly, your voice breathless and tinged with lingering confusion.
Instead of answering right away, Zhongli leaned in, pressing his forehead gently against yours. The warmth of his skin was comforting, grounding you amidst the haze of desire still clouding your thoughts.
"Time for a dance, love," he whispered, his voice low and intimate, carrying a promise of more to come.
You clung tightly to Zhongli's arm, your fingers curled around the fabric of his sleeve as his arm pressed intimately into the soft curve of your cleavage. You leaned your head against his shoulder, a dreamy smile on your lips as you reveled in the warmth of his presence, lost in the feeling of being so close to him.
The connection between you two felt unbreakable, and you were consumed by the depth of your affection, unaware of anything else.
Zhongli held the leash firmly, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as he felt your devotion deepen with each passing moment.
A dark glint flickered in his amber eyes โ evidence that the drug was finally taking full effect. Yet, he knew he needed to keep feeding it to you, to ensure that your mind, your thoughts, and your desires revolved around him and him alone.
With every step you took, the sound of your heels echoed through the empty, opulent establishment, accompanied by the delicate clinking of the chain that adorned your waist. The lavish surroundings blurred into insignificance; you no longer cared where you were or how you arrived here. All that mattered was that you were with your lover โ Morax.
Zhongli tugged gently on the leash, guiding you as he turned down a corridor and led you through a door adorned with peach blossoms. It opened into a secluded garden, bathed in the soft glow of lanterns swaying gently in the evening breeze.
The garden was a vision of beauty, filled with delicate peach flowers that lined the pathways, their petals glowing softly under the lantern light. The air was thick with the sweet scent of peaches, intoxicating and overwhelming, as if the very atmosphere was designed to seduce the senses.
At the center of the garden stood a magnificent marble fountain, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the soft hues of the lanterns. Surrounding the fountain was a circular marble platform, its surface smooth and inviting. Only a small wooden bridge connected the pathway to the center, creating a sense of isolation.
Zhongli guided you across the bridge, leading you to the heart of the garden. The scent of peaches grew even stronger here, filling your lungs and clouding your mind. Lanterns hung above, swaying gently as they cast a warm, romantic glow over everything. You felt a deep contentment, a longing to stay here forever, in this perfect moment, with him.
Zhongli's gaze never left you, his smile deepening as he watched your every reaction. He was in control, and the night was just beginning.
Zhongli's voice dropped to a low, smooth whisper as he explained, "According to the festival's tradition, on the first night, the people light peach-colored lanterns, hoping that the Unknown Lady will find her way through the darkness."
His hands found their place on your waist, his touch both possessive and tender. "They pray that the Geo Archon and his lost lover will reunite and dance beneath the stars, filling the night with their love."
He pulled you closer, your bodies now pressed together as he continued, "If their reunion is blessed, the moon will take on the hue of a ripe peach, signaling the success of their prayers, and the festival will continue in joyous celebration."
Zhongli took your left hand in his, his grip firm yet gentle, his amber eyes never leaving yours.
"Shall we dance, my love?" he asked, his voice as smooth as silk.
A soft smile graced your lips as you gazed up at him, feeling the weight of the moment.
"Yes," you whispered, surrendering to the dance, to the night, and to him.
As the music began to play softly from the attendants in the corner, Zhongli's grip on your waist tightened, pulling you flush against him. His other hand held the leash attached to your collar, the leather strap a constant reminder of his control over you, as well as your growing need to submit to his every desire.
With a slow, deliberate step, he guided you into the dance, his movements fluid and precise. You followed his lead, your body pressed against his, feeling the warmth of his chest through the thin fabric of your dress. Each step made your heels click against the marble, the sound echoing in the stillness of the garden, accompanied by the rustling of the chain around your waist.
Zhongli's amber eyes never left yours as he led you in a sensual rhythm, the leash in his hand occasionally pulling you closer with a gentle, yet possessive tug. Each time the leather tightened around your throat, it sent a shiver down your spine, making you feel both vulnerable and protected under his control. His hand trailed up your back, caressing the exposed skin, sending sparks of electricity through your body.
As the dance continued, you felt yourself slipping further into a dreamlike state, your surroundings blurring until all that remained clear was Zhongli. The scent of peaches filled the air, thick and intoxicating, mingling with the heat rising from your body. You could no longer distinguish between reality and fantasy; everything else faded away except for the sensation of his hands on your body, guiding you, owning you.
Zhongli's hand slid down to your lower back, pressing you firmly against him, his grip on the leash tightening ever so slightly, restricting your breath in a way that sent your heart racing. The closeness was overwhelming, his scent enveloping you, his touch igniting a fire within you that you couldn't extinguish. Every movement became more intimate, more heated, as if you were caught in a steamy dream where only the two of you existed.
He spun you around gracefully, the leash pulling you back into his arms, your bodies colliding with a soft gasp. His hand found its way to your chin, tilting your head up so you had no choice but to look into his eyesโthose deep, molten amber eyes that held nothing but dark desire. His thumb brushed over your lips, and you parted them instinctively, wanting more, needing more of him.
Zhongli's lips hovered close to yours, his breath warm against your skin. The world around you dissolved into nothingness, leaving only the sensation of his body pressed against yours, the pull of the collar around your neck, and the heat pooling between your thighs. You were lost in him, in the dance, in the intoxicating mix of control and surrender that left you trembling with need.
The music slowed, but Zhongli didn't stop. Instead, he pulled you even closer, if that was possible, his hand sliding down to grasp the curve of your ass, squeezing it possessively. Your mind swam with the sensation, the pleasure, the overwhelming desire that consumed you. It was as if you were floating in a hot, wet dream, where Zhongli was the only thing that mattered, the only thing you could see, feel, or think about.
He leaned in, his lips brushing against your ear as he whispered, "You belong to me, love. Only me." The words sent a jolt of pleasure through you, your body responding with a shiver that he felt against his chest. His teeth grazed your earlobe, and you moaned softly, your hands clutching at his back, desperate to hold onto him as your reality dissolved into pure, unadulterated desire.
Zhongli pulled back slightly, just enough to capture your lips in a deep, searing kiss. The leash tightened, and you melted into him, your legs threatening to give way as the kiss grew more intense, more demanding. His tongue explored your mouth with a possessiveness that left you breathless, the taste of him overwhelming your senses until nothing else existed but the need to be closer to him.
The dance had become a blur of passion, a sensual exchange of power and submission, leaving you utterly consumed by the man who held your leash, your heart, and your very soul. The world outside your shared desire ceased to exist, and you knew that as long as you were in Zhongli's arms, you would never want to leave this dream.
In your dreamlike haze, the pink moon behind Zhongli loomed large and radiant, casting a surreal glow over everything. Its brightness was almost blinding, heightening the sense that you were lost in some feverish fantasy. From afar, you could hear the distant cheers of joy echoing up from the harbor, a celebration that felt a world away from the intimate cocoon you found yourself in. The music that had guided your steps faded into silence, marking the end of the dance but the beginning of something far more intense.
Zhongli's hands cupped your flushed cheeks, and you instinctively leaned into his touch, seeking the warmth and comfort that only he could provide. His eyes, glowing with a predatory hunger, locked onto yours, and you could feel the weight of his gaze searing into your very soul. The success of the tradition only served to ignite the fire within him; now, nothing would stand between him and his desire to claim you fully.
His thumb brushed over your parted lips, and you shivered as a wave of heat surged through your body.ย
"Tonight, I will mark you as mine," he whispered, his voice low and filled with a promise that sent a rush of liquid fire straight to your core.ย
Your legs trembled, barely able to hold you up as the intensity of his words made you weak with anticipation. The warmth between your thighs grew unbearable, and you knew that your body was already surrendering to him, craving the release only he could provide.
Not waiting for any response, Zhongli tugged on the leash, tightening the leather collar around your throat. The sudden pressure made your breath hitch, but it also drove you to follow him with obedient eagerness. You barely registered the hurried steps as he led you back into the grand mansion, every step you took making the crystals around your waist jingle softly, a sweet accompaniment to your building arousal.
He pushed open the door to a massive bedroom, the grandeur of it barely registering as he shut the door with a finality that sent a shiver of excitement down your spine. In one swift motion, he threw you onto the enormous double bed, the soft silk sheets cool against your overheated skin. You sank into the bed, surrounded by an abundance of peach flowers in deeper shades of pink, their scent mingling with the thick, sweet aroma of incense and peach-scented candles that filled the air.
The room was a sensory overload, every detail designed to heighten your arousal. The overwhelming sweetness of the scent made you feel feverish, your skin prickling with sensitivity as the heat pooled low in your belly, turning into an almost unbearable ache. Everything around you seemed to blur, the edges of reality dissolving as your mind and body became attuned only to Zhongli and the dark, possessive energy radiating from him.
The room was bathed in the soft, warm glow of the peach-hued moonlight and the flickering pink candles, casting an almost ethereal light over Zhongli's chiseled form. His amber eyes, glowing in the darkness, locked onto yours with an intensity that made your breath catch. They were filled with a hunger so deep, so primal, that it sent a shiver of anticipation down your spine.
Without a word, Zhongli tore his shirt from his body, the sound of fabric ripping echoing in the stillness. His sculpted chest was bare before you, muscles flexing as he discarded his belt and pants. His movements were slow, deliberate, predatory, as he advanced toward you where you lay on the massive bed, completely at his mercy. The bed dipped under his weight as he climbed on, his presence overwhelming, filling the space around you with raw, masculine energy.
Your breath quickened, heart racing as you instinctively spread your legs apart like the obedient lover you had become. Zhongli's eyes darkened with desire as he positioned himself above you, his belt in hand. The leather was cool against your skin as he wrapped it around your wrists, binding them together with a firm tug. The sensation of being tied down, completely at his mercy, only heightened your arousal, the anticipation building to a fever pitch.
He loomed over you, his gaze devouring the sight of you laid out beneath him. His eyes traced the curves of your body, lingering on the rise and fall of your chest as you panted softly, each breath a plea for him to take you, to fill the aching need that was growing unbearable. His intense scrutiny made you feel utterly exposed, every inch of your body laid bare for his pleasure.
Without warning, Zhongli attacked your neck with kisses and bites, his lips and teeth leaving a trail of marks along your sensitive skin. Each kiss was rough, each bite possessive, as if he were branding you as his own. You moaned, your body arching into his touch, the fire between your legs growing hotter, more desperate, the need for friction, for release, becoming all-consuming.
Zhongli's hands were everywhere, exploring, claiming. With one swift motion, he tore the cleavage of your dress, the fabric giving way to reveal your breasts, which bounced free from the confines of the tight material. His eyes darkened further as he licked his lips, his hands coming up to squeeze your tits together. The sensation was overwhelming, his touch both tender and rough, making you whimper with need.
He lowered his head, his mouth capturing both of your nipples, sucking on them with a hunger that bordered on madness. His tongue flicked over your sensitive peaks, teasing, torturing, while his teeth grazed and bit down just enough to send jolts of pleasure-pain through your body. Your moans filled the room, your back arching off the bed as he sucked harder, his tongue swirling around your nipples in a way that made you delirious with want.
Zhongli squeezed your breasts roughly, as if trying to coax milk from them, the pressure sending waves of pleasure straight to your core. The thought of being so thoroughly claimed by him, of him wanting to taste every part of you, drove you wild with desire. But the need between your legs was becoming unbearable, the slick heat pooling there begging for his attention, for him to fill you completely.
Every touch, every kiss, every bite was pushing you closer to the edge, your body trembling with anticipation, with the desperate need to be claimed by him in every way possible. Your wrists strained against the belt that bound them, your body aching for more, for everything he had to give.
Finally, he released your swollen breasts, letting them bounce as his hands traveled down your body, his touch searing into your skin. With a swift motion, Zhongli tore apart the dress that still clung to your form, the fabric ripping easily under his strength. The sudden rush of cool air against your exposed, hypersensitive skin made you shiver and moan, your body arching toward him instinctively, craving more of his touch.
Zhongli's large hands gripped your thighs, pushing them up toward your chest, spreading you wide before him. His amber eyes darkened as they locked onto your dripping, pink core, glistening with arousal. This was his โ every part of you belonged to him, and the possessive glint in his gaze made that abundantly clear.
"Beautiful," he murmured, his voice low and rough with desire. He leaned down, trailing teasing licks along the inside of your thighs, his tongue tracing patterns on your soft, silken skin. Each bite, each kiss he planted on your sensitive flesh made you moan louder, your hips bucking slightly as he inched closer and closer to where you needed him most.
Your breath hitched as his mouth hovered just above your aching pussy, the anticipation making your entire body tremble. His warm breath ghosted over your slick folds, and the mere sensation was enough to send a jolt of pleasure through you, making you gasp.
And then, finally, he lowered his head and licked a slow, deliberate stripe up your wetness, savoring the taste of you. The sensation was electric, a wave of pleasure crashing through you as his tongue expertly explored every inch of your pussy. He sucked on your folds, tasting you deeply, his tongue swirling and flicking with a precision that drove you wild.
"Mmhh, Morax!" you moaned, your voice desperate as you felt the tension coiling tighter and tighter within you. His tongue found your clit, and when he licked over it, your entire body jolted with pleasure. "I-I'm c-comingโ!" you cried out, the pleasure building to an unbearable peak.
Zhongli's response was to suck harder on your clit, his tongue working you with a relentless intensity that pushed you closer and closer to the edge. Your breath quickened, your body trembling uncontrollably as the pleasure mounted, the sensation of his mouth on you driving you to the brink.
With one final, intense suck, the tension inside you snapped. You came hard, your orgasm ripping through you with blinding force. Your vision blurred, and for a moment, it felt like you were floating, suspended in a sea of stars. Every nerve in your body was on fire, the pleasure overwhelming, all-consuming.
Zhongli continued to lap at you, savoring every drop of your release, his tongue coaxing out every last bit of pleasure as you rode the waves of your orgasm. Even as your body trembled and your breath came in ragged gasps, he didn't stop, prolonging the blissful sensation until you were utterly spent, completely at his mercy.
Zhongli moaned deeply as he reluctantly pulled away from your beautiful, dripping pussy, savoring the lingering taste of you on his lips. His eyes were dark with hunger as he crawled up your body, his gaze never leaving your flushed face. You were still trembling from your orgasm, your chest rising and falling with every breath, and to him, you looked utterly breathtaking โyour skin glowing with a sheen of sweat, your eyes half-lidded with lingering pleasure.
"This was only the beginning, love," he murmured, his voice low and rough, sending shivers down your spine. With a wicked glint in his eyes, he reached for the lit scented candle on the bedside table, the flame casting a soft, flickering light across the room. Slowly, deliberately, he tilted the candle over you, and the first drop of molten wax fell onto your sensitive skin.
You jolted at the sensation, a sharp gasp escaping your lips as the hot wax landed on your chest. The heat was intense, almost burning, but instead of pain, it brought a strange, intoxicating pleasure that made you moan, your body arching into the sensation. Another drop of wax followed, this time landing squarely on your exposed, sensitive nipple. The contrast between the cooling air and the searing wax made your skin tingle, the heat spreading through your body like wildfire.
Zhongli's eyes were fixated on you, his amber gaze burning with desire as he watched the molten wax harden against your skin, encasing your breasts in a thin, glistening layer. His dick was painfully hard, throbbing with need as he drank in the sight of you โ how the wax dripped down your chest, tracing the curves of your breasts, how your body responded so beautifully to the mix of pain and pleasure.
He leaned down, his lips brushing against your ear as he whispered, "You look so beautiful like this." His voice was thick with lust, sending a shiver down your spine. He wanted to prolong this moment, to draw out every last drop of pleasure from you, to make you beg for more.
With a slow, deliberate movement, he let another stream of wax drip onto your other breast, watching intently as you writhed beneath him, your body caught between the sweet torment and overwhelming desire. The sight of your helplessness, your need for him, only fueled his own desire, making him ache to take you, to make you his completely.
But for now, he wanted to savor this โ to see you react to his every touch, to watch you squirm as he pushed you further and further into blissful submission. He knew there was so much more he could do to you, so many more ways he could make you feel, and the thought of it made his hunger grow even stronger.
Zhongli traced a finger through the cooling wax on your chest, his touch light and teasing, before dipping his head to place a soft kiss on your heated skin. The contrast of his cool lips against the warm wax made you moan softly, your body trembling with anticipation for what was to come next.
"You are mine," he whispered against your skin, his voice dark and possessive. "And I intend to show you just how much you belong to me."
Zhongli blew out the candle, casting the room into a dim, intimate glow illuminated only by the moonlight filtering through the windows. With a fluid motion, he discarded the candle and shifted his focus entirely to you. He gently lifted your legs, placing them over his broad shoulders, his hands sliding down your thighs in a way that made your skin tingle with anticipation. Your cheeks flushed with excitement, a deep crimson that only deepened as you realized what was about to happen.
His eyes, glowing with a mix of hunger and tenderness, locked onto yours as he positioned himself right before your entrance. The sight of him โ the sheer size and thickness of his dickโmade your breath hitch in your throat. The head of his cock was swollen, glistening with precum, and the mere thought of him inside you made your core clench with need. You were already slick again, your body instinctively preparing for him, but the question of whether he would even fit crossed your mind, adding to the thrill of the moment.
Zhongli gave his shaft a few slow, deliberate strokes, his eyes never leaving your face, reading every expression of anticipation and desire. He let the head of his cock brush against your wet entrance, teasing you with the promise of what was to come. The light tap of his dick against your sensitive pussy sent jolts of pleasure through your body, making you moan softly, your hips instinctively tilting towards him, desperate to be filled.
