Rising Flame || Diluc X Reader

Chapter 4

"Report." You lounged on your chair, legs slung over the side. 

"The traveler has left for Liyue. The Cavalry Captain has been tasked with spying on you. And the owner of Dawn Winery is trying to figure out our plans." 

"I see. Leave and send two messengers here. I need to send some letters." 

"Yes ma'am." The spy rushed out of the room. 

You adjusted your position and got out two sheets of paper. One letter, you addressed to Childe. The other to... Diluc Ragnvindr. 

When the messengers walked in, you tossed the letters on the ground. 

"One goes to Liyue and the other goes to Dawn Winery. Decide which one you're going to take amongst yourselves." You waved them out. 

A while later, a knock sounded at the door. 

"Who is it?" 

"It's the messenger you sent to Dawn Winery, Lady Helia." 

"Right. Come in. Was there any reply?" You kept up your facade of acting bored. 

"He read the letter. He said to meet him at Dawn Winery at 7:00 tomorrow." 

"Alright. You can leave." 

Huh. 

At Dawn Winery? 

He's testing me by asking to meet me on his turf. 

Well, I'm a Harbinger. He can't attack me without facing repercussions. 

Or... Does he just want to see if I remember?

No. That can't be it. 

It's been four years.

There's no use dwelling on the past.

"I should get some sleep. But I have so much work." 

You started looking through the other documents you had to review. 

Huh?

Why is it so bright?

Did I fall asleep?

Standing up and stretching, you checked the time. 

"It's almost noon." Looking at the mirror, you got rid of any traces of sleep. When you walked out of the room, two fatui agents appeared at your side. 

"Lady Helia. Where are you headed?" 

"Why should I tell you? I'll only tell you what you need to know. And right now, that's to stay out of sight. And make yourselves undetectable. If you can't do that... I'm docking your pay. Get a replacement for yourself if you're not confident." 

"Yes ma'am!" 

"Hm." You pivoted and walked outside. 

About an hour later, you were standing in front of Dawn Winery. 

"Who are you?" A maid who was cleaning the window approached you. 

Ugh. What a nuisance.

You glared at her "Who I am is none of your business. I'm here to see the redhead owner of this place." 

"Oh! You're here to see Master Diluc?" You stared at her "I see. Come inside!" 

"Hm." She opened the door and you strode inside. Spotting a chair, you sat down. 

"I'll call Master Diluc down." She hurried upstairs.

Am I that unsociable? 

Well, it's helpful in my position.

"You're here." You stood up when he walked into the room. 

"I am." You tilted your head to study him.

"Leave us." At his words, all the servants and workers cleared out. 

"I've heard you've been looking into our plans." 

"Straight to the point." 

"Is it because I was stationed here?" 

"You weren't stationed here for anything important?" 

"You're sharp. Though I guess it's pretty obvious that something's going on if a Harbinger gets stationed somewhere." 

"I won't let you harm Monstadt." 

"You'll be better off focusing that energy on the Abyss order." 

"Really? Are you that confident?" 

"Maybe. But this can't harm Monstadt as much as the Abyss order can." 

"And how do I know you're not lying?" 

"You don't. Take it or leave it." 

"Why did you ask to meet with me?"

"To tell you to stay out of our business! To stay away! It's not that hard to do. But I guess to a self-righteous guy like you... you won't be able to."

"..." 

"I guess that's it. Shame I can't just kill you here." 

"Shame that I can't kill you either." 

"Really? You really think you can beat me?" You smirked and left the winery. 

When you arrived at your office door, the fatui agents appeared. 

"Anything out of the ordinary?" 

"No." 

"I see. You can leave now." 

You walked in and sighed. 

"I was too busy being annoyed to notice my surroundings. I guess that's a good thing."

Kept me from reliving bad memories.

I didn't finish my work yesterday night because I fell asleep.

Better do it now.

Pilling up the work you had left, you powered through it. 

By the time you were finished, the sun had already set. 

"I want to sleep. I'm so tired. I don't know how long it's been since I've actually slept on my bed."

Changing into more comfortable clothes, you collapsed on your bed. You held your left arm up and yanked off the glove. 

It was an black glove embroidered with (f/c) thread. It reached up to your elbow and it was really effective in hiding... 

In hiding... 

You stared at your left arm. 

The scar's shape hadn't changed from the moment you had received it. 

None of it had healed over or faded. 

The design would've been pretty if it wasn't a scar. 

Swirls traveled up your arm up to just before your elbow. It was obviously a burn scar. 

The intracicy and details never failed to make you marvel then feel disgusted at yourself for it. 

It's a stupid scar. 

A reminder of my pathetic past. 

Why won't it just go away! 

I've tried to use my vision on it multiple times. Hydro is supposed to have an affinity for healing. But it never worked. 

Dottore... Maybe I should've accepted when he offered. 

Nah. If I did... I'd have a robotic arm right now.

Why? 

Why do I have to have this scar?

A/N: Isn't the lore so obvious by now though?