Ch.2

Hours later, the two of them arrived. “uwahhhhh Paimon's so tired!!” Paimon said as Aether agreed.

“Hey [y/n] do you have any food left? Paimon's hungry.” I looked at her as I was about to say something. Aether suddenly spoke, “Hey Paimon! have some manners, this place isn't even ours!”

I reassured Aether. I also learned that they camp outdoors. Since they were travellers, I knew it's normal for them to do so, yet I still offered them to stay for the time being. To my surprise, Paimon quickly agreed leaving no room for discussion.

With that, I handled the food and asked how their journey went. “That's unfortunate.” You said while chopping some greens. Hearing that the deity has been liquidated, you couldn't help but wonder how the liyue qixing will handle this.

“Yeah! now Paimon wonders how the liyue citizens will go on their lives now that they don't have their deity to protect them” Hearing that, you suddenly got reminded of your interaction with the mysterious man.

“There are those who protects us from afar, with or without being seen..” You only realized that you spoke your mind out when the room fell silent, so you immediately turned your head to their direction and tried to explain. However, Aether cut you off by saying “[y/n] is right, and besides, they have the liyue qixing. And the liyue citizens isn't exactly that weak you know”

You looked at Aether in disbelief, not expecting him to agree with you. You continued to talk for a few minutes before you handled the food.

...וו×...

You woke up because of the abrupt knock on your door. You got out of your bed and opened the door ambiguously. “who could it be? it's so early in the morning..”

What greeted you made you speechless. There you saw a tall ginger man with a mask on his head. He was looking at you in a.. not so friendly manner.

“Where's that blonde boy?” as soon as he said that he invited himself in. “Hey! what do you think you're doing, didn't your parents teach you any manners?!” You said while glaring at him.

What he did pissed you off. Where do you see a man abruptly knocking on a strangers door, asking where Aether is, then inviting himself in?!

You then froze, “He's looking for Aether? but what for? Could it be.. he's a companion of him? but he already have Paimon. Or is he another companion of them? Perhaps a friend of them? But wait.. he went to my house instead of the capital, besides by the way he invited himself and the way he's looking for him.. it's impossible for him to be his friend, not to mention a companion!”

You heard a laugh, it was soft yet it radiated abhorrence. “You know something don't you? I can clearly tell based on your expression alone. Where's that coward hiding?”

What he said pissed you of even more. He was clearly referring to Aether when he said coward. “I have no idea what you're saying”

“Are you implying that you don't have any idea on what's happening?” “All I know is that Morax has been killed, no more no less.” The ginger man stood there with his gaze piercing you, He then snapped his finger and said, “Take her and interrogate her to our base. She looks like she really doesn't know anything but it could just be a cover.”

Then out of nowhere, variety of masked guards entered, two of them took each of your hands. “Hey, let go!” you said while giving them an intense look. The man infront of you then laughed at said, “or else what?” clearly mocking you by the tone of his voice just now.

“Oh I promise you, you wouldn't want to know.” You saw the amusement in the ginger's eyes, hands on his hips while giving you a smile. “Oh I promise you, you wouldn't wanna know~” the masked man then mimicked you which just made you pissed even more.

Before they could react, you swiftly hit the calf of the masked man on your left, making him stumble. You then retracted both of your arms and  grabbed the arms of the masked man on your right, you then lifted him up and slammed him on the ground.

Since he reacted on time, he was able to protect his head, unlike the man on your left. He slammed his head so hard he lost his consciousness. “The floor is as hard as a rock.. well it IS a rock. That must've hurt.”

When you saw the man who was about to stand up, you did the unthinkable. You hit his lower center as hard as you could, making him groan in pain. You then looked at the two men who was charging at you.

You dodge the both of their attacks, then you swiftly went to the back of the masked man and hit his nape with the side of your palm, making unconscious. The other man managed to get you on a headlock, fortunately you managed to place your hand beside your neck, making you escape from the headlock.

You then grabbed his hands and twisted it, making him scream in pain. You pulled him towards you, you went to his side and kicked his stomach. Only then you let him go.

You heard the ginger clap. “Didn't know you had that kind of strength in that small body of yours.” “I won't surrender without putting up a fight, besides, I don't want to surrender to the kinds of you, barging in a girl's house without her permission, I could file you a complaint you know?” You said while having your right hand on your hips, you radiated dominance.

“Woah la-dy! gotta admit the pose you're making right now is hot, you got a boyfriend?”