Finally, he began to press forward, the head of his cock probing gently at your entrance. The moment he started to push inside, both of you moaned in unison โ Zhongli at the incredible tightness of your walls squeezing around him, and you at the overwhelming sensation of being stretched by his thickness. Even though you'd just come, your body was still so tight that the stretch was almost unbearable, a sweet pain that made you grip the bedsheets, your knuckles white as you tried to relax and accommodate him.
"Ha... The pain will soon go away, love," Zhongli whispered, his voice strained with the effort of holding back, wanting to give you time to adjust. His words were followed by a low moan as he slowly, torturously, pushed deeper inside you, inch by inch. Your body was tense, every nerve on fire as he stretched you wider than you thought possible. The sensation was intense, a mix of discomfort and incredible pleasure as your walls clung to his cock, feeling every ridge and vein as he moved deeper inside you.
He paused for a moment, fully sheathed within you, his breathing heavy and labored. The fullness was overwhelming, the way he filled you completely, his cock pressing against every sensitive spot inside you. It hurt, yes, but it was the kind of pain that promised pleasure, a delicious burn that made your toes curl and your breath come in shallow gasps.
Zhongli leaned down slightly, your legs still over his shoulders, his body pressing closer to yours as he whispered in your ear, "You're doing so well... Just breathe, my love. The pain will turn into pleasure soon."
His words were soothing, and as he began to move again, slowly pulling out before pushing back in, the pain began to fade, replaced by a growing pleasure that built with every thrust. The friction, the fullness, the way his cock dragged against your inner walls โ it all combined to create a sensation that was both overwhelming and addictive. Your moans grew louder, mixing with his deep, guttural sounds of pleasure as he began to pick up the pace, each thrust driving deeper into you, sending waves of ecstasy through your body.
As the pain dissolved into pleasure, you felt yourself surrendering completely to him, your body melting into the bed as Zhongli took control, his powerful thrusts rocking you to the core. The way he filled you, stretched you, and made you feel so utterly consumed by him was intoxicating. Every thrust, every movement, was deliberate, his gaze never leaving your face, watching you with a mixture of possessiveness and adoration.
Zhongli's hips began to move faster, each thrust more intense than the last. The rough, almost punishing rhythm sent shockwaves of pleasure through your body, each one deeper and more powerful than before. His cock slammed into you, reaching the very depths of your pussy, brushing against your womb with each thrust. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoed through the room, mixing with the wild creaking of the bed beneath you as it rocked in time with his movements.
Both of you were lost in the heat of the moment, your moans growing louder, more desperate, as the intensity between you built to an almost unbearable peak. You could feel him throbbing inside you, the thick veins of his cock pulsing with his imminent release. Your walls tightened around him, clinging desperately to his shaft as your body prepared to come undone.
Suddenly, with one hand, Zhongli reached up and tore off your collar, the metal clasp snapping under the force. He then leaned in and bit down hard on your neck, his sharp teeth sinking into your flesh and drawing blood, marking you as his in the most primal, possessive way. The sudden pain mixed with pleasure sent you over the edge, and you cried out as your body tightened even more, your walls squeezing him like a vice.
Your orgasm hit you like a tidal wave, your entire body convulsing in pleasure as you milked his cock with each squeeze. Zhongli moaned against your skin, his voice deep and guttural, as he gave one final, powerful thrust. He buried himself to the hilt inside you and released his hot seed, pumping thick ropes of cum deep into your core. You could feel every pulse, every spurt, filling you completely, and the sensation was overwhelming, almost euphoric. The warmth of his release flooded your senses, making you feel utterly claimed, utterly his.
As you came together, your bodies were covered in a sheen of sweat, pressed tightly against each other. The intensity of the moment left you breathless, your heart pounding in your chest as you lay there, still connected. Zhongli's chest heaved against yours, his breath hot and ragged against your ear. He didn't pull out, instead staying buried deep inside you, savoring the feeling of your walls still contracting around him, as if your body refused to let him go.
Zhongli held you close, his hand stroking your back gently, a stark contrast to the ferocity of just moments before. The thought of you carrying his children, of being bound to him in the most intimate way possible, filled his mind. He reveled in the idea, his possessiveness flaring up as he imagined you swollen with his child, bound to him forever.
He pressed a soft kiss to the bite mark on your neck, his voice low and tender, "You're mine, forever." The words were a promise, a vow, as he continued to hold you close, neither of you moving, both content to stay like this โ connected, claimed, and completely entwined.
In the early morning at Liyue Harbor, the streets were alive with activity. People moved about with purpose, hanging posters that featured a silhouette of a lady adorned with delicate flowers.
As you continued down the cobbled streets, the scent of peach blossoms filled the air, mingling with the morning breeze. The community was busy planting peach-colored flowers, their vibrant hues adding a gentle blush to the town's decor.
Petals danced gracefully in the soft wind, landing on shop signs and gently fluttering down to rest on the ground. The air was fragrant with the sweet scent of peaches, creating a serene and uplifting atmosphere throughout the harbor.
You inhaled deeply, savoring the delicious fragrance that permeated the air. "Another festival, so soon after the Lantern Rite?" you murmured to yourself, intrigued by the bustling activity.
Your eyes landed on one of the many posters scattered around, depicting a figure reminiscent of the story the Traveler had shared with you - the nameless lady who, coincidentally, bore the same name as you. The realization made you suspicious; the parallels were too striking to ignore.
A sense of urgency welled up inside you, compelling you to uncover more about this ancient tale and your potential connection to it.
"Y/N!" Aether called out, running towards you with a tiny pixie flitting anxiously behind him. "Good morning," he greeted, his smile radiant.
"Aether! Why are you running like that?" the pixie, catching her breath, complained as she struggled to keep up.
"Good morning, Aether," you replied, stopping in your tracks, "Did you sleep well?"
Aether nodded, "Yes, I did. How about you?"
The pixie finally caught up, colliding with Aether's head. Just as she was about to voice her displeasure, her wide eyes locked onto you, and a look of horror crossed her face. "I-It's you!" she gasped, quickly darting behind Aether for cover. "How do you know her?"
"I met Y/N last night," Aether explained.
"In the night?" Paimon exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. You crossed your arms and offered a reassuring look. "We just had a brief conversation, little one," you clarified.
"Paimon! My name is Paimon!" she huffed, puffing her cheeks while still peeking out from behind Aether's head.
"And Paimon remembers how scary and angry you were with Zhongli!" Paimon exclaimed. "Oh, right, I wanted to ask you about that," Aether added.
You began walking slowly, "It's a bit complicated, but I'm willing to explain," you said, passing by them. Aether and Paimon exchanged glances before falling into step beside you.
"I don't really know Zhongli. But when I first saw him, I felt like he was someone... significant," you said, searching for the right words. "...I felt like something bad had happened between us... But I don't know what."
"Something bad?" Paimon echoed, now more curious than afraid.
You glanced at her, then back at the bustling streets, "...My instincts told me that this man had caused me great pain. That's why I was so defensive and cautious," you explained.
"What was the other reason?" Aether asked.
You hesitated, "The other reason is... my name. He knew my name." Your eyes narrowed. "It shouldn't be possible for my name to exist in this world."
"Huh... I don't get it. Why shouldn't your name exist?" Paimon asked, puzzled.
Aether thought for a moment, "Are you from another world too?"
"Yes," you confirmed.
Paimon and Aether exchanged knowing looks. "Oh... Well, that makes sense, I guess," Paimon said, rubbing her head. After a moment, she suddenly exclaimed, "Wait a minute!" causing both you and Aether to stop and look at her.
"What is it?" you asked, a bit startled by her outburst.
"Your name," Paimon pointed at you, then gestured to a poster depicting the silhouette of a woman. "Your name is Y/N! And you have the same name as the Unknown Lady from the love story!" Her eyes widened in realization.
Aether looked at you, "Then you are..."
"If you connect the dots, it's very likely that I'm the Unknown Lady from that story," you said, your voice quieting as the weight of the revelation settled in.
"You don't remember anything..." Aether said, his voice tinged with sympathy. Paimon's expression mirrored his concern as she glanced between you and Aether. "Do you have memory loss...?" she asked softly.
You didn't respond immediately, choosing instead to continue walking. As you looked up at the sky, the peach-colored petals from the flowers danced in the breeze, their delicate scent filling the air.
"I rely more on my feelings than memories to guide me," you finally said.
Aether and Paimon remained silent, sharing a moment of quiet empathy for your situation. "Maybe you could talk to Zhongli," Aether suggested gently. "He might be able to tell you more about your past... or the story that involves you."
You considered his words, the idea lingering in your mind. "Talking to Zhongli... It might not be a bad idea," you mused aloud. "It could help me piece together what I've lost."
"Then let's find Zhongli!" Paimon exclaimed, flying up to you and grabbing your hand. "Come on, let's go!" She tugged at your arm enthusiastically, her energy infectious. Aether chuckled at the sight, smiling as he followed along.
Zhongli's lips curved into a smile as Xiao reports about everything, including You wanting to speak with him. Finally, after decades of meticulous patience, the moment he had yearned for was within his grasp. The thought of claiming you as his own sent a shiver of anticipation through him.
He had waited so long - far too long - to touch you, to inhale your scent, to hear your voice, and to have you beneath his control.
The agonizing jealousy he felt whenever he saw you with Osial was unbearable. The mere idea of such a gentle and exquisite woman in the company of a lunatic like Osial had always filled him with a barely contained fury. He could never fathom how you could tolerate such a union.
The years of planning and scheming were finally about to pay off. Your memory loss, a convenient twist of fate, would make it all the easier to mold the past to his liking, to rewrite history with him as the central figure in your life. He relished the thought of filling in the gaps, of shaping the narrative to satisfy his obsessive desires.
Zhongli's anticipation was almost palpable; he couldn't wait to see you again, to begin the process of weaving himself into the fabric of your life. His heart raced at the thought, his obsession teetering on the edge of madness. You would be his, and this time, nothing and no one would stand in his way.
"Zhongli! Good morning!" Paimon called out, waving eagerly as she led you toward him. Aether trailed close behind, his expression cautious.
As soon as Zhongli's gaze settled on you, his smile widened with an unsettling intensity. "Good morning," he replied, his voice smooth and controlled. He sat at a balcony overlooking Liyue, the perfect vantage point to keep an eye on the bustling city below.
The moment your eyes met his, a shiver of unease ran down your spine. There was something deeply unnerving about the way he looked at you-like a predator finally closing in on its prey. You tried to shake off the feeling, reminding yourself that your goal was simply to learn about the past, nothing more.
"...Good morning..." you murmured, hesitating before adding, "Zhongli." You stood before him, every instinct on high alert, wary of the beautiful yet intimidating man before you. His amber eyes were striking, filled with a quiet intensity that seemed to pierce through you, making it hard to maintain your composure.
Zhongli's gaze never wavered, his eyes drinking in every detail of your presence with an almost obsessive fervor. His smile held a mix of satisfaction and something darker, something possessive. He had waited so long for this moment, and now you were finally here, within reach.
"I came here merely to speak with you... and to apologize for my actions yesterday," you continued, your voice soft but steady. Despite your calm exterior, the weight of Zhongli's gaze felt like a physical force, pressing down on you, as if he was trying to imprint himself onto your very soul. There was a palpable hunger in his eyes, a yearning that was both unsettling and unnervingly intense.
Zhongli's smile softened, but the obsessive gleam in his eyes only grew stronger. "There's no need for apologies," he said, his voice velvety smooth. "I'm just glad you're here." The way he spoke, it was as if he was savoring each word, each moment you stood before him. It was clear that, to him, this was more than just a conversation - this was a long-awaited reunion, a step towards fulfilling his obsessive desires.
He watched you with a predatory stillness, his mind already spinning with plans and possibilities. The thought of you, so close and yet still out of reach, only fueled his obsession. Every gesture, every word, was carefully calculated to draw you in, to ensnare you in the web he had been weaving for so long.
"Why don't you have a seat?" Zhongli suggested, gesturing gracefully toward the empty chair across from him.
Aether and Paimon exchanged a glance, sensing it was best to give you two some privacy. "We'll take our leave then," Aether said with a friendly smile. Paimon nodded enthusiastically, adding, "Have a great time, you two! See you later!" She waved her tiny hands cheerfully before they both departed.
You watched them leave in silence, then took the offered seat. Across from you, Zhongli held a delicate glass teacup, his expression calm yet unsettlingly warm.
His eyes were fixed on you with an intensity that felt almost tangible, a loving smile playing on his lips. The air between you was thick with a palpable tension, a mix of longing and something darker.
As you settled into your seat, a fragrant aroma filled your senses, a delicate blend of floral and fruity sweetness. Your eyes fell on the teapot from which the enticing scent emanated, the soft pink hue of the tea matching the ambiance.
"Everything here smells so fragrant, with a light sweetness..." you murmured, almost to yourself.
Zhongli's chuckle was smooth and rich, like the finest silk. "It's a lovely scent, isn't it?"
He poured the warm liquid into an empty cup, setting it before you. The steam rose in delicate curls, carrying the intoxicating fragrance of peach blossoms.
You picked up the cup with your right hand, your fingers adorned with a silver claw-like metallic guard, and took a sip.
The flavor enveloped you, a perfect blend of ripe peach and subtle floral undertones, sweet yet not overpowering. It was a taste that brought back a flood of memories, a familiar comfort you hadn't realized you missed. The sweetness lingered on your tongue, bringing a rare smile to your usually stoic face.
Zhongli's eyes never left you, watching every nuance of your reaction with an almost obsessive focus.
To him, this was a precious moment, one he had orchestrated with painstaking care. The way you savored the tea, the way your expression softened - he absorbed it all, as if storing these moments deep within himself.
"It's a lovely tea," you said, pulling the heated glass cup away from your lips. Zhongli's gaze remained fixed on his own cup, where the pink liquid swirled gently. "This tea is crafted from a rare and unique variety of peaches," he explained, looking back at you with a smile that seemed almost too perfect. "Legend has it, this was the Unknown Lady's favorite."
"Peaches, hm..." you mused, watching the peach-colored petals dance in the breeze. "They symbolize life's delights and pleasures-"
"-but are equally fragile and short-lived... Such regret is inevitable," Zhongli finished the sentence seamlessly, causing your eyes to widen in surprise. He chuckled softly, savoring the moment. "You once told me this, as you held a peach with such tenderness. I've never forgotten that day," he said, his tone thick with nostalgia.
You met his gaze, a complex expression crossing your face, one that Zhongli seemed intent on deciphering.
You sighed and closed your eyes for a brief moment, collecting your thoughts. "...I am the Unknown Lady, aren't I?"
A dark glint flashed in Zhongli's eyes. "You are correct," he confirmed.
"And you must be the Geo Archon... Morax, who faked his death," you continued, watching as a petal floated gently into your tea. "I had forgotten the Tsaritsa made a contract with you."
Zhongli hummed in acknowledgment. "None of that matters now, as long as you're here, by my side." He reached out and gently took your left hand, intertwining his fingers with yours. "I've missed you, my love," he whispered, squeezing your hand with a tenderness that felt suffocating.
A strange warmth spread from where your hands touched, an unfamiliar sensation that both comforted and unsettled you.
As you glanced down at your intertwined hands, a fleeting image of Osial flickered in your mind. His marine blue eyes held a familiar, tender gaze, lips moving as if whispering words you could no longer hear. You blinked, and the vision dissolved, leaving you staring into Zhongli's intense, unwavering eyes.
Osial.
There he was again, as clear as day. Why now? Why here?
A sense of unease began to creep in, tightening around your chest. Something wasn't adding up. You lifted your gaze to Zhongli, his serene expression betraying nothing. But you knew โ deep down, you felt it โ this man was hiding something, something crucial.
"What is this festival about?" you asked, your voice steady but probing.
Zhongli's smile softened, his eyes darkening with an unreadable emotion. "It's a celebration of guiding the Unknown Lady back to Morax's arms," he said, lifting your hand and pressing it against his lips. The kiss was gentle, almost reverent, as he lingered on your smooth, delicate skin.
You watched him closely, feeling a faint warmth spread from where his lips touched your hand. It was a sensation that once might have comforted or excited you. But as the seconds ticked by, that warmth quickly faded, replaced by an unsettling numbness. His touch, his kiss โ there was nothing there. No spark, no connection, just an empty gesture that left you cold.
You sighed and withdrew your hand from Zhongli's grasp, noticing the flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
"Thank you for answering my question. I'll take my leave now," you said, standing up from your seat.
But before you could take a step, Zhongli rose abruptly, his hand shooting out to grasp your wrist. "Where are you going?" he asked, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of something darker. He stepped closer, cupping your cheeks in his hands, his touch firm and unyielding.
You felt a shiver of discomfort at the intensity of his gaze. "I have a mission to complete. I've already lingered too long," you replied, trying to keep your voice steady.
The truth was, you were weary of this conversation, eager to finish your task and return to some semblance of normalcy.
Zhongli's grip tightened, and he tilted your chin up, forcing you to look directly into his amber eyes. "What mission?" he demanded, his voice soft yet edged with a possessive undercurrent. "I'll gladly assist you, my love."
You hesitated, weighing your words. "I need to find Osial."
The mention of that name seemed to strike a nerve. Zhongli's eyes widened in shock, then quickly narrowed, darkening with a dangerous glint.
The gentle caress on your chin became an iron grip, rough and unrelenting. A shadow of murderous intent flickered across his face, gone as quickly as it came, but not before you saw it.
The mere mention of Osial's name had clearly disturbed him, revealing a chink in his composed facade. It was as if you had uttered a forbidden word, one that threatened to unravel whatever plan he had so meticulously crafted.
"I don't know if you're aware, but you're hurting me," you said flatly, meeting his intense gaze with a deadpan expression. Your words were a subtle challenge, a reminder that you were not as pliable as he might wish.
"I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to hurt you," Zhongli murmured, his voice dripping with faux remorse. He released your chin, only to slide his hands down to your waist, pulling you closer until your bodies were pressed together. "Hearing that name... I lost myself for a moment."
"... I see." You trailed off, a strange weariness settling over you. You had felt perfectly fine that morning, but now, a fog of fatigue was creeping in.
Sensing your growing boredom, Zhongli decided to be more direct. "I heard from Aether that you use your feelings to guide you because of your memory loss..." He tightened his grip on your waist, his fingers pressing into your skin in a slow, deliberate rhythm. "Do you feel anything for me, love?"
His touch seemed to seep into your bones, relaxing you despite the unease gnawing at the back of your mind. You leaned unconsciously into his chest, drawn to the security and warmth he exuded. There was something about him that felt... familiar, almost comforting, even though logic told you to be wary. His knowledge of your preferences, his ability to predict your thoughts โ it all made your cheeks heat up with a soft pink hue.
"To be honest, when I first saw you, I wanted to kill you..." you confessed, your voice barely a whisper as you looked up at him through your long lashes. "But now... it's different."
Archons, you looked so cute and precious in his arms that Zhongli could barely contain his desire. He had dreamt of this moment for so long, longing to replace Osial in your affections and claim you as his own.
His hand trailed slowly up your back, and he felt you shiver under his touch. His amber-golden eyes fixated on your soft, peach-colored lips. Cradling the back of your head, he leaned in, pressing his lips to yours in a deep, possessive kiss. They felt like silk, tasting faintly of the sweet peach tea you'd just consumed.
Your legs trembled, your mind becoming foggy and dizzy. You couldn't think straight, couldn't breathe properly. You felt weak, defenseless โ a sensation you hated but simultaneously craved. Being in his strong arms felt inexplicably right.
You broke the kiss to catch your breath, a thin string of saliva still connecting your lips. "M-Morax..."
Zhongli's breath was heavy, his eyes dark with desire. "I love you so much," he whispered.
"I love you too..." you replied softly, your voice trembling.
Zhongli hugged you tighter, pressing your head against his chest as he rained kisses on top of your head. His smile twisted into a dark smirk, his eyes gleaming with triumph.
The effects of the special peaches had finally kicked in.
Every flower, every petal swaying in the breeze, every cup of sweet tea you'd consumed, and every breath of the peachy scent had been working as a drug.
A drug designed to make you weak, submissive, and utterly dependent on his touch alone.
You drift into sleep, and the chaos begins. Memories swirl around you, fragmented and hazy, flashing too quickly for you to grasp.ย
Voices echo, overlapping and fading before you can understand them.
"...May the present life shine like gold."
"Further Killing is meaningless."
"...But their death must mean something."
"Death is not the end of life... We will redefine humanity itself."
"...But we all know this world is beyond saving."
"... Despite that, we must become heroes."
You try to focus, but the images shift and blur. Faces you should recognize merge into each other. You hear different voices, yet you are unable to concentrate while the flashing images cross your mind.
A memory flickers: a pink-haired elf in a white dress. This time it's a bit clearer.
You hold her in your arms, blood pouring out of her chest. Her eyes are sad, yet filled with an unspoken warmth. She caresses your cheek, her touch gentle despite her pain. She says something, her lips moving slowly, but the words are lost to you. Then the scene shifts abruptly, the memory distorting.
You find yourself facing a long blue-haired man with piercing blue eyes. He looks at you with intensity, his expression serious. "Y/N, promise me you never forget...-" The memory distorts again, the edges blurring, "...love you."
The images speed up, a kaleidoscope of moments you can't hold on to. They slip through your fingers like sand, leaving only the faintest impressions.
You jolted awake, sitting upright in bed, drenched in cold sweat. Your hand clutched your rapidly beating heart as you gasped for breath. An overwhelming sadness gripped you, manifesting in uncontrollable tears streaming down your face. You let the tears fall freely, unable to stem the tide of emotion.
Confusion clouded your thoughts as fragments of your memories resurfaced, each piece as elusive as mist. You climbed out of bed and paced the room, trying to shake the disorienting sensation. You halted in front of the mirror, compelled to confront your reflection.
Staring back at you were eyes that seemed hollow, devoid of any spark of life, like a puppet's vacant gaze. Your cheeks glistened with the remnants of dried tears, evidence of your inexplicable sorrow.
As you blinked, your reflection shifted.
The reflection showed you with white hair and golden horns. One horn was half-shattered, the broken end dissolving into a sparkling golden mist.
You reached out to touch the mirror, your fingers trembling as they met the cold glass. The reflection stared back with a haunting emptiness that mirrored the void you felt within.
"My MANTIS form? Is this an illusion?" you whispered, barely audible, to yourself.
In the mirror, your reflection stood differently. It wore a white kimono, stained with blood and dirt, its eyes glowing a piercing gold. The reflection seemed more alive than ever, staring back at you with an intensity that made your breath catch.
"Find me,"
The reflection's voice echoed, soft yet commanding, as it leaned closer to the glass.
"Your end... my origin."
Suddenly, the mirror's surface cracked, spiderwebbing outward from where your reflection's hand had pressed against the glass. Startled, you stepped back, eyes wide with disbelief. The reflection flickered and then returned to your current self, leaving only the shattered fragments of glass to catch and distort your image.
You stared at the broken mirror, your face reflected back in jagged pieces, each shard a fragment of a whole that felt lost to you. The encounter left you shaken, the echo of the reflection's voice lingering in your mind.
You draped your coat over your nightgown, pulling it tightly around yourself, and stepped out into the cold night.
Your heels clicked rhythmically against the cobblestone streets, resonating through the stillness of the night. The air was crisp and biting, carrying the faint scent of the sea.
The moon cast a pale glow over the empty streets, its silver light the only illumination as the city slumbered. You wandered aimlessly, unable to shake the unsettling dream that had stirred your memories.
As you rounded a corner, lost in thought, you nearly collided with someone.
"Sorry!..." A blonde traveler exclaimed, trailing off as his eyes met yours. His expression shifted from apology to shock, and he instinctively took a step back.
You sighed, crossing your arms to ward off the chill. "I'm not going to eat you," you said with a hint of sarcasm. "Couldn't sleep either?"
Aether looked alarmed but quickly relaxed, sensing no threat from you. "I had a nightmare..." he admitted, leaving out the detail that the nightmare involved you.
"A nightmare, hm?" you mused, walking past him and stopping at his side. "The more that weighs on your mind, the more your fears turn into dreamscapes."
Aether glanced at you but remained silent. There was something about you that felt familiar, a sense that beneath your icy exterior lay untold stories. Perhaps, he thought, you had a complex history with Zhongli.
"And you?" he ventured.
You didn't answer directly. Instead, you offered, "Walk with me. Let's forget our problems for a while." You began to walk, your pace slow and deliberate.
Aether hesitated for a moment before falling into step beside you. The two of you strolled through the quiet streets of Liyue Harbor, the silence around you amplifying the noise in your minds. The city's usual bustle was absent, replaced by a serene, almost eerie stillness.
"What a quiet night..." you murmured, your voice soft in the tranquil air. "They say the quieter things are around you, the louder they are in your head. It's true, isn't it?"
You didn't look back at Aether, but you could feel his presence beside you, a silent companion in this nocturnal journey. He nodded in agreement, the sound barely audible.
You halted at the edge of the harbor, where the cold sea breeze caressed your face, carrying with it the scent of salt and the distant, rhythmic murmur of waves.
You clutched your coat tighter around your body, the thin nightgown beneath providing little warmth. The soft rustling of the ocean's surface reminded you of him, a memory as elusive as the shifting tides.
The traveler, Aether, watched you quietly. The moonlight reflecting off the water cast a gentle glow on your face, accentuating your mysterious allure.
To him, you were an enigma. His only encounter with you had been during that tense moment with Zhongli, where you had seemed intimidating. Yet now, in this peaceful setting, you appeared more contemplative and perhaps even kind. He realized he knew almost nothing about you, not even your name.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice curious but respectful.
You turned to meet his gaze, but before you could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted the moment.
"Oh? Out for a midnight stroll, are we?"
Childe's voice cut through the night, dripping with suspicion. He approached, eyes narrowed at you.
"Up to no good, perhaps?" His tone was accusatory, a familiar annoyance that you felt in your bones.
You barely knew him, only having seen him briefly at the funeral, yet he seemed to harbor a baseless animosity towards you.
"We're just walking," you replied coolly, meeting his gaze with a calm, unyielding stare. "Neither of us could sleep. There's no need for your baseless accusations."
Aether turned to Childe, sensing the tension. "Childe? What are you doing here?"
Childe's expression shifted slightly as he acknowledged Aether. "Ah, the famous traveler," he remarked, his voice tinged with a mock cheerfulness. "I see you've found your way to her." He glanced back at you with a passive-aggressive look, a mix of irritation and something unreadable.
Aether glanced at you, seeking an explanation, then back at Childe, expecting answers.
"She hasn't told you?" Childe raised an eyebrow, a sly smile playing on his lips. "She's quite infamous among us, actually," he began, his tone laced with amusement.
"Us... Are you one of the Harbingers?" Aether's eyes widened, his body tensing.
The quiet harbor was momentarily disrupted by the rippling tension between you and Childe.
You crossed your arms, your gaze steely. "Childe," your voice was sharp, cutting through the crisp night air like a blade. "Her Royal Majesty sent a personal letter apologizing for your... behavior. I strongly advise you to keep your mouth shut."
Childe's smile widened, a spark of excitement dancing in his eyes. "Or what? You wanna to fight?" He stepped closer, eager for confrontation.
Aether glanced nervously between you and Childe, feeling the intensity of the moment.
Then, in an instant, a Hydro dagger materialized in Childe's hand. With a wild laugh, he lunged at you, his speed blurring as he closed the distance.
The blade aimed for your throat with lethal precision, but before it could touch you, your hand shot up, clamping around his wrist with an iron grip.
In the blink of an eye, you delivered a flurry of punches to his face, each strike landing with brutal efficiency. The world seemed to slow down as you pounded him with lightning-fast blows.
As he reeled from the onslaught, you released his wrist, spinning gracefully before delivering a powerful kick to his abdomen. The impact sent Childe flying, crashing through the air and landing hard against a row of trash cans with a thunderous clatter.
The entire sequence happened in a mere heartbeat. The force of your actions left Aether stunned, the air thick with the intensity of the moment.
He stood in stunned disbelief. One moment, Childe had lunged at you, and in the next, he was sprawled across a pile of trash cans, thoroughly beaten. Had it all happened in the blink of an eye? He turned his gaze to you, realizing with a shiver that you were capable of much more than he had imagined.
"Don't worry, he won't bother us anymore," you said calmly, turning towards Aether, completely composed.
"I doubt he will ever..." Aether muttered, noticing your unruffled demeanor. It was as if the scuffle hadn't even phased you; you weren't even out of breath.
"About your question from before," you continued, meeting his eyes, "I am part of the Fatui and one of the Harbingers. My code-name is Innamorati."
Strangely, Aether didn't feel the usual wariness that came with meeting a Harbinger. Instead, there was a peculiar sense of ease, a feeling that it was better to be on your good side.
"Innamorati... I've never heard that code name before," Aether said, curiosity piqued. "And what about your actual name?"
You sighed, crossing your arms. "You might forget it, so you can call me whatever you like. But my real name is Y/N."
Aether blinked, taken aback. "It's... a beautiful name." He blurted out, then blushed slightly. "I mean... you have the same name as the unknown lady in the story."
You tilted your head, puzzled. "Unknown lady? What story are you talking about?"
Aether suddenly realized his slip. The tale he referred to only mentioned Morax and his two lovers, Guizhong and an unnamed woman, without ever revealing her identity.
"Uh... it's a story about Morax, the Geo Archon, and his two lovers, Guizhong and... um, Y/N, the unknown lady. It also involves Osial being jealous," he explained quickly.
At the mention of Osial, your eyes widened as a memory surfaced, a fragment of a dream featuring a blue-haired man with striking blue eyes. You turned towards the ocean, a sad expression clouding your features.
"Are you alright?" Aether asked, concern evident in his voice.
"It's nothing. I just... have a bad memory. The name Osial... I knew him well... or used to," you murmured. "But I'd rather not talk about it right now."
Aether, both surprised and curious about you, realized it was time to part ways as the night was nearing its end. "If you'd like to hear more about the story, we can meet up tomorrow. And..., good night," he said, a shy smile accompanied by a faint blush on his cheeks.
You were momentarily taken aback, your expression softening. "Thank you."
Then, with a thoughtful pause, you looked him in the eye. "Before you go, may I make a request?" Your tone was serious.
"It may seem strange, perhaps even rude, but I must ask..."
"...Have we met somewhere before?"
The question hung in the air, and Aether's eyes widened in surprise.
After a moment's thought, Aether responded, "Perhaps we have."
A small, knowing chuckle escaped your lips. "My memories often fail me..." you murmured. Stepping closer, you leaned in to whisper in his ear, your breath warm against his skin, "Return safely whence you came... Because a particular Yaksha is following us." You glanced around subtly. "If you feel unsafe, you can follow me."
Aether's eyes widened further, immediately thinking of Xiao. "I'm okay, I know this Yaksha," he whispered back, attempting to reassure you. You gave a slight nod, acknowledging his words.
With a final exchange of goodbyes, you turned and headed back to the hotel Pantalone had reserved entirely for your stay. As you walked away, you remained vigilant, aware of the green-haired Yaksha's presence in the shadows, watching your every move.
Long, long ago, even before humans existed, our beloved Creator walked upon the land they had formed, accompanied by dragons and living harmoniously with their creations. Their mere presence caused bountiful fruits and vegetables to grow, and with each step they took, golden flowers blossomed.
As time passed and the first mortals and gods emerged on Teyvat, the Creator ascended to a higher plane, beyond the understanding of mortals and gods. Yet, their gaze never left Teyvat, always watching over their creation.
But then, without warning, the tranquil and pure presence vanished into thin air. The following day, disaster erupted across Teyvat, accompanied by numerous cataclysms. All living beings were left bewildered, not knowing what offense they had committed to warrant such a punishment from their Creator. This tragic event became an indelible mark in Teyvat's history.
In the present day, tales of our Creator are rarely spoken, and only a few ancient scripts remain to remember them. It seems as though humans have forgotten and abandoned the Creator, the memory of their grace fading into obscurity.
Descending back onto the physical plane as a human felt both alien and exhilarating. The first gasp for air filled your lungs with a sharp, cool sensation, invigorating and strange after eons of ethereal existence. Each breath tasted of the earthy, ancient air of Teyvat, grounding you in a way you had almost forgotten.
Your eyes scanned your surroundings, taking in the dimly lit chamber. You found yourself back inside the old temple where you had once departed from this world, your first creation of both the planet and the universe it resided in.
The room was vast and ancient, with high, vaulted ceilings adorned with faded frescoes depicting the dawn of creation. The stone walls were etched with intricate runes and symbols, remnants of a time long past. Torches flickered softly in their sconces, casting dancing shadows that seemed to whisper secrets of the ages.
You were lying on top of a stone slab, the surface cold and unyielding beneath you. A simple white robe clothed your new form, its fabric coarse against your skin, yet comforting in its simplicity.
You raised your hands, watching eagerly as you moved each finger. The sensation was foreign, a mix of fascination and discomfort. The human body felt both fragile and potent, a vessel brimming with possibilities.
Attempting to stand, you found your legs unsteady, and you tumbled to the hard, cold ground with a soft thud. "Ugh..." you huffed, the sound escaping your lips, a blend of frustration and determination.
You tried to stand up, but your arms and legs were still shaking. You let out a sigh. 'This body is more fragile than I thought it would be...' you mused.ย
Crafting this body had been a complex task, designed to contain a tiny fraction of your powers and your Consciousness while still maintaining a link to your true form in the higher plane.
With a surge of determination, you mustered your energy and stood up again. You managed a few unsteady steps before crashing against the stone door. Sweat dripped down your forehead, and you panted, feeling the strain of physical exertion for the first time in ages.
Bracing yourself against the cool, solid surface of the door, you took a moment to catch your breath.ย
The temple was eerily silent, the only sounds being your labored breathing and the faint echo of distant memories.
You placed your hands on the old, heavy stone door, trying to push it open with every ounce of physical strength in your frail body. It was as if you were trying to move a mountain. Your muscles trembled with the effort, and despite your determination, the door remained stubbornly immobile.
Realizing the futility of brute force, you closed your eyes and placed your hand gently on the door. Focusing intently, you drew upon the small reservoir of power within you. A faint white light began to emanate from the palm of your hand, soft and ethereal. It tingled through your body, warm and invigorating, as if tiny sparks of energy danced beneath your skin.
Slowly, the heavy door began to open, not through physical effort, but as if invisible, imaginary threads were pulling it open from the other side. You could feel the ancient mechanisms responding to your power, groaning softly as they shifted. The door yielded, inch by inch, until it finally stood ajar, allowing a soft breeze to drift into the temple.