“That's disgusting.” - were the only word that came out of your mouth. “This guy ruined my peaceful sleep, barged inside my house, planned on kidnapping me, and now he's asking about my personal relationship? Is there a loose screw inside his head or what?”

“Anyway why are you here in the first place?” You asked, curiosity has been eating you away ever since he step foot inside your house.

The ginger man looked at you then said, “I'm looking for Aether. He stole something precious, that's all you need to know.” “Anyway, seeing that you know how to fight, why don't we have a spar?”

“I'm not interested, leave.” The ginger then laughed, “You're a hard one aren't you? well then, if you beat me I'll leave, but if I beat you, you tell me where's that blonde hiding.” You sighed, “You'll get nothing out of me, I already told you I know nothing.”

You heard the ginger huff before saying, “well I wouldn't find that out if I don't beat you now wouldn't I?” Before you could react, he immediately charged at you. Shocked by his speed. “I guess I don't have much of a choice..” you said before putting up a defensive pose.

...וו×...

Hours have passed since you sparred with the ginger. “You really are a tough one huh. I thought what you did back there was just a fluke, guess not.” He said while panting. “Even tho I don't have a vision, I still know how to protect myself.” You said while looking directly at his eyes.

You thought sparring session you had was finished, not until you saw the ginger posing himself to charge at you. You were flabbergasted. “We're not done yet?” You asked with wide eyes. He saw your expression which satisfied him. “Oh honey, we're just getting started.”

Just as he was about to charge at you, the two of you heard a knock. You then heard the ginger click his tongue and opened the door. There, you saw the masked man that you hit earlier, upon seeing you, he held his center out of impulse.

“Ahem.. The man that we're searching for has been sighted. He was seen entering the golden house. The Tsaritsa wishes that you..” He gave you a look before looking back at the man behind you, he then bowed and left.

You looked at the ginger behind you . “What are you planning on doing to Aether?” The ginger man looked at you and smiled. “I'm sorry I can't finish my sparring session with you. I have other matters to attend to.”

With that, he spared you one last glance and left. “Hey! I'm still not done talking to.. you...” your vision then became blurry, perhaps the ginger drained all your energy away, soon you lost consciousness.

...וו×...

“Hey Aether! she's finally awake” You heard a high pitched voice. You opened your eyes and saw Paimon, not long after Aether went inside the room. “What happened..?” You asked while massaging your head.

“We found you collapsed by the door, it seemed someone broke inside, are you okay?” Paimon said in which made you remember what happened earlier. You told them the details of your interaction with the ginger head and they did so in return.

Apparently the ginger's name is Childe. He thought Paimon and Aether took Morax's gnosis in which infliurated him. You asked them why something as sacred as the gnosis got involved in this, but they just gave you a hesitant look.

Just by looking at them, you immediately knew it's not something they could tell you, therefore you didn't pry any further. Instead, you asked how it went for them.

Apparently someone called Madame Ping offered them a place that they stay, in which they accepted. “We actually went here to tell you that we'll be moving to our place, we figured it's best to say goodbye rather than leaving without saying our farewell.” Aether said in which Paimon agreed.

This made you sad yet happy. Sad because they'll be leaving and you'll be alone again, happy because they said their goodbyes.

“Well then, would you mind resting for a bit? I'll make something for the two of you to eat and to bring through your journey.” Paimon quickly accepted your offer, making Aether sigh.

...וו×...

After making supper for them, the three of you talked for awhile before they continued with their journey. Apparently they will come to inazuma in day's time. “he's really out there exploring the world huh... must be nice..” You said to yourself while dozing off.

You took a minute's rest and did house work. You then soon went to sleep.

...וו×...

The next day, you had an appointment with Verr Goldet. The two of you had just started doing business. You once saved her husband's life while you were strolling in the woods. Her husband, Huai'an, was on the hunt for fresh meat.

Evidently the hunter they hired had been caught in selling stale meat. Unfortunately for them, they needed it for the upcoming Rite of Descension. Hearing this, they were devastated.

Despite the fact that they were agents of the Qixing, they couldn't possibly report this to Ningguang and the other members of the Qixing because of how busy they are with the upcoming ceremony.

Therefore, they decided to handle it with their own hands. As the other staff of the inn was busy with something, Huai'an decided to hunt some of the meat himself, despite the fact that he knows nothing about hunting.

Verr Goldet insisted and said that they should just hire another hunter, she didn't want to put her husband's life at risk. Huai'an knew that it's impossible to hire a hunter in such a short period of time, and he knew Verr Goldet knew about it too. Huai'an reassured his wife and promised her that he'll return safe and sound.

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