With wobbly legs, you walked outside and were greeted by a vast expanse of vibrant green stretching out before you. The sounds of birds chirping echoed in the distance, a symphony of life resonating through the forest. Your eyes widened with excitement as you hurriedly ventured deeper into the forest, mesmerized by its magical allure.
Each step you took landed on a bed of soft moss, the texture cushioning your feet like the most luxurious mattress. The sensation was soothing and delightful, a stark contrast to the hard stone of the temple.ย
Above, a canopy of trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves creating a symphony of whispers. Sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow that danced around you in an enchanting display.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the earthy aroma of the forest floor. You took a deep breath, the freshness of the air invigorating you. The sounds of chirping birds and the distant babble of a stream created a soothing background melody, a gentle reminder of the life teeming around you.
Massive trees with trunks wide enough to house entire rooms rose majestically around you. Their leaves were an array of colors, from the deepest greens to shimmering golds, reflecting the sunlight in a magical display. The forest floor was dotted with flowers of every hue, some glowing faintly, adding to the breathtaking atmosphere.
You spun around in happiness, full of energy, as you took in the beautiful scenery. You had always gazed at the planets from afar, observing them and the mortals who inhabited them, but never being able to feel it, to live it. Now, you were here, a part of this vibrant world, experiencing its wonders firsthand.
Every moment in this new form felt like a gift, a chance to connect with the creation you had so lovingly crafted. The forest welcomed you with open arms, and for the first time in millennia, you felt truly alive.
As you ventured deeper into the forest, every flower, tree, and plant you passed seemed to bloom brighter and more lively than ever before. With each step you took, golden flowers blossomed in your trail, a testament to your presence.
You were filled with happiness, giggling in delight. 'So this is what feelings are like!' you thought.
In your true form, you had never experienced such sensations. Witnessing this firsthand was truly amazing! Creating a human body, a vessel capable of containing even a fraction of your essence, had been the most difficult part, especially after observing billions of humans from different planets and universes simultaneously.
Lost in the scenery, you suddenly tripped over a root and went rolling down a hill. "Woahh," you yelped, and before you realized it, you tumbled off a cliff.
The wind rushed past your face, your hair whipping wildly as you plummeted through the air. Time seemed to slow as you neared the water's surface, the crystal-clear lake shimmering beneath you.
You hit the water with a splash, the coldness enveloping you instantly. The shock of the cold water against your skin was invigorating, every nerve ending coming alive with the sensation. You sank momentarily, the water muffling all sound, creating a serene, otherworldly silence. The lake's clarity allowed you to see the sunbeams piercing through the water, creating dancing patterns of light.
As you resurfaced, you gasped for air, the coolness filling your lungs. You floated there for a moment, feeling the gentle sway of the water around you, the chill seeping into your bones but also refreshing you. The lake was a pristine, tranquil haven, the cold water a stark contrast to the warmth of the forest above.
You laughed, a joyous sound that echoed across the water. This was living, truly living, and the exhilaration of it all was beyond anything you had ever imagined. Every experience, every sensation, was a marvel, and you couldn't wait to see what other wonders this world had in store for you.
Alhaitham, the current scribe of the Sumeru Akademiya, strode through the dense forest, searching for a very ancient ruin unknown to ordinary people and even the scholars.
This might seem an odd and unnecessary task for a scribe, yet Alhaitham justified it as part of his duty to document rare and important findings.
In Sumeru, the role of a scribe involves more than just classifying and archiving documents. The scribe is a key figure with access to vast and profound knowledge.
Alhaitham fits this role perfectly, possessing information unknown to most, and often comparable to the Grand Conservator. His privileged access to ancient texts has made him a repository of wisdom.
The reason for his solitary search lay in an old relic he had discovered, written in an ancient language and not recorded in the Akasha system.
The relic spoke of a sacred ruin where the Divine Creator had left Teyvat and ascended to a higher plane. Driven by his scholarly curiosity and desire to understand the world's underlying principles, Alhaitham was compelled to verify the existence of this ruin.
As he ventured deeper into the forest of Sumeru, he noticed flowers and plants blooming with an unusual brightness. Intrigued, he followed the path marked by these vibrant plants.
His light turquoise eyes fell upon a pair of golden flowers, their petals shimmering in the sunlight. He blinked, thinking it was an illusion, but as he stepped closer and touched the flowers, they felt real, their golden hue dazzling in the sun's rays.
"Golden flowers bloom in the trail of the Divine Creator's steps," Alhaitham recalled the old tale.
He gazed back at the brightly bloomed flora and then at the golden flowers. As he connected the dots, a sense of wonder and realization washed over him.
This finding...
A bead of sweat trickled down his temple. His usually composed demeanor wavered, his heart pounding with the weight of this revelation.
The Divine Creator... has finally descended.
The significance of what lay before him was overwhelming. These golden flowers, blooming so vividly and impossibly in his path, could only mean one thing.
The legend was not just a myth; it was unfolding right before his eyes. The Creator, whose presence had been absent for millennia, had returned to Teyvat.
Alhaitham's mind raced with questions and possibilities. What could this mean for Teyvat? For its people and gods? He felt a profound sense of duty to document and understand this momentous event.
But beyond his scholarly curiosity, a deeper desire stirred within him. The golden flowers only bloomed in the Creator's steps.
If he could follow this trail, he might find the Creator themselves. The thought was both exhilarating and daunting. To meet the being who had crafted this world was a prospect beyond his wildest dreams.
As he pressed on, the golden flowers continued to guide him, their radiant glow a beacon of hope and discovery. The forest seemed to part before him, welcoming him deeper into its mystical embrace.
He was on the path of the Divine Creator, and he was determined to see where it led.
"Hahaha... my child, we do not know. According to the sacred texts, our Creator is shapeless or may take on different forms to our eyes. What is important is that all beings in Teyvat will recognize when our Creator has descended."
"You ask me how?"
"Oh, little Haitham, this is quite simple, especially for those who wield visions, for they will feel the presence unmistakably."
"Long ago, in the timeless realm of Liyue, there was a story of love and envy, a tale that has been passed down through the ages. It speaks of Morax, our Geo Archon; Guizhong, the gentle and wise goddess; and a woman of unparalleled beauty and mystery, known to all as the Unknown Beautiful Lady.
The Beautiful Lady was a vision of grace and charm, her presence as enchanting as a moonlit night. Her beauty and elegance captivated even the gods. Morax, our protector, and Guizhong, the embodiment of wisdom, both adored her deeply. Their love formed a harmonious bond, unbreakable and pure.
Yet, this divine trio's tranquility was threatened by Osial, the formidable sea lord. Osial, consumed by envy, coveted the love and devotion that Morax received from his two beloveds. His heart twisted by jealousy, he sought to disrupt their happiness and claim their affections for himself.
Osial's envy grew into a dark cloud of deceit. He whispered malicious lies, hoping to fracture the trust and love between Morax, Guizhong, and the Beautiful Lady. But their bond was resilient, withstanding his insidious attempts to sow discord.
Frustrated by his failure, Osial confronted Morax directly. The confrontation was a cataclysmic clash of divine forces, their battle shaking the very heavens and earth. Osial, driven by his green-eyed fury, accused Morax of hoarding the love of the Unknown Lady and Guizhong, proclaiming that such affection should belong to him.
Morax, steadfast and noble, stood his ground. He fought not only with the strength of a god but with the fierce love he held for the Beautiful Lady and Guizhong. The battle raged on, a testament to the destructive power of jealousy and the indomitable strength of true love. Ultimately, Morax sealed Osial away, imprisoning him in the depths of the ocean to safeguard Liyue and his cherished ones.
And so, dear listeners, this legend became a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love and the perils of envy. The Beautiful Lady's ethereal beauty and mystery, Guizhong's enduring loyalty and wisdom, and Morax's unwavering strength and love form the heart of this timeless tale.
As we gather here tonight, let us remember the lessons of this story. Love is a powerful force, capable of withstanding the darkest storms, while envy and deceit can lead to ruin and despair."
Striking amber-colored eyes with yellow, diamond-shaped pupils intently listened to the old tale spun by the Storyteller. Despite the early morning rain, the hustle and bustle were nothing extraordinary for the residents of Liyue.ย
The storyteller's corner was fully packed, with people eager to hear the old legend. His smooth lips touched the rim of a heated cup, and as he took a sip, the flavorful liquid danced on his tongue. A relaxed hum escaped his lips, expressing his delight at the tea's rich taste.
"Woah, the story was awesome!" Paimon exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "What did you think, Aether?"
Aether nodded thoughtfully, "Interesting, at least," he said, taking a sip from his own cup. He then turned his gaze to the handsome gentleman known as Zhongli. "But did it really happen, or is it just a tale?" Aether asked.
Zhongli only smiled and continued to drink his tea peacefully, the steam rising in delicate tendrils around his face.
"Hmpf, Zhongli! Please tell us!" Paimon demanded, her feet kicking the air in impatience. "At least the name of the beautiful woman!" She flew closer to Zhongli and whispered eagerly.
"Oh, are you truly so eager to hear?" Zhongli responded with a smile. "I thought you might find the old tale boring, considering you both seemed to daze off from time to time."
The rain continued to patter softly against the cobblestones, mingling with the distant sounds of morning vendors setting up their stalls. The air was thick with the scent of rain and the subtle aroma of tea leaves.
Paimon pouted, "We were just... uhh... absorbing the atmosphere!"
Zhongli chuckled softly. "Very well. The tale, as with many old stories, contains elements of truth and myth. The beautiful woman in the story... well, she was indeed real."
"Can you tell us more about her?" Paimon asked, her curiosity beaming.
Zhongli's gaze wandered to the rain, and a genuine yet bittersweet smile appeared on his lips. "She liked the rain a lot. Her voice, soft yet light as silk, would always say..."
- "As the raindrops tumble, their pitter-patter on my umbrella whispers gently to me. I somehow find brief serenity in these moments." -
He recalled her standing in the rain, holding her crimson red paper umbrella.
The raindrops danced on its surface as she extended her hand towards the falling droplets. She slightly turned around to face Zhongli, her peachy lips painted the same color as her umbrella. Her face was half obscured by the umbrella, yet her words resonated clearly.
The memory of her was vivid in his mind, a moment untouched by the erosion that slowly devoured his old memories.
"Y/N... That is her name," Zhongli mumbled, rolling her name off his tongue as his gaze remained fixed on the rain and the passing people.
Paimon and Aether exchanged glances, their faces reflecting a shared sadness as they saw their friend's distant expression.
The early morning rain continued to fall, creating a soft, soothing melody against the cobblestones. Lanterns hanging from shop eaves and street corners swayed gently in the breeze, casting warm, golden light that danced with the raindrops.
The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and the subtle fragrance of tea leaves from the nearby stalls. The crowd had thinned, yet the lingering presence of Zhongli's story created a bubble of quiet reflection.
Aether took a sip of his tea, savoring the warmth that contrasted with the cool, damp air. "She sounds like she was very special to you," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of understanding.
"She was," Zhongli replied, his voice tinged with both reverence and sorrow. "Her presence brought a sense of tranquility that I have rarely found elsewhere. Even now, the rain reminds me of her."
Paimon hovered closer, her usually energetic demeanor softened by the weight of the moment. "Do you think we might ever meet her?" she asked, her voice hopeful yet gentle.
Zhongli's smile returned, though it was tinged with melancholy. "Perhaps. The world is vast, and fate has a curious way of weaving our paths together. Until then, let us cherish the memories and stories that keep her spirit alive."
The rain began to lighten, a delicate mist rising from the ground as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds.
In this serene moment, a crimson red paper umbrella appeared amidst the bustling crowd. Its vibrant red hue pierced through the throng of people, a color deeply etched in Zhongli's memories.
His eyes widened in disbelief, and his cup slipped from his hand, shattering into tiny pieces on the cobblestones. Yet, the sound was lost to him. Everything became muted, his vision blurring as he saw that unmistakable red on her lips, her face.
He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move.
Was he hallucinating? Was the after-rain playing tricks on his mind? Was he daydreaming?
As the red paper umbrella grew smaller in the distance, Zhongli's heart pounded in his chest. Suddenly, he sprang to his feet, the wooden table toppling over in his haste. He didn't care. He moved forward, pushing through the crowd, chasing the umbrella as if his life depended on it.
The streets were alive with activity, the early morning hustle blending with the gentle patter of lingering raindrops. Lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, casting soft, golden hues on the wet cobblestones. The scent of rain mingled with the aroma of freshly brewed tea and street food, creating an intoxicating atmosphere. Yet, all of this was lost to Zhongli. His entire being focused solely on the crimson umbrella, a beacon in the sea of moving figures.
People turned, startled by his sudden urgency, but he paid them no mind. His breaths came in short, sharp gasps, his vision narrowing on the retreating figure. The vibrant red color seemed to taunt him, slipping further away with every passing second. His heart raced, a mixture of hope and desperation driving him forward.
Was it really her? Could it be? The questions swirled in his mind, but he had no time for answers. He needed to see her, to confirm what his heart yearned for. The crowd thickened, but he pushed on, weaving through the throng with a determination that bordered on madness.
Finally, as he reached the edge of the crowd, he saw the umbrella come to a stop. The figure holding it turned, and for a brief, heart-stopping moment, their eyes met.
The world around him seemed to freeze, the sounds fading into a distant murmur. It was her. The woman from his memories, the one he thought he had lost forever.
Tears welled in his eyes, and his breath hitched. He had found her. Or perhaps, she had found him. Either way, in that magical moment under the after-rain sky, surrounded by the vibrant life of the city, Zhongli felt a spark of hope reignite within him.
He had been given a second chance, and he wasn't going to let it slip away.
You turned around to find out who was following you, and your eyes landed on a tall man with brown hair and striking amber-colored eyes. He seemed out of breath, as if he had been chasing you through the crowded streets.
You waited for a response from the stranger, but he kept staring at you, his gaze intense and unyielding. The crowd continued to pass by, casting curious glances in your direction.
"I'd be embarrassed too, getting stared at like that," you said, your voice breaking the trance he seemed to be in. Somehow, your words pulled him back to reality.
He skipped a beat as he heard your voice and stepped forward as if he were dreaming. "Y/N..." he muttered your name, and your eyes widened in shock.
Instinctively, you stepped back, your right hand drifting closer to your sheathed Divine Key.
"How do you know my name?" you demanded, narrowing your eyes.
A strange feeling gnawed at you, a sense that something bad had happened between you and this man. Yet, your memories of this place were fragmented, coming and going in a chaotic, disjointed order that left you feeling more confused and hurt rather than providing any answers.
You could feel in your bones that this man had inflicted great pain on you. There was something about him that screamed betrayal, something tied to Osial.
This man... this man... You gripped your scabbard tighter, ready to draw your weapon if necessary.
The air around you felt charged with tension. The gentle murmur of the crowd faded into the background, the world around you shrinking to just the two of you. The man took another hesitant step forward, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and regret.
"Please," he began, his voice soft and laden with emotion. "It's me, Mo-"
"Step back," you commanded, your voice icy and cold. Zhongli halted, a shocked expression taking over his face. Different, hazy memories sprang into your mind wildly, flickering like a faulty lantern. The pieces of your past were still too fragmented, too muddled to make sense of.
"Zhongli!" A shrill voice called from behind, snapping you both out of the tense moment.
The tiny figure of Paimon floated closer, her curiosity evident. "Why were you running..." she trailed off as she felt the murderous and cold aura radiating from you. Aether, sensing the dangerous presence, quickly stepped in front of Paimon and Zhongli, his expression wary. Yet, you noticed how his legs were shaking with fear.
Neither you nor the group in front of you moved or made a sound. The bustling crowd around you seemed oblivious to the tension, continuing their day as if nothing were amiss.
You focused on Zhongli, the man whose name triggered such a whirlwind of emotions and memories within you. Your right hand still rested on your sheathed Divine Key, ready to strike at any moment.
"Zhongli," you repeated, tasting the name on your lips. "Why did you call me by that name?"
Zhongli took a cautious step forward, his gaze steady despite the coldness in your eyes. "Because that is your name, Y/N. We shared many moments together... drank tea with Guizhong... why can't you remember?"
Aether, still shielding Paimon, looked between you and Zhongli, clearly unsure of what to do. "Maybe we should all take a step back and talk this out," he suggested, his voice gentle but firm.
'Guizhong?' you questioned in your mind. The name felt familiar yet strange, as did Zhongli's face. It was as though you recognized him from a dream you could no longer fully remember.
The confusion was palpable, and your hand trembled slightly on the hilt of your sheathed Divine Key.
"I suggest you leave me be," you said, your voice barely above a whisper but carrying an undeniable force. Without waiting for an answer, you turned and walked away.
Zhongli watched you go, his expression a mixture of sorrow and determination. He took a step forward, but Aether halted him, shaking his head. "Give her some space," Aether advised softly. "She needs time to sort through this."
Zhongli nodded reluctantly, his eyes never leaving your retreating figure.
Many papers lay scattered across the metallic table. Dottore leaned over, his crimson eyes scanning document after document, his hand pressed to his forehead in deep concentration.
This was unexplainable.
It didn't make sense.
Yet, he was certain his eyes and mind weren't deceiving him about what he had witnessed after the funeral.
He quickly fetched another sheet of paper and a pen, determined to capture every detail of his experience once more.
The moment Innamorati turned toward the frozen church, the falling snow had stopped, as if time itself had halted. Could she possess the ability to stop time? But why would she use it then? For what purpose? He recalled her muttering, 'Meaningless...'
Then, he heard the sound of shattering glass, and he perceived everything and nothing simultaneously. In that instant, he felt worthless, reduced to nothingness.
...
Dottore threw the pen away in frustration.
In that moment, he had felt a presence. A divine and pure presence, untouched by filth, yet sorrowful and sad. It was unmistakably the presence of the Divine Creator. Dottore was certain of it.
The Divine Creator had finally arrived.
His crimson eyes rested on a metallic black box, sealed with a highly complex mechanism. Only he knew of its existence; neither Pierro nor Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa, were aware of it.
Innamorati, the 0th Harbinger. She was the Divine Creator, Dottore was convinced. Nothing else could explain that unexplainable moment.
He walked towards the box and unlocked it. Inside, a glass tube filled with golden liquid sparkled under the lab lights.
This was the only solution to confirm his theory. One way or another, Dottore would get his answers. He could hardly wait for Innamorati to arrive at his lab.
As he gazed at the golden liquid, he felt a mixture of anticipation and reverence. This discovery could change everything. The Divine Creator, hidden in plain sight as the 0th Harbinger, was a revelation of immense proportions.
Dottore's mind raced with possibilities. If his theory was correct, the implications were staggering. Not only for the Fatui but for the entire world of Teyvat. The thought of unraveling such a profound mystery filled him with a thrill he hadn't felt in a long time.
He carefully placed the glass tube back in its secure position and sealed the box once more. His heart pounded with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The arrival of Innamorati would either confirm his greatest hypothesis or shatter it entirely.
Either way, he was ready. Dottore's eyes gleamed with determination. He would uncover the truth, no matter the cost. The Divine Creator was within his grasp, and he would not let this opportunity slip away.
You sat on a couch, draped in a silky nightgown, your gaze wandering around your bedroom.
You couldn't help but wonder why, all of a sudden, maids and servants were bustling about your room and home, while Fatui Guards patrolled your residence.
You had always lived alone, cherishing the quiet and stillness of your home atop a hill in Snezhnaya. The solitude was your sanctuary, a place where you could exist without intrusion.
So... what had changed? You had never requested such an absurd arrangement.
And then your eyes fell on the huge pile of expensive-looking gifts stacked neatly on your coffee table.
'Why in Teyvat would someone send you so many gifts?!' you thought, annoyance bubbling up inside you. Slowly, you felt your patience waning, your eye twitching in irritation.
"Lady Innamorati," a maid's voice called out, breaking your thoughts. You turned to see a row of maids lined up, each bowing respectfully as your gaze met theirs before they knelt. The one who spoke wore slightly different attire, suggesting she was the Head Maid.
"We were sent by Pantalone," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "We are here to assist you in any way and to guard you."
"Why were you all sent?" you asked, your quiet and cold tone sending shivers down their spines.
"A-as compensation, Lady Innamorati," the Head Maid stammered in fear. "Pantalone learned that the escorts ran away the moment they saw you. He sent these gifts, along with maids and guards, as a form of apology."
When you remained silent, the Head Maid quickly added, "If this is a problem, we can leave immediately!"
You sighed, exasperated by the unnecessary fuss. "...I don't care," you muttered, dismissing the situation with a wave of your hand.
The other maids exchanged nervous glances before one of them, hands trembling, stepped forward holding one of the many gifts. "L-Lady Innamorati, would you like to open a gift from Pantalone?" she asked hesitantly.
You noticed her hands shaking and asked, "Are you cold?" Your gaze moved from her face to the others, who seemed equally uneasy.
"N-no, Lady Innamorati!" she shook her head quickly.
You sighed, realizing their fear. "You don't need to be afraid of me," you said in a gentler tone. "I don't bite, nor do I kill innocent people out of nowhere, despite what the rumors say."
Her face flushed with embarrassment, and the Head Maid stepped forward. "I must apologize for our behaviorโ"
"There's no need for an apology," you interrupted softly.
The maids exchanged relieved smiles, and the maid handed you the gift.
The gift was elegantly wrapped in luxurious paper, adorned with intricate designs and topped with a satin ribbon. You pulled on the ribbon, and the wrapping fell away to reveal a dark wooden box. Its surface was smooth and polished to a high sheen. You ran your finger over it, appreciating its fine craftsmanship before opening it.
Inside, nestled in velvet lining, was an exquisitely crafted set of red lipstick and eyeliner. The lipstick was encased in a gold-plated tube with delicate engravings, and the eyeliner's sleek design spoke of its high value.
Your eyes widened as memories from your past came flooding back. These items looked remarkably similar to those you had once cherished.
A rare smile broke across your face, a smile so uncommon that it felt almost foreign. In that moment, you might have remembered what it felt like to smile genuinely.
"Please convey my kind regards to Pantalone. I like this gift very much," you said with a light and soft tone, so gentle that the tension in the room dissipated. The maids visibly relaxed, their expressions softening.
"Yes, I will immediately relay your regards," the Head Maid replied, bowing deeply before exiting your bedroom.
"The makeup will surely suit you well, my Lady!" one maid said with an excited voice, her smile radiant.
"Then how about pairing it with these?" another maid suggested, presenting an incredibly high-quality box. Inside, nestled in plush velvet, lay an exquisite set of earrings and a necklace crafted from diamonds and crystals. The craftsmanship was impeccable, each gem catching the light and sparkling brilliantly.
"Another gift from Pantalone?" you asked, your eyes fixated on the pair of dazzling accessories.
"Yes!" the maid replied eagerly. "He wanted to ensure your happiness."
You examined the jewelry, appreciating the intricate design and the flawless cut of each gem. It was clear that no expense had been spared. The diamonds and crystals were of the highest quality, their brilliance unmatched. The necklace was elegant and refined, the earrings delicate yet striking.
"Such beautiful pieces," you murmured, tracing a finger over the diamonds. "Pantalone has truly outdone himself."
The maids exchanged pleased glances, their faces lighting up with pride at your approval. They had never seen you so engaged, and their excitement was palpable.
"Shall we assist you in trying them on, my Lady?" the Maid offered, her voice filled with anticipation.
You nodded, allowing them to help you with the delicate jewelry. As they fastened the necklace around your neck and secured the earrings, you caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. The makeup and jewelry complemented each other perfectly, enhancing your natural beauty in a way that made you look even more ethereal.
"Thank you," you said softly, a rare smile gracing your lips once more. The maids beamed, their efforts rewarded by your approval.
As you sat back down, you couldn't help but feel a slight warmth in your heart. Despite the loneliness and the icy reputation you carried, there was a small comfort in knowing that someone, even someone as calculating as Pantalone, cared enough to send such thoughtful gifts.
Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open, and a Fatui Skirmisher barged in, holding an important-looking letter aloft. "Lady Innamorati...." He trailed off, his gaze fixated on your silky nightgown, which clung elegantly to your beautiful form.
"Hey! Don't look!" one maid shouted. "How dare you!" another maid scolded, rushing to shield you from his prying eyes. The skirmisher's face flushed bright red, and he quickly bowed.
"I apologize for barging in, my Lady! But an urgent letter from Her Royal Highness, the Tsaritsa, has arrived for you," he stammered, holding out the letter. One of the maids swiftly snatched it from his hand and ushered the skirmisher out of the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.
She handed you the letter with a bow, and you took it, breaking the wax seal to reveal its contents. As you read, your eyes scanned over the elegant script:
'Dear Innamorati,
I deeply regret the incident involving Childe. Please accept my sincerest apologies on his behalf.
Your presence is required in Liyue. Your mission is to capture Osial, dead or alive, and deliver him to Dottore for experimentation. This task is of utmost importance. Failure is not an option.
Remember, Innamorati, the fate of our plans rests upon your shoulders.
Her Royal Highness, Tsaritsa'
Your smile faded as you read the letter. "Liyue... The Land of Contracts," you murmured, the name conjuring up a flood of fragmented memories.
Your expression grew distant. Liyue was a place you had avoided for a long time, a place associated with pain and loss.
The memories were always hazy, shrouded in the fog of time, yet the underlying emotions were unmistakable. Something terrible had happened there, something you had been trying to forget.
The maids noticed your change in demeanor, their faces filled with concern. "My Lady, is everything alright?" the maid asked softly.
You took a deep breath, regaining your composure. "I will prepare for the journey to Liyue. Please ensure everything is in order."
The maids nodded, already moving to assist you in changing into more appropriate attire for travel. They brought forth a luxurious yet practical ensemble, suitable for the journey ahead and the potential battles to come.
Once ready, you stood before the mirror, your appearance now befitting the formidable 0th Harbinger. The makeup and jewelry from Pantalone added an air of grace and power, while your new attire showcased your readiness for the mission.
With a final glance around your room, you felt a mix of determination and resignation. The journey ahead would be perilous, but failure was not an option.
As you stepped out into the cold, snowy landscape, your mind focused on the task at hand. The fate of the Fatui's plans and the will of the Tsaritsa rested upon your success.
"Osial," you whispered to yourself, the name echoing in the frigid air.
You stopped at the edge of the hill, gazing down at the city below, bathed in a sea of lights and floating paper lanterns.
The Lantern Festival was in full swing, painting the night with a warm, ethereal glow. Each lantern, carefully crafted and illuminated from within, drifted upwards like a myriad of tiny stars, carrying the hopes and wishes of the people of Liyue Harbor.
The city was alive with a joyful buzz, music and laughter echoing through the streets, creating a stark contrast to the cold stillness of your perch.
You didn't want to go. You knew that within the vibrant heart of this city lay the seeds of your deepest anguish.
A past marked by betrayal and suffering that made you question the worth of gods and mortals alike. Stepping into the city would mean unraveling the painful memories piece by piece, a torment you weren't sure you were ready to face.
Your right hand rested on the hilt of your sword, the cold metal a comforting reminder of your power. You could erase this land from existence with a single strike, rendering its pain and betrayal into nothingness.
"The land of betrayal and pain..." you whispered to the breeze, your voice cold and detached. Your gaze, icy and unwavering, locked onto the heart of the festival below.
The lanterns, symbols of hope and renewal, floated gently upwards, oblivious to the dark thoughts they illuminated. The streets of Liyue Harbor were a tapestry of vibrant colors, filled with stalls selling traditional foods, children chasing each other with sparklers, and performers enchanting the crowds with their skills. The air was thick with the scent of incense and the sound of festive music, creating a sensory symphony that seemed almost otherworldly.
But to you, it was all a cruel mockery.
This land, with its beauty and its light, held the shadows of your past. Each step you took towards it felt like a step into the abyss, where every smile and every laugh could trigger the painful memories you had buried deep within.
With one last look at the glowing city and the floating lanterns, you began your descent toward Liyue Harbor, your heart a battleground of emotions. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with memories and challenges, but you knew you could not turn back. The echoes of your past would follow you, but so would the faint hope of redemption.
Your right hand tightened around the hilt of your scabbard, and you moved forward, ready to face whatever awaited you in the land of Contracts.
Eight members of the Harbingers had gathered in the palace-like church. Inside, the air was so frigid that the nation's flags began to freeze, crackling under the intense cold. No candles lit the space; only the ethereal glow of the polar lights streaming through the stained-glass windows provided illumination.
A petite woman with long hair, her eyes concealed behind a delicate white lace mask, hums a familiar lullaby from her deceased friend as she leans against a casket. Her voice echoes softly in the frozen stillness.
The eight other Harbingers watched her from a distance, each wearing a similar coat of identical design. By order of Her Royal Highness Tsaritsa, all Harbingers were required to attend the funeral, even the elusive 0th Harbinger.
The 0th Harbinger, code name: Innamorati โ The Lovers;
A figure shrouded in mystery and danger, Innamorati remained an enigma even to her fellow Harbingers.
Known only by whispers and rumors, she was a being crafted by the Cryo Archon herself, a weapon designed to challenge the Celestial Gods. Hidden away for years, her existence was the subject of much speculation.
Some Harbingers were indifferent, focusing solely on the success of their plans, while others were intensely curious. Pierro, the Director of the Fatui, claimed to know nothing about her, adding to her mystique.
Rumors abounded: some said Innamorati would annihilate anyone who crossed her path; others believed she had perished decades ago, her legend merely a shadow from the past.
What they all knew for certain was that Innamorati had a notorious reputation for forgetting critical missions assigned by Tsaritsa herself. This unreliability made her both feared and ridiculed within their ranks.
"We are gathered here today to remember our dear comrade," an old dwarf with a long nose and mustache solemnly broke the deafening silence. "In honor of her sacrifice, all work shall halt for half a day as the nation mourns her passing."
"Hehe, merely half a day...?" Pantalone laughed coldly, crossing his hands in front of his chest with a mocking smile. "People say the Northland Bank's true currencies are blood and tears... But mayor, even speaking as a banker, that sounds a little unconscionable."
"Rosalyne died in a foreign land," Arlecchino stepped forward, her crimson red X-cross pupils glowing dangerously bright with annoyance. "But you heartless businessmen and dignitaries always find a convenient excuse to remain in the comfort of your homeland..." She frowned. "You couldn't hope to understand, so why don't you keep your mouth shut?! We don't want to make the children cry."
"Hey, c'mon now, even I don't think this is the right time or place for a fight," Childe chipped in, lazily sitting on one of the wooden benches.
"Utterly risible!" Sandrone mocked, and the machine behind her emitted an audible angry sound.
"Though her methods tarnished her honor, Lohefalter's sacrifice is a great pity. Her loss shall not hinder our progress," Capitano's deep voice resonated through the entire palace, catching everyone's attention.
He turned towards the Doctor, his face hidden behind a dark veil. "But Dottore... What of Scaramouche and the Gnosis from Inazuma?"
Dottore smiled, twirling a tube filled with blue liquid between his fingers. "Conventional wisdom holds that Divine Knowledge cannot be rationally comprehended. After conquering the Divine Gaze, he will make his next move."
The heavy, frozen church door creaked open, allowing the bitter winter air to sweep inside. Everyone turned their gaze towards it, even Columbina, who had paused her humming.ย
A woman, clad in a coat of the same design as theirs, stepped into the church, holding a red paper umbrella. The door closed behind her with a resounding bang. The click of her heels on the marble floor echoed through the hall, a stark contrast to the silence that had filled the room.
Her face remained obscured by shadows, yet every person in the room knew instinctively that she was not someone to be trifled with.ย
The sense of her power and presence was palpable, a mutual understanding among them all. To cross her would be to invite disaster.
This was Innamorati, the 0th Harbinger, a figure shrouded in mystery and danger, whose very presence commanded respect and fear.
As she advanced, the air seemed to grow even colder, the weight of her presence adding to the already frigid atmosphere. Each step she took resonated with authority, and the silence in the room deepened, a silent acknowledgment of her status among them.
Finally, you found your way to the place where the funeral was to be held. You hadn't thought you would make it in time, given the ferocity of the snowstorm that had nearly obscured your path and made the journey treacherous.
Your heels clicked sharply with each step as you approached the group of people gathered at the center, where the casket lay. You set your red paper umbrella on one of the wooden benches, the action deliberate and unhurried.ย
As the shadow over your face disappeared, the polar light from the stained-glass windows illuminated your features.
With the shadow gone, the collective breath of the eight Harbingers halted involuntarily.
Your beauty was striking: peach-colored, plump lips; long, dark eyelashes framing eyes that seemed to hold the very essence of winter. Your skin was pale and flawless, with a cold radiance that mirrored the icy surroundings. Your presence was both ethereal and commanding, a juxtaposition of delicate grace and chilling power.
You stopped a few steps before the group of Harbingersโyour comradesโand looked up at them.ย
"0th Harbinger, Innamorati... That is what they call me. You may call me whatever you wish," you introduced yourself, your voice ethereal and soft, yet so cold and lifeless it sent shivers down their spines. "This must be the first time we meet."
"You are quite late, Lord Innamorati," Pulcinella, the old dwarf, addressed you with a mix of respect and caution.
After all, The top-ranked Harbingers, from rank 1 to No. 3, possess powers that can rival the gods. So what about No. 0? Could she surpass the powers of the gods? Or even be greater?
You let out an annoyed sigh. "All the snow-covered streets look the same, and the blizzard did not make navigating to this gathering any easier."
Pantalone chuckled, turning towards you with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"If I had known, I would have taken you with me in my carriage, Lady Innamorati. Alas, I am left to wonder why there were no escorts ready for you. I thought I had ordered the highest-ranked Skirmishers for your protection." His voice was dangerously smooth, laden with speculation, hinting at the rumors of you annihilating anyone who crossed your path.
Before you could respond, Childe interjected from the side. "Huh? The oh-so-feared Innamorati getting lost in a mere snowstorm? This is truly a sight to behold." His tone dripped with mockery.ย
"Were you also getting lost on the way to your missions?" His voice carried an angry undertone, bitterness seeping through his words.ย
He had often been the one to hurriedly take on your missions at the last minute, running from one nation to another like a lackey. The mission to obtain the Geo Archon's Gnosis had been assigned to you, not him, nor the now-deceased Signora. In the end, he had faced severe repercussions after the Northland Bank had to pay heavy reparations.
If gazes could kill, Childe would have been long dead under Pantalone's icy stare. Though his slight smile remained, his eyes closed behind his glasses, he radiated a murderous aura. He longed to hear your voice again and to capture your attention. Such a rare opportunity shouldn't be wasted.
"Insolent child! How dare youโ!" Sandrone hissed at Childe, her anger palpable. She, too, feared inciting your wrath. If Childe weren't a fellow Harbinger, Sandrone would have killed him long ago for destroying her ruin guard factory.
"It's time to end tonight's foolish theatrics."ย
A deep, husky voice resonated through the church, cutting through the cold silence like a blade.
The man stepped forward from the shadows, his right side concealed by a dark mask. It was Pierro, the Director of the Fatui, and his presence commanded instant respect.
His voice, cold and demanding, echoed with authority as he advanced towards the casket.
"Right now, you have no captive audience," he said, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Harbingers and guests, silently commanding them to gather and pay heed.
You stood on the opposite side of Pierro, your own presence a stark contrast to his imposing figure.
"Let every worthy sacrifice be carved in ice, and let this nation endure for all time," Pierro intoned, his voice carrying the weight of solemn duty.
The assembly lowered their heads in reverence, eyes closing as he delivered the farewell speech. Your hand drifted absently towards your Divine Key, a subconscious gesture.
"In the name of Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa," Pierro continued, his voice imbued with a steely resolve, "we will seize authority from the gods."
After several minutes of mournful meditation, Pierro broke the silence and left the building, his movements purposeful and commanding.
The others followed in silent procession, a testament to their respect and shared grief. You took your red paper umbrella, closing your eyes briefly before stepping into the freezing, snow-covered landscape.
"Absolute peace."
As you all departed, the church behind you began to freeze over, layers of crystal ice encasing it under the unyielding winter sky, which shimmered with the ethereal glow of the aurora.
"Such is the gift from the Tsaritsa, such is Her Majesty's benevolence," Pierro declared, his voice carrying a chilling reverence as he halted and gazed up at the celestial lights.
"Now you rest in this coffin, encased in layer upon layer of ice. But, Rosalyne, I promise you..."
"Your final resting place will be the entirety of the Old World," Pierro's voice echoed through the night sky, his farewell imbued with a cold resolve that matched the frozen land around you.
As you watched the polar light dancing across the vast darkness of the sky, a thought surfaced in your mind. You had never known this person, but you had made a promise to someone...
You halted in your steps and glanced back at the frozen church.
Some tasks have to be done, even if they seem pointless.
Amidst the snow, you caught a glimpse of shadowy hands emerging from the icy landscape, reaching out towards the sky one by one, as if seeking transcendence. As you blinked, everything returned to normal.
"Another Memory..."
"Lady Innamorati, is something the matter?" Pierro's voice broke through your reverie as he noticed you staring back at the frozen church.
"...meaningless," you whispered to yourself, yet the faint wind carried your words to Pierro.ย
"Pardon?" Pierro asked again, this time capturing the attention of some of the other Harbingers, especially Dottore. The Doctor, ever curious, considered whether you might make an intriguing subject for his experiments.
"It's nothing. Continue without me. I wish to be alone," you ordered, your voice light as silk yet cold as ice. Pierro nodded, casting one last glance at you before leaving.ย
Dottore lingered a moment longer, watching you with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. As he did, the falling snow seemed to halt and move backward, defying the natural order.
"Existence is fleeting as the dawn's dew," your voice echoed in a dimension separate from the real world, where time had ceased.
Dottore's breath caught as he watched you, disbelief etched across his features. His analytical mind struggled to comprehend the anomaly unfolding before him.
"Yet, I guide the wandering souls on the still waters of oblivion..."
The dimension around you cracked like glass, shattering as you began to walk towards the church.
"...and weep for the departed."
A powerful gust of wind struck Dottore, and in that moment, he perceived everything yet nothing. The world seemed meaningless and empty. He felt his body ascending, his soul slipping away...
"Don't look back..." Your ethereal voice called to him, a beacon of light in the encroaching darkness.
He felt a pull from behind, "Move forward," you whispered. In the next instant, he stood where Pierro had asked if you were alright moments before.
Dottore's breath hitched, his cold heart pounding faster than ever. This was neither a dream nor an illusion. He knew this with certainty. What had just happened? The question echoed in his mind, a mystery as deep as the winter night itself.
One thing was certain: he had unmistakably felt the presence of the Almighty Oneโthe Divine Creator.
The relentless battle against the Honkai beasts rages on, your katana slicing through their monstrous forms with a desperate fury. Explosions erupt around you, the searing heat mixing with the blood and sweat that drips down your temples. The ground is littered with the fallen, comrades who once fought beside you now lifeless amidst the swarming beasts summoned by the Herrschers.
"My family..."
The horrifying sight of humans, transformed into mindless Honkai zombies, fills you with dread. Your grip on the handle of your Divine Key falters as you witness your little sister and brother among them, feasting on the remains of fallen soldiers. Tears blur your vision as you dash towards them, the agony of what you must do tearing at your soul. With a heart-wrenching cry, you end their suffering, beheading the only family you had left. You had promised to protect them, to create a peaceful world for them.
"My dear comrades..."
A wall of flames engulfs the encroaching monsters, giving you a momentary respite. Kalpas, your grey-haired, masked comrade, stands before you, his power saving you once more. Exhaustion is etched on his face, but he urges you to keep moving. Before you can respond, a piercing laser beam shoots through his chest, and he crumples to the ground. One by one, your friends fall, their bodies lifeless on the battlefield. The bonds forged in blood and battle, severed in an instant.
"My world..."
The battlefield is a graveyard of Honkai beasts and fallen soldiers, their bodies buried beneath layers of ash. The sky above is a mournful grey, reflecting the lifeless desolation around you. You stand alone, the sole survivor amidst the ruins. Have you won the war, or merely survived its horrors? The answer eludes you.
"And..."
In your hand, you clutch your new Divine Key, forged from the shattered remains of 70,033 blades and the essence of twelve Herrschers. You gaze up at the bleak, grey sky, the weight of your existence pressing down on you.
"I realize now..." You unsheathe your Divine Key, Nihility, unleashing your Active Honkai Reaction. Golden cracks spread from your right hand, blossoming into ethereal flowers. Your hair turns snow-white, your skin pale as ivory. Golden horns sprout from your head, and your eye color turns into gold.
"I've lost myself."
"...That the ultimate fate of this world is nothingness, and therefore, worthless... or even the whole universe?"
With a final, devastating swing of your Divine Key, you begin to unravel the very fabric of this world, reducing it to void, to nothingness. The ground beneath you crumbles, the sky shatters, and everything you fought for dissolves into oblivion. As the world collapses around you, you raise your katana high.
"Yet... I still want to stay..."
With a heavy heart, you turn the blade upon yourself, splitting your soul in half, and embracing the void.
Snowflakes drift gently from the dull, grey sky, their delicate forms hitting softly against your window. You stare blankly at the wintry landscape, your mind lost in the endless dance of the snow. Your right hand, adorned with claw-like metallic finger guards, rests against the cold glass. As you blink, the serene snowflakes transform into ashen rain, and the snowy ground becomes a graveyard, littered with swords and corpses.
Startled, you stumble back, your heart pounding in your chest. The haunting vision fades as quickly as it appeared, leaving you standing in the quiet room. A single tear escapes your eye, tracing a cold line down your cheek. You wipe it away, confusion mingling with the sorrow etched on your face.
"... A forgotten memory?" you whisper, your breath fogging the glass.
Before you can ponder the vision further, a knock on the door pulls you from your thoughts. You turn away from the window, your expression hardening. "Come in," you command, your voice firm yet distant.
The door creaks open, and a Fatui Skirmisher steps in, bowing deeply. He holds a letter in his trembling hand, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor. "Lord Innamorati," he begins, his voice wavering with fear. "A letter from Her Royal Highness."
'Her Highness?' The title feels foreign, a distant echo in your mind. You frown, trying to grasp the fleeting memory.
"Can you remind me of her name?" you ask, your tone soft yet icy, sending a shiver through the skirmisher despite his thick winter coat.
"H-Her Royal Highness Tsaritsa, the Cryo Archon," he stammers, his voice barely above a whisper.
You nod slowly, the name stirring something within you. A fleeting sense of purpose, lost in the haze of your fragmented memories. "Thank you," you say, your voice carrying a trace of melancholy. "My memory... it often fails me."
The skirmisher quickly hands you the letter and exits the room, his relief palpable. You turn to your desk, the weight of the message heavy in your hand. If the Cryo Archon herself has written to you, it must be of grave importance. Did something terrible happen? Or have you forgotten another mission?
You break the seal and unfold the letter, your eyes scanning the contents. With a sigh, you crumple it and toss it into the trash. Your hand instinctively moves to the scabbard where your Divine Key, Nihility, rests.
"A funeral..., huh?" The words hang in the air, heavy with sorrow and resignation.
You move to the window once more, the snowy landscape a stark contrast to the inner turmoil you feel. The snow outside is pure and untouched, but in your mind, the vision of the dead and the desolate ground lingers. You know that each snowflake, each fleeting memory, is a piece of the past that you can never fully grasp.
In the quiet of your room, you can't shake the feeling that you're losing more than just memories. You're losing yourself, piece by piece, like the snow melting away under the weight of the ashes.
โ๏ฝกห โ summary: in which you get drunk during a tea party with neuvillette and wriothesley comes to pick you up.ย
โ๏ฝกห โ contents: fluff, established relationship, fem!reader, drunk reader, bff neuvi is my fav, reader gets called princess bc wrio is such a doting bf who would treat u like princess <3ย
โ๏ฝกห โ wc: 0.9k+
โ๏ฝกห โ a/n: mmm i love me some twisted tea but the one neuvi and reader are drinking is 10x stronger than that juice for sure c:< is it just me or would neuvi be the best bff ever?? anyway pls enjoy some wrio fluff!ย
Neuvillette didnโt take you for a lightweight.ย
Thatโs why, during a late night tea party when you suggested ditching the tea for some alcoholic beverages instead, he agreed.ย
Unfortunately for Wriothesley, Neuvillette was sorely mistaken.ย
Just three cups of โteaโ later and Neuvillette was forced to summon Wriothesley from the Fortress of Meropide where he was sleeping to come and collect his intoxicated girlfriend.ย
โCan I touch your horns Neuvillette?โ you cooed, reaching your hand out as Neuvillette backed away.ย
He glanced at the door, wondering how long it would take Wriothesley to appear. You were a dear friend of his, but Neuvillette would rather sleep than be a babysitter. That was your significant otherโs job, after all.ย
โI would prefer if you did not,โ he said politely, gently pushing your grabby hands out of the way.ย
You frowned, eye growing watery at the rejection. In order to soothe your sadness, you poured yourself another cup of alcoholic tea and began to chug it.
โThat is quite enough!โ Neuvillette exclaimed, attempting to take the cup from your hands. He internally groaned when you sprang up from your seat and dodged his hands, clutching onto your drink as if it was your lifeline. You slurped the beverage in an exaggerated fashion, giggling at the look of exasperation on his face.ย
He would never listen to one of your suggestions again. Ever.ย
Thankfully for him, it didnโt take too long for Wriothesley to come waltzing in through the door, eyes surveying the room until they landed on you.ย
You cheered at the sight of your boyfriend, running over to him in an instant. Neuvillette let out a sigh of relief when he realized he would be free for the rest of the night.ย
โYouโre here,โ said Neuvillette, perhaps almost too cheerily. โI shall clean up. You, just take her and go. Please.โย
Wriothesley chuckled, smoothing your hair down as you burrowed your face into the crook of his nice. โI take it she got a little drunk?โย
โJust a little,โ Neuvillette echoed dryly. โBy her own suggestion, might I add.โย
โThat little troublemaker,โ Wriothesley said, his words scolding but his tone affectionate as he kissed the top of your head. โThanks for calling me.โ
โYouโre welcome.โ Neuvillette nodded, all but ushering the pair out of his office. โNow, goodnight and good luck.โย
Once Neuvillette closed the door on them, he wiped his brow and exhaled.
Finally, he was alone.ย
โเฑจเงหโกห เฃช
Just outside the office, you and Wriothesley began walking through the streets of Fontaine to your home in the Fortress of Meropide.ย
Though, Wriothesley thought, calling it walking was a bit generous. It was more of you stumbling along and trying not to trip with Wriothesley guiding you gently.ย
โWow,โ you mumbled, your cheek smooshed against his muscular arm as you peered up at him. โYou smell sโgood. And your arm is big and strong. Reminds me of my boyfriend.โ
Wriothesley barked out a laugh. โIs that so?โย
โMhm.โ
โAnd who is your boyfriend, exactly?โย
โWriothesley,โ you said proudly, grinning at him as you shot him a thumbs up. โAlso known as my baby, sweetheart, honey bunny, schnookums wookums bubblykins.โ
He blinked. โYou do not call me that.โ
โIn my head!โ you argued.ย
Wriothesley laughed at your ridiculous pet names but relented. โI like it. Itโs endearing.โย
You nodded resolutely before easily getting distracted once more. โCan I touch your hair? It looks like you have wolf ears.โ You gasped, releasing him in and instant and stumbling back. Alarmed, Wriothesley reached out to steady you. โAre you aโฆwerewolf?โย
โNo, thatโs just my hair.โย
He leaned forward and let you place your hand on his head, feeling the soft strands between your fingers. Your mouth opened into a small โoโ.
โSee, itโs hair,โ stated Wriothesley. โNot wolf ears.โ
โYour hair is so soft,โyou cooed, twirling it around your pointer finger. โCan I take one?โย
Wriothesley let out of a laugh of surprise. โAs in a strand of hair?โ
You nodded excitedly.
He rubbing his forehead in confusion but agreed nonetheless. โIโll give you one when we get home.โย
With wide eyes, you looked at him as if he were a stranger at a tavern trying to make a pass at you. You backed away from him cautiously.ย
โWeโre going to your place?โ you questioned.
โOur place.โย
โWow.โ When the shock wore off you began to giggle to yourself. โGood job, me!โย
Wriothesley laughed, a deep sound coming straight from his chest. You found yourself gravitating back towards him and planting your face between his two pectoral muscles.
โWhat am I going to do with you?โ chided Wriothesley, voice filled with amusement as he looked down at you face-planted on his chest.ย
โNothing,โ you murmured, your voice heavily muffled as you wrapped your arms around him to get even closer. โWe can just stay like this.โย
He smile and leaned his cheek on the top of your head, allowing you to savor the moments of closeness. Drunk on his scent and the drinks you had with Neuvillette, you felt the buzz in your head growing heavy.
You yawned, pulling away slowly as you rubbed your eyes. โIโm sleepy, schnookums wookums bubblykins.โ
โLetโs get you home then, princess,โ said Wriothesley, taking you by the hand and gently tugging you along in the right direction.ย
You looked at him gratefully, giving his hand a squeeze. โCan you tell my boyfriend heโs the best in the world?โ
Wriothesley grinned as he planted a kiss on your forehead. โIโll make sure to let him know.โ
Character(s): Pantalone (Genshin Impact)
Summary: Pantalone came back home after a long time to find his lovely wife sleeping soundly.
Warnings/tags: Yandere themes, fem!reader, not really Stockholm syndrome but reader has given up for a long time now, imprisonment, forced marriage
Note: .....*also confused* why did I delete the previous ask a long time ago T-T I apologize i am not the best at explaining back then (even now tbf ;-;)... but anyway still hope you like this lil fic! I am really happy with this one! Also had to repost this cause i made a huge mistake in deleting the original TvT yeahhhh sorry about that...
[ - A little present~! Event - Closed - ]
It wasn't a marriage out of love. Your parents were so blinded by money, and fame forced you to marry a harbinger when he had given them a certain offer for a more luxurious life in exchange for their lovely daughter.
You.
You felt nothing more than cattle in the market, sold by your "owners," and in the next moment in the hands of someone else. Except this one was dressed it as if it was something romantic.
"Dear, how was your sleep?" Your eyes fluttered open at the voice as you looked around the dark room. Sleep still in your eyes. You forced yourself to wake up, using your arms to push yourself from the soft fabric of the bed. "You are back?" It wasn't supposed to sound like a question.
You didn't think he would come back so soon.
It has been a few days since he left, busy when the Tsaritsa summoned him for something related to one of the harbingers. "You don't sound all that please dear." It wasn't a question, as Pantalone placed a hand on your face. His gloved hand felt cold and lifeless to your cheek.
You shook your head, denying his words. Moving your hands to hold his as you lean more into his palm, closing your eyes as if comforted by his presence. "No. I am glad you are back..."
"How sweet of my love."
Yet hidden within your heart, he was correct. You didn't miss him, for the days when he was away were like a paradise for you. An empty and hollow paradise but still a paradise away from something that wanted to eat you whole. You hummed on his hand, a soft smile on your lips.
"Hmmm... you are such a doll, dear. So compliant." Pantalone chuckled, rubbing his thumb lightly on your cheek. "Did you watch over the mansion while I was away?" You nodded again. It was something that kept your mind away from the feeling of hopelessness and away from any punishments.
"Yes, I did."
"What else did you do while I was away? Did you get the gifts that I sent to you? I bought the most beautiful dresses and gems that would match your beauty. Thought nothing really is beautiful as my dove." Reminded of the boxes that the servants brought you nodded. Expensive jewels and dresses, shoes, and handbags, he had sent you many things, some of which you personally liked.
But all still useless things, they are nothing but stones and clothes, something that could never truly give you what you really wanted.
"You shouldn't lie, my dear." Ah, it seems that you didn't watch your face... it was your mistake after all you just woke up still tired from your sleep. You didn't realize your mistake until it was too late when he held your cheeks to make you look at him with such softness when his eyes had none.
"A wife should never lie to her husband, nor should she. You were always a great actress. Many outside this mansion believe that you truly love me. And quite a few misunderstood your sadness as loneliness away from her husband." His voice was sharp as he forced your face closer to his. You stared at his eyes, your own widening startled a little before returning back.
It wasn't a surprise at all that he knew. He was just too smart, for things to be kept simple.
"Were you planning on running away, dear? When I finally have my guard down around you, you could finally sneak away from me?" He innocently asked, as if he was he was accusing you. Staying still for a moment, looking down then to his eyes as you held on his wrist with a light touch, you shook your head. Well, as much as you could.
No, it wasn't like that... You had long given up ever escaping what faith had given you ever since you were born. A puppet created by your parents you were just handed over to another who could control your strings just as well.
It was something that came easy to you somehow... even if you wanted that freedom, the fear of what would happen when you stepped outside your boundary shook your heart. You didn't love your husband, but his obsession was far better than the love your parents showed to you.
"I am sorry... I just... I just feel lonely." You told him softly.
You were tired of being a doll, yet you hesitate to go out unable to find the courage to do so. If this was something of a healthy relationship maybe you could have changed for the better, but alas you didn't even have that when you were kissed by the side of your forehead by the man who softly held your face again.
"It seems that I was the reason that you have become like this. I am sorry to have left you alone for so long because of work, you have waited so patiently for me. Thank you, dear." Taking your hand, he kissed the back of your hand, the lingering warmth still there even after his lips parted away.
Your husband always knew how to twist things to his liking, how your words were twisted to his own pleasure.
"The Tsaritsa had asked me to head to Monstade soon after some rest, for some dealing over there. I wish to take you with me. My dear has been lonely for so long that it is only proper that we have some time together." Pantalone expression never changed as he rubbed your cheeks gently, his other hand holding yours. "Is there something you wished to do there, dear?"
Your eyes widen just a small bit at his words. Surprised that he was offering you finally to go out while you knew that you would never be able to leave his sight the idea of finally being able to leave the window as you watch the snow fall every minute made your heart light with hope. It was a foreign feeling something that Pantalone definitely noticed when his own smile widened just a little bit more.
Moving your hands as you took his that was holding yours, you moved it to your cheek, rubbing it affectionately as you kissed the back of his hand. "Yes... That would be lovely."
"I see that my sweetheart wishes to join me. I will have the preparations done and make it so that you will have a comfortable ride to Monstade." Pantalone stated as he watched your affections, finding it so amusing.
"It has been far too long since we have been in each other company outside. The last one was the honeymoon trip to Fontaine, but we didn't even do much then." Pantalone mumbled, a small smile gracing his lips again when an idea popped into his head, "Yes... let's do that."
You closed your eyes when he started combing your hair, uncaring to what he had in plan. His hand was gentle with you hair, as you dreamed about the dandelions and sunny skies.
This may mostly count as Dottore x reader...but I am thinking of making different routes for each character when the right time comes. I also wished to make the reader gender neutral but....to be honest I am afraid to do so. I do not want to make anyone uncomfortable with my unintentional mistakes and let's say I do not have a good experience with it. That is why I decided to go with a female reader (I identify myself as a female and it is much easier for me that way.)
Also this part is more of a prologue than a chapter so that is how I am marking it. It may even stay in my drafts for a while but we do not talk about that....heheh.
Warnings: Reader has long hair in this chapter cause she has been asleep for a long time and did not get a haircut in years. in this fic Pantalone has dark purple eyes.
Word count: 761
You open your eyes to a very bright light, facing the roof as you were lied down. Aside from the extreme brightness - that made your eyes shut tightly again - you could feel a quit cold liquid enter your body from your right arm....a serum?...You slowly sat up and rubbed your eyes with your free hand to ease the pain from looking at the bright light for too long.
Your body hurt....you were in pain, like you had not moved your limbs for a very long time; not to mention your brain was still hazy, furthermore you were not sure about what you were doing before getting inside this room that was very much like a medical lab filled with all sorts of big devices which most of them were connected to your feet and right arm.
Slowly looking down, you find yourself in a very delicate icy dress with long yet loose and see through sleeves.
Despite feeling pain in your arms, you carefully remove whatever is connected to your body. The cold liquid smelled strange, you could not put your hand on its name though.
Your legs felt weak as you stood up and held onto the wall. It hurt to just stand, you could not imagine how painful walking would be.
You soon dragged yourself out of the room and hissed at the sudden coldness. "Why is it... so cold?" Even talking hurt. Your throat itched and your vocal cores had a hard time making any sound. You decided not to talk until getting yourself a glass of water.
The temperature seemed to drop further as you walked closer to what looked like an exit door; it opened easily after pushing a random button and soon you were hit with even a colder air, as it was way chillier outside the room.
If one were to look from afar, They would see a female figure walking down the corridor, helplessly holding into the wall; which was exactly what the great Regrator was witnessing.
' A woman...coming out of The Doctor's lab.....? Is she perhaps a new test subject?" He thought, taking into account how unlikely it was to see a test subject of the infamous Doctor healthy enough to escape the laboratory. They were not even left alive most of them times. Pantalone was already used to hearing screams and cries of help outside of that cursed lab; but a woman - in a really decent and nice dress - making it out without in any blood on her? That sure was a rare sight to see and he possibly could not contain his curiosity; Therefore his legs led him towards you.
Your legs had given up carrying your weight any further, that is why all you managed to do was to sit down where you were, the wall behind you supporting your back.
"Well well, what do we have here? What are you doing here little darling?~ in such light clothes too; you'll catch a cold if not careful." Said the dark haired man, who seemed to be wearing glasses or shall I say that was what your weak eyes were seeing? You barely could see how his facial features looked like.
On the other hand, The Ninth Harbinger took a good look at your face and how your long hair covered your shoulders down to your belly; as if it had not been cut for centuries, despite that, your hair was completely clean and your body seemed to be freshly washed.....you felt like you had taken a bath the night before, as you felt a certain freshness lingering to your skin.
Back to the jet black haired man, he was talking to you but all you heard were uncoherent words, so you began mumbling words of your own.
Pantalone's eyes widened at the name you just whispered. You knew of of The Doctor's true name?.....unexpected yet impressive.
"Zandik.."
"Oh little darling~ I'll take you to Zandik" He chuckled and wrapped his big warm coat around you. He then picked you up carefully and almost laughed at how you pressed your cold face to his warm chest.
It has been a very long time since the last time he was this much amused by someone....and you weren't even conscious yet. He wondered how entertaining you would be once you were fully awake.
The Regrator walked towards the harbingers' meeting room, where every single harbinger would have been gathered there by now.
Oh how impatient he was to witness their expressions once they saw the woman in his arms.
Star Light, Star Bright | Fatui Harbingers x (Fem)Creator!Reader
A/N: holy Tsarista, I did not think that it would be this popular. Thank you so much!! It's been a couple months since I got into Genshin, but I'm glad that the Harbinger trailer dropped cause otherwise, this probably wouldn't have existed lol. I apologize for the late update. I have been quite stumped in the plot and just taking a moment to come up with one. If I didn't tag everyone, I'm sorry! DM or reply to be added to the taglist! :3
Summary: Caring for children is hard, but it's especially hard when around the Fatui. Getting isekaied was the last thing on your mind after landing in the icy tundra of Snezhnaya all while your nephew is with you. What will happen when you encounter not only a Fatui Skirmisher but a Fatui Harbinger?
What could be said while the entire palace and the surrounding area waited with bated breath for their Grace to awaken?
They were fervent - they waited to leave and search for the "meaner" that has done harm to their Beloved but that would leave their Previous Grace with only the Heir for company and guard.
The Precious Heir - they have heard of them only from what was written centuries ago. He was beautiful - he was innocent and was crying for their Grace to wake up all while the Harbingers stood by with the Tsarista finally making her appearance, rushing towards the bed that their Grace rested in, bending the knee and holding their hand.
"Your Grace. Your Excellency. Oh, my Beloved Creator. What has that Meaner done to you?"
Nugget never left your side as he clutched onto your waist, but being careful with your arms as he was told by the blue-haired man with the mask. He was a doctor and clearly knew what he was talking about so the little one made sure to listen well. The Doctor man and the others gave them a room which is what his Auntie expected and though he was focused more on taking care of you, it was nice to wander around the room all while the Harbin Gingers (It was some word that he had trouble saying) always came to check on him and his auntie and even gave him coloring books and sweets and fruits. It was all so good and he made sure to save you some whenever you were going to wake up.
But he especially loved the Tsarista and Columbia (Colombina)
They were very nice. They held him when you were still asleep and he couldn't be there for the operation.
For what seemed like forever, when it was only a matter of four days, the bed shifted as Nugget was reading the latest book that the guy with the funny hat gave him. He wanted to read it to you when you woke up and his wish was soon coming true as he felt movement and looked over to see your [E/c] eyes. He gasped and immediately snuggled into the sheets and wrapped his small arms around your waist.
"Auntie! You're awake! You're awake!"
Soft wet globs of tears started to stain your shirt as you looked down at the child who held you tightly and didn't want to let go. It would have been endearing if it wasn't for the fact that you had almost died from possible blood poisoning from ignoring your wounds. Your Nephew remembered seeing a lot of gold and despite still learning, he knew for a fact blood was red.
Carefully holding him up and ruffling his hair, you kissed his forehead and wiped his tears away.
"I'm sorry I made you worry, Nugget. I promise, I'll be sure to look after myself but my main concern was you."
That response earned a pout but your nephew thought it was good enough for now. If you weren't healthy and in one piece, how are you supposed to find a husband or a wife?!
"Just don't go to sleep anymore or at least for a long time. You made everyone worry!"
"Everyone?"
At the mention, your Nephew saw the clear confusion on your face and smiled brightly, but with a glint of mischievousness as he swiftly, with his small feet could go, hopped out of bed but careful to stay clear from your arms, rushed to the door and yelled out.
"Auntie [Y/n] is awake!" he said with a bright smile that was quite contagious, but it was last minute that you saw a figure by the door, or make it two figures. They had hoods over their head but it was the masks that covered their identities - the sheer happiness was clear from their body movements and one of them rushed out to who knows where while your nephew ran back to your side and started to share all the books he's read while you were recovering.
He's always had trouble reading so it was a feat itself to see him now reading at his supposed grade level. He still had trouble with certain words but nothing to worry about.
While trying to process all that was happening around you, you heard multiple footsteps before the door flew open, and in walked in about a dozen people.
Your face heated up at seeing all the gorgeous faces quickly surround you, pulling your nephew close to your side, weary of what else could happen. But you could have sworn that there was a hint of sadness in their eyes from your pull away from them.
"Don't be scared. They helped us! They helped you! Especially the Doctor man." Your nephew grinned as he held your hand and decided to make you sit up and face the group properly and pointed at the Doctor. The Doctor that he mentioned was practically preening from the praise like a peacock showing off its feathers.
The grip on his hand lessened as you looked at all twelve people one by one. It didn't take a rocket scientist to distinguish the power that they all radiated. Though at the time, you didn't know of the power you held yourself.
The elegant lady with long white hair, icy blue eyes, and who seemed to scream 'Ice Queen', slowly walked up to your bedside with a gentle smile as her hand moved to slowly hold yours. Now, you wouldn't have minded if it was your nephew or family, but this was a stranger. A stranger with a very firm grip despite how delicate it was.
"Now. How shall we punish the meaner that's done this to you?"
Eh?
-x-
It was... a change to have people cater to your every whim despite half of them being just jokes like bringing you the finest gem. The honor of bestowing such a gem was by none other than the 9th Harbinger, Pantalone.
Your nephew was having a great time, especially when he got to get along with a majority of the Harbingers and the Fatui, who took the mission of entertaining Nugget very seriously.
Once your arms were good as new, you asked for the group of Fatui soldiers that you and your nephew first encountered. At first, they were adamant about having you and Nugget leave the palace but you needed to get back to your car and get the rest of your things.
But funnily enough, you don't remember a palace or an organization going by the Fatui in your life...
Not to mention, these people seemed to recognize you and your nephew despite you two not knowing any of them.
If you thought of it more, a headache occurred and the Tsarista was adamant in asking you to save your energy and that it didn't matter if you recognized them. That all that mattered was that you and the Heir were fine.
While bedridden, your Nephew had the privilege to waltz around like he owned the place and even got you some books to read in the meantime. You saw mentions of a Divine Creator, a God-like figure that was first in creating the world around you and beyond, the one that made the stars and skies. A Divine Creator from the Beyond gave life to a speck in the skies and named it Teyvat and thus, its first child was born.
During a certain period when the Creator was roaming freely, they announced that their sister was with child and so, the Creator named the unborn babe the Heir to Teyvat.
The book was quite the read and wanting to know more about why the people around you and Nugget called you the Divine Creator and the Heir, you took it around with you.
"Your Grace, you must bundle up. Snezhnayan winters are quite brutal. People freeze to death here, quite literally in fact." announced a Fatui sniper, the one that first saw you and Nugget as he came behind you and placed a coat, courtesy of Pantalone of course, on your shoulders and your nephew too.
Stepping out to the brutal snow, instead of the harsh snow that you were expecting, it was a light snowfall that shocked the group of Fatui that decided to travel with you.
[Nephew's Name] stepped out from behind you and cheered happily as he rushed out to the snow and started to play, making snowmen and snow angels with, of course, the Fatui looking out and being won over by the child's heart-felt giggles.
They were all trying to make sense of why the snowfall was reduced to just light snow instead of the blizzards they're used to until they recalled that their Divine Grace and the Heir were right here with them. Teyvat was the Divine Creator's first child and as the loyal child it was, it could always sense where they were. Though Snezhnaya was the domain of the Tsarista, the Cryo Archon, the Divine Creator's word was Law.
Ehe.
Everything came to a slow stop as the world first heard the giggle from the Creator and with each step that you had taken, noticeable patches of green started to appear and grow more and more. The chilled winds of winter called down as the grey skies parted to make way for the rays of the sun.
The Tsarista felt the pause of winter, looking out that the frozen lands of her region have warmed up to what it had been long ago before her ascension.
Her Grace has given warmth back to the frozen tundras of Snezhnaya to the point that the flora and fauna basked in the sunlight.
"Nugget. Be careful. The snow is melting."
And like that, the snow stopped melting just enough for your nephew to enjoy making snow angels.
Star light, Star bright | Fatui Harbingers x Creator!(Female)Reader
Summary: Caring for children is hard, but it's especially hard when around the Fatui. Getting isekaied was the last thing on your mind after landing in the icy tundra of Snezhnaya all while your nephew is with you. What will happen when you encounter not only a Fatui Skirmisher but a Fatui Harbinger?
Not beta read or proofed, we die like signora.
I tried to be a bit gender-neutral here, but I might have slipped. Nephew does call you auntie qwq
Tags/warnings: female reader, god!reader, cult AU
Next>>
Tumbling down the steep hill and narrowly avoiding the cliff that just dove off, the car rolled to a stop as you opened your eyes slowly, your arms still around your nephew as a sort of shield for him as he sobbed. Gently and quietly soothing him as you rubbed his back, you soon looked around, even checking him to be sure that he was free of any injuries, which he thankfully was.
"Shh. It's okay, Nugget. It's okay."
You attempted to sound gentle while not wincing in pain. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to unbuckle the seat belt and jump to the back to protect him despite him being in the car seat as well. His sobs and concern for his aunt would have been heard if one got too close to the car, but it was not the time to wallow in such a state.
You looked around, trying to find an exit to make.
Kicking down glass windows, especially the windshield, seemed so much easier in the movies so, using common sense, you opted in opening the back door, realizing just how cold it was out there. Quickly bundling up and gathering all the necessities: bags, blankets, food, emergency kits, and your nephew's entertainment bag, the two of you decided to march on to the closest town or at least to the main road they were taking before the car crash.
Giving your nephew one of the spare blankets, you wrapped it around him, holding back a shriek of joy at how adorable he looked. He looked like a penguin. But now was not the time to think about it as you bit your tongue from crying out from the forming bruises on your body, or even the icy air hitting your cuts.
Pulling out your phone to at least call the emergency line to at least report the incident and awaited for someone to answer. Never having called the emergency line before, you didn't know what to expect but it was definitely not the dial-up tone of the internet in the early 2000s.
It was quite concerning.
But not so much as the full battery on it.
The no signal was a common thing in the mountains, especially during the snowy days. But the full battery was a whole other thing as you clearly remembered it being at 30% at the store.
Strange.
"Alright, Nugget. Let's go and find someplace warm to wait." Holding onto his hand, the two of you trudged along the snow, walking toward where you thought the main road was at, though when you got there, nothing.
Alright, plan b: look for a line of smoke. Smoke meant campfire, and campfire meant people. People meant help and warmth until then.
Or death if it involved a serial killer
It seemed like forever to get to the line of smoke as you then had to carry your nephew as he had started growing tired, but you never let him take the blanket off. You finally hiked over the hill and were happy but it was short-lived as the people surrounding the fire didn't look like any other person you'd seen before. Was that a lady with a slit-open dress? In the middle of winter?? Work it, girl
You winced in pain again, the injury of before seeming to be more than just a cut started to hurt more. But you couldn't rest now or even let your nephew down as it seemed to get colder already. He even started shivering and sneezing, which seemed to alert the group of people (?) by the fire. The one dressed in red, his eyes only showing and a rifle in his hand suddenly pointed at them and you instantly backed away and held onto the shivering bundle.
"Please help me. W-we've been in an accident." You said, trembling as your arms began to tire, shaking and trying to hold onto your nephew until you knew that you both would be safe. The group soon relaxed and walked over to you and gasped. It all seemed blurry at the moment but you could immediately tell that they grew worried and rushed to your side. The woman with the inappropriate winter outfit soon takes your nephew in her arms, revealing your arms to be covered in blood.
The blood was not it's ordinary red though.
Your clothes soaked in golden blood...
"Your Grace!"
-x-
It was chaotic, to say the least when a group of fatui Skirmishers arrived at the palace carrying a sobbing and shivering child and an unconscious person with golden blood covering their arms. The chaos disturbed the peace that the Harbingers inside created and were about to endue their wrath on the offenders when they saw the face of the person they were carrying and the child.
"Your Grace has been hurt!"
"My Lords! Your Grace is injured!"
Feet clattered, chairs scratching the floors as all eleven Harbingers rushed at the one carrying your form, the masked Doctor carefully holding her and rushing towards his lab with the others following suit. Well, that would be the case if it wasn't for the sobs of the child.
"W-where's auntie? Is she okay? She'll be fine, right?" He asked and reached to anyone, holding onto the mirror maiden as she began to soothe the child.
"All will be well, Your Highness." said a soft voice belonging to the third Harbinger, the young boy turned towards a beautiful woman with black hair with some pink locks, her eyes closed though he could hardly tell if she was as she stretched her arms out to him and started to sing. It was beautiful and sleepy but he had no time to rest as he wanted to go to you and make sure you were well.
"Auntie...! I want my auntie! Auntie might die, right? She can't die! She's my auntie! She kept me safe! The meaner crashed into us! It's their fault! If a-auntie dies, I'm blaming that meaner!!"
The air suddenly turned sour, with rage, and anger at the one that possibly harmed their Creator.
"She will not die, Your Highness." said a deep and gruff voice, making the boy look at an older man, seeing him wear half of a mask and walking towards him and the woman that held him.
"We will make sure of it."
A/N: haha~ I did it~ Finally something that involves my favorite group of people. VILLAINS
เป๊ฑ || :feat~ yandere!childe, dottore, scaramouche x gn!reader:
เป๊ฑ || cw: low and behold, jealousy, possessive + obsessive (who wouldโve thought), oops heโs yandere mb, established relationship, dottore... chokes you? youโre his subordinate + dr*gging (scara) dont ask me what im doing i dont know either
โคท โYouโre mine, and Iโll make sure you wonโt forget that.โ
โWhere were you yesterday night?โ
CHILDEโs empty gaze lands on you and doesnโt let you leave itโs sight as soon as you walk through the door. You sense an air of displeasure surrounding your boyfriend as he leans back on the wall, arms crossed over his chest with his eyes fixtated on you. You havenโt done anything wrong, so why do you feel like a deer caught in headlights?
โI just went out with some friendsโฆ?โ You arenโt sure of the source of his inexplicable anger, but you decide itโd be best not to trigger it.
โThey treated me to some street food, and that was it, reallyโฆโ Itโs hard to elaborate further with the harbinger keeping completely silent, and his gaze feels like itโs piercing you.
He echoes a word that seems to have sparked his interest. โโThey?โโ
โUhm- you know, Xingqiu, Chongyun, and Xianglingโฆโ
Unconsciously, you let a brief smile cross your face at the mention of your good friendsโ names, remembering the lively bustle of Liyue Harbor and the many laughs shared between the four of you.
Itโs a sight that doesnโt escape Childeโs keen eye. Instantly, heโs three steps closer, with your chin raised in his gloved hand. โWipe that smile off of your face, goddamnit.โ He speaks through gritted teeth, though his harsh voice is obscured by the way his words come out as a soft hiss. His brows are furrowed, eyes flashing with annoyance as he pauses and takes in a deep breath.
โWhโฆwhatโs with you? Donโt do those things so suddenly!โ You yelp, attempting to move away only for your back to hit the wall.
The male only lets out a breathy laugh. โAh, honestly, I donโt know what Iโm doing eitherโฆโ Heโs much more reserved now, but you know him well enough to be aware of how heโs silently seething under the surface. โArchons, youโre a troublesome thing, arenโt you? To think affection would do such a thing to meโฆ hah, what a thrill!โ He glances up long enough for you to catch his twisted expression, eyes blown and a smile spreading across his face. โJealousy, hm? Hahaha, oh how the troops would ridicule me if they knew!โ He stops to take in a breath, his chest heaving up and down erratically. What a fool youโve made me, darling.โ
โWh-What?โ Heโs moving closer, too close, his hot breath fanning your face.
โLook at me, youโve made me a pliable idiot under your touch, havenโt you? Donโt even think about leaving now.โ
โYou donโt have to worry, all Iโll do is just make sure that pretty little head if yours doesnโt think about anything except me only.โ โก
โA friend, you say?โ
DOTTORE has a quizzical look about him, as itโs rather odd how much amusement his crimson eyes hold. โHmm, is that so?โ
โYesโฆ?โ You donโt know what has come over your boyfriend at the moment, but he ponders your words as if they hold a different meaning - which, they donโt. Something about the way he stares at you makes you feel like the guilty partyโฆ but you havenโt done anything wrong, have you?
โI need a name.โ He whips out a small notebook out of seemingly nowhere, a pen also appearing in his hand.
โOh, uhm-โ You momentarily pause, hesitant as you pictured the familiar fox-eared forest ranger. โHeโs not exactly fond of the Fatuiโฆโ
The male lets out a hum, smile only spreading wider. โAll the better. Explain him. Thoroughly.โ
You frown. โWhy are you so fixated on-โ
You swallow your words as theyโre interrupted by a sound thatโs more akin to a bark than aย ย laugh. โAhhh, I knew giving you my hand would be beneficial, just look how delightfully humorous you are!โ He strides closer, one step, then another, effortlessly closing the space between the two of you. You can feel his red gaze through where itโs obstructed from the mask he always dons, and you have a feeling that his eyes are trained toward your every move. โDo you truly mean to say that I am not to ask of this โfriendโ of yours?โ
โIt shouldnโt be of your concernโฆโ
โOh, but it is.โ Dottore does what looks like a shrug, an action you certainly wouldnโt put past him. โDo I not have the right to monitor my partnerโs actions? Who knows,โ He steps even closer, his arms positioned in either side of you. โWhat kind of things you might be doing with this โfriendโ of yours?โ
โDottore, what youโre implying right now is-!โ
โMy name sounds good in your mouth. You should say it more often.โ Even in such a situation, he wonโt stop his teasing mannerisms. โAh, but perhaps you say his name much more often, donโt you?โ
The words escape your mouth before you can halt them: โTighnari isnโt!-โ
โTighnari, you said?โ Dottore lets out a low chuckle, his voice giving way to his definite ecstasy. โAh, so thatโs his name? Iโll be sure to remember it. Hm, who knows, perhaps heโd make a wonderful subject of mine?โ
โWhy- Why are you doing this??โ
โIsnโt it obvious, darling?โ Heโs shifted closer once more, and the very air you breathe feels suffocating. โI desire for you, and only you. Ahhhahah, you have me wrapped around your finger, don't you? Carve up my heart for all it matters, just be mine.โ His fingers find his way around your throat, and itโs even harder to inhale than before. Dizzying black spots begin to grow larger, casting the edges of your vision into to darkness. โBut in order for to us to live happily, together, Iโll have to make sure of things firstโฆ and first on the listโฆโ A low growl makes its way out of his throat. โIโll just need to make sure there wonโt be any lasting regrets for you, hm? Just a few dead here and there, whoโs really going to notice? After allโฆโ
โI canโt have you running from my grasp, can I?โ โก
โWhy didnโt you tell me that youโd be going out tonight?โ
SCARAMOUCHEโs scornful glare is enough to make you cower where you stand in front of the door to his private quarters. His significantly short stature made it rather difficult for him to tower over you, but the deathly aura that surrounded the male was already more than enough.
โMy apologies, sir. I was not aware that it was mandatory to inform you of my departure.โ You give him a swift bow, casting your eyes to the floor. Several possibilities ran through your head. Perhaps heโd just settle for a rather harsh scolding, or maybe a social probation. Either way, a small part of you stirred in annoyance at your superiorโs words. Nowhere in the trainee handbook had such a rule been written! You had heard the not quite so savory rumors of the 6th Harbinger numerous times before, and while they had never really proved to be a significant problem, the reason they had even surfaced in the first place was beginning to dawn on you.
โWhere?โ He raises his hand, a sign to lift your head. Heโs being rather gracious todayโฆ? Perhaps he had been in a good mood - that is, until you soured it.
โIโm sorry, sir?โ
โWhere did you go?โ Thereโs clear frustration in his tone for having to repeat himself.
โTo the nearest marketplace. The soldiers in the east quadrant needed more supplies.โ
โAnd you complied? You let them just push you around like that?
โRespectfully, sir, if I hadnโt, they wouldโve done the same and pestered someone else. There was no task assigned to us-โ
โUs?โ
โI and another lieutenant, sir. He agreed to help me because-โ
โDid I grant you the right to go with that scum?โ It startles you, how much venom lies in his words. Posture stiffening, you manage to glance up, only to meet his burning violet gaze.
โSir, I donโt underst-โ
โOf course you donโt understand.โ Something seems to suddenly come over the harbinger as he doubles over in his signature maniacal laughter. โYou never understand, do you??โ
You take a step back, only for your heel to hit the wall behind you. โLord Scaramoucheโฆ?โ For every quickened breath you take, he sways an inch closer.
โIโve been sending you so many signs, doing nearly everything in my power to just make it so my affection would get through to that dense head of yours, but no, you still remain ignorant, ignorant for how much Iโm willing to do for you! Anything and everything, no matter where and what. If it means words of praise from your mouth and your warmth touch, then any task is worth fulfilling.โ The malice in his eyes dims slightly as he closes them, smiling at you brightly as he slides his hand into yours. His hand is cool, his skin smooth and unblemished, yet rigidly unnatural, the sharp angles of his joints proof of the way he was crafted into this world. A beingโฆ incapable of loveโฆ? No, the heartless being in front of you was certainly capable, and far too deeply immersed in the feeling. His lips brush against yours, yet darken dangerously when you shift your head away as an act of avoidance.
โDonโt be like that, not after all the trouble Iโve went through, just to ensure that youโll finally be in my armsโฆโ Thereโs a flash of light, a tendril of purple lightning, and all of a sudden, your limbs feel weak. You donโt know when youโve collapsed onto the floor, or when youโve been nestled into Lord Scaramoucheโs arms, but youโre able to make out his words through the fog in your mind.
โAh? It seems that the solution I slipped into your dinner proved to be quite potent. Itโs a shame you wonโt be seeing more of it, but alas, I canโt possibly keep you here any longer. Not when there are countless of those dogs salivating over the thought of you, those wretched verminโฆโ Sensation in your fingers, his lips against the back of your hand as he kisses it gently.
โThere wonโt be any need to worry anymore, darling. Iโll be all that you need.โ โก
(a/n) for you guys who were hoping for something soft n fluffy, sorry, please take this offering as an apology.
โAh, I hate this feeling, whenever you hang out with them itโs justโฆโ
โAre youโฆ jealous?โ
โWhat?? No, no way!! Donโt get the wrong idea, alright?โ
โDonโt worry love, you are my one and only beloved, so please donโt worry about me leaving you, because rest assured, it will never happen.โ
โIโฆ๐ญ๐ฅน๐ฅบ๐ฅบโ
smoochy smooch the end !!
help i feel like the quality of my fanfic is just slowly degrading over time have i peaked is it just downhill from here am i growing to become old and wrinkled ๐
(ohโฆ itโs been a while hasnโt itโฆ. a month of unexcused absenceโฆ i was trying to post this early but the yandere theme made me reach a stalemate FUCKK IM SORRY ILL WRITE MORE PSPSPS IM SORRY FOR NEGLECTING ALL OF YOU WAAAH)
เป๊ฑ || แดแดษขสษช๊ฑแด (open! send an ask or a comment โก) : @manager-of-the-pudding-bank, @iamdedinside, @ilyuu, @achlysis, @swivy123
from aree: The Harbinger Trailer has consumed me yall are getting a brainrot. (I made this when the trailer first came out and have never posted it so here it is).
tw for yandere content
Yandere!Harbingers with a "darling" who is the right hand of the Tsaritsa herself. Not a Harbinger, but nonetheless important because they're the main strategist of the Fatui. I can just imagine the pain for the Harbingers because although darling is within arms reach, they're not allowed to make a move lest they anger their ruler.
Childe who first sees you akin to a younger sibling amongst the Fatui - you're no underling, on par with a Harbinger in importance if not more, protected almost as much as the Archon Herself - it would be hard not to be protective of you. And yet as you fix his wounds after another fight he started, telling him off in place of Her Majesty, giving him tips on how he could've fought better in whispers in between, his growing need for your attention consumes him. When he kisses your cheek (as thanks, he says) in front of the other Harbingers he's already looking forward to you treating the injuries they're sure to beat into him.
Scaramouche who grins when the Harbingers bristle as you walk side by side in the halls of Zapolyarny Palace - he says you should consider it an honor to walk with him, and it inflates his ego when you reply with a small nod and a smaller smile. Behind the others' backs, he follows you like a lost child, always walking behind you, gripping on to the back of your clothes like you might slip away if he's not careful. He's obsessed with the way you look at him and ask him questions about his creation. He fails to see that the adoration you hold for him is as hollow as he is.
Signora wonders if you know when she is at her lowest, that would certainly explain things, wouldn't it? She thinks she has lost her mind when she sees glimpses of her lost love when turning corners too quickly, haunting her when she lets her guard down but then you're in front of her, greeting her with a soft smile that feels all too familiar and she realizes she has gone mad in other ways (she welcomes that newfound madness like the lover that it is, finally coming home).
Pantalone who believes that one of life's greatest pleasures is to own what others cannot - to collect the rare, the exquisite and the hard to obtain - and to have you, a person of great mind and ranking, be dangled right infront of him on a piece of gold thread held by the Tsaritsa, who was he to resist the urge to make you his? (after all, he deserves only the best) The longer he does not have you, the more your worth rises in his eyes.
Dottore who initially wants to pick apart your brain (quite literally) but his interest shifts and doubles when he reaches an epiphany that what he truly lacked from the Akademiya was someone who shared his intellect, a genius to match his own. Maybe you don't share his affinity for biology, but he loves the way your conversations keeps him on his toes (if you weren't a being close to perfection for him before, then you certainly are now.)
Arlecchino who watches as you care for the children in the orphanage, checking in on them even long after they've joined the ranks of the Fatui and compares it to the frigid ways of the other Harbingers. For the first time since being a part of this cold nation, she is envious of the warmth you give (why must you have so much love to share?) She thinks that should the day come she turns her back on this frigid country, she would surely take your hearth with her.
Marionette who finds herself being drawn to the way you move around a room and hold yourself up in front of people, marveling at the intricacies of each part of your body and the way they make up the being that is you (you could trip and fall and she'd still sigh in awe). Her fascination turns you from muse to future subject. Surely such a specimen must be preserved, right? Not to mention, there would be no greater honor than to turn the Tsaritsa's best into a perfect unchanging doll.
Damselette who usually goes quiet when you're in the same room as her, always eager to hear you talk, almost hissing when a Harbinger tries to speak over you. She finds your voice is the one in her head who speaks reason to her when she gets a bit out of control (Does she listen? No, but your voice is always ever so lovely). Wouldn't it be so nice if you're the lone voice she hears always, the same way you're already always in her thoughts?
Capitano who is thankful his mask covers the fond look he gets when you turn to him - not with fear like the lower ranking Fatui or haughty like the Harbingers - but as an equal, leveling him with a gaze that leaves him fooling himself that it means something more. He's less thankful for his mask when someone calls your attention away from him and he can't control the glare he sends their way (maybe if they saw the way he looked at them, they'd finally be put in their place).
Pulcinella is quick to put you in a pedestal - you are someone to be respected and someone to be kept at a distance. And yet as he watches the Harbingers fall deeper and deeper into obsession, he takes it upon himself to protect the Tsaritsa's favorite and the Fatui's brain from whatever his co workers are plotting. As he spends more time with you (making sure the others do not occupy all of your time), the pedestal he keeps you on crumbles until all he sees is another child to keep under his wing. He fails to see he has only fallen into a different hole as the rest.
Strategist!Darling who may pretend to be oblivious to the Harbingers' feelings but is actually letting it all happen to make sure they all stay under the Tsaritsa's rule one way to another.
Does Pierro know what you're doing? Maybe. It's not like he is blind to how the Harbingers act around you, subtle as they try to be. If you spend enough time with him, you might be able to tell that he enjoys watching you play the part of a fool, dancing around the others and making them dance for you, too. He might even step in once he thinks the other Harbingers are stepping out of line, but it all depends on what he gets out of sticking into your business.
I also like the dynamic where although the Harbingers cannot make a move to claim what is "their's", darling is just as trapped. Although they always sometimes want to leave, they know as much as anyone that the Tsaritsa is the only thing standing between them and the others. The moment they try to leave the Tsaritsa's side or they lose her favor, it's all fair game for the Harbingers.
Everyone is stuck in a stalemate until someone makes a misstep.
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine and belong to their respective creators. Their portrayal is merely my own interpretation of them and may not be accurate to their intended characterization. I stake no claim to the original works, only to the ideas and plot of the fictitious stories Iโve written them into.
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