Il Dottore entered your cell early the next morning and was followed by Childe. "Rise! It is the beginning of your contribution to Snezhnayan society!" His entire demeanor reeked with a vivid excitement despite the bland atmosphere that sat within the cell.
But you, on the other hand, just looked blankly at him. After all the crying you did yesterday, your determination and perseverance had renewed somewhat. The bags under your eyes were still puffy and blotched with red. Your skin felt dry and chapped long after the tears dried.
Your lack of enthusiasm seemed to upset the man, and he frowned. He pulled an abnormally large syringe out of his coat pocket. "I had a feeling you'll resist, so we'll make do with mild paralysis, yes?" Your gaze slid to the tool that had to be as long as his own forearm.
Childe reacted when you shifted your attention to him. "I believe this is the last we'll see each other, ojou-chan," he spoke as Dottore approached you. "It's a shame we'll have to part ways like this, but have comfort in knowing our banters and battles were entertaining while they lasted."
"Stop." You flinched as Dotorre grabbed your chained arm. "I-I won't resist." That needle was large. Did it have to be that big? Was it really necessary? And the amount of liquid inside it--simply terrifying to look at. "I won't resist." You even made a point to hold still, but to no avail. He wasn't going to stop.
"Remember what I said, ojou-chan. I gave you a way out of this rough treatment." The needle jabbed into your forearm, making you wince in pain as your eyes pleaded for Childe's help.
Panic had begun to set in. "Get off of me!" You pushed at Il Dottore. The force in your hands did nothing, and you quickly realized in complete horror that you were already losing feeling in your limbs. What quick reflexes you had were now achingly slow and uncoordinated. The harbinger stood and proceeded to carelessly toss the empty syringe onto the other end of the cell.
"Go ahead and escort her," Dottore called out for two Fatui agents in the hall. They lifted your heavy body and began to drag you out of the cell.
"Wait! You can't do this! Tartaglia, please!" Your screams echoed once you were pulled into the hallway. The useless kicks of protest were weak against gravity. "Stop this!"
"This is goodbye, ojou-chan." Something humane and hesitant flickered in his eyes, but he saw you off with an ominous grin.
..........................................................
Despite Diluc's apparent dislike towards Kaeya, Aether invited him on their mission anyway. Things got heated pretty quickly, but Paimon managed to cool them down by insulting both of them whenever they got too heated.
It was day two of their caravan journey disguised as simple merchants. Diluc manned the wagon while Kaeya walked along its left side, Xiao on the right, and Aether in the back. Zhongli was scouting ahead, but stated he would not intervene once the group reached Snezhnaya. They had barely managed to cross Fontaine's border without being detected by border patrol. The weather here was more humid than that of Liyue or Mondstat.
"To think I would get such a humble request from the Hero of Mondstat," Kaeya spoke loud enough to get on Diluc's nerves. "I never would have thought such a strong individual would need a Knight of Favonius. Must be desperate times." Diluc grumbled something under his breath, but kept his focus on the dirt path. His hands were holding onto the reins a little too tight.
"We thought you'd be able to help us with diplomatic stuff since you're a Knight," Paimon admitted. "You might be able to get us into the palace, right?"
"It's possible, but I wouldn't count on it," the knight shrugged carelessly.
"We wouldn't dream of it," Diluc scoffed.
"Oh? And is that because I'm associated with the Knights, or," Kaeya tested, "because you feel threatened by my presence?"
"You're as unreliable as them," Diluc retorted with a frown, finally facing his adopted brother. "You fit right in with that group of--"
"NGH!" Xiao doubled over from an unforeseen searing pain that tore through his chest. He knelt to the ground and clutched at his sternum.
"Xiao!" Paimon and Aether ran toward him. Zhongli, who was returning from his position to report back to the team, heard the shouts and came running. Diluc stopped the caravan, and he and Kaeya joined the duo next to the yaksha.
"Haah...hah..." Xiao heaved, sweat beading at the top of his forehead. "Tch." The pain had just begun to subside when another one replaced it, this time in his shoulders. Then his legs. Then his back. He was practically seeing spots by the time Zhongli reached him. "Don't touch me!" He swatted the air around him similar to that of a wounded animal. "Urk..."
"What's hurting you?" Zhongli observed the yaksha's behavior carefully. He suffers from chronic pains, but I have yet to see him react so harshly. "Do I need to get your medication?"
"I-I'm fine," he assured even though it was obvious the opposite was true. His labored breathing brought concerned looks to everyone.
"You should rest in the wagon," Diluc spoke. Then he turned to Aether. "Is he well enough to accompany us?"
"Your eyes," Zhongli knelt before Xiao, "are glowing." Like hers.
"So?" I don't need useless observations of my pain. Ugh... It doesn't compare to my past injuries, but it's enough to upset my stomach. What is this? His eyes frantically flit around the group's surroundings only to find nothing out of the ordinary. Was I poisoned somewhere along the way? I did not consume human food. There was that merchant awhile back--
"Xiao," Zhongli snapped him out of his thoughts. Once he regained the yaksha's attention, he repeated his words. "When was the last time you took your pain killers?"
"This morning," he groaned. "This doesn't happen." The sun's cool rays suddenly acted like they were burning him alive.
"Have you heard anything from her?"
"Not in the past two days." The pain is subsiding. Xiao's shoulders slowly began to relax as he continued to try and steady his breathing.
"Do you hear anything now? Perhaps recall random memories, or visions?" This is the second newest side effect in the past three days...what could they possibly be doing to trigger this reaction in the two of them? First, an emotional mirroring, and now with pain? What are they tormenting her with?
"No. It's just pain."
"I see."
"It's gone now," Xiao stood abruptly, ignoring the swaying earth beneath his feet. Kaeya was about to grab his shoulder to steady him when Xiao's vision was obscured by red and yellow splotches. His legs gave way from under him.
..........................................................
"A nerve agent seems to react well with your eyes," Dottore chuckled, and he set the remaining syringe on the top of a stand to his left.
You couldn't really talk anymore, but your illuminated irises and the tears that streamed down your cheeks said plenty about the situation. Your arms and legs were tied down with leather restraints, and your convulsing body lay atop a metal operating bench. From what you could make out, this place was some type of arena, but Dottore didn't make you fight monsters of the abyss like you initially thought he would.
You would've preferred it if that were the case.
"Now I'll ask again," Dottore grinned manically and moved his face close to yours. "How much do you know about your condition?" His hair swayed as if to portray his sick enthusiasm.
"Nothing," you sobbed quietly. Finally, the immense pain jolting through your bones was subsiding. Relief washed over your twitching limbs similar to that of the tide.
"Childe told me you knew about our plans. What did you think those were?"
When he began to reach for another syringe, you stopped him. "Just that you want whatever's in my blood."
"Do you know the powers you possess?" You shook your head. "Haah..." Dottore sighed. "Another lie." He picked a new syringe up and tapped the excess liquid that spewed out of it. "We are not fully aware of each aspect to your predicament; if we had the two of you here, we wouldn't need to pull the information out of you. This would be much easier if you told me the truth of what you know. That way, we wouldn't have a reason to test every substance on you, yes?"
"I don't know anything."
"Round three it is, then."
................................................
"ALATUSSS!" You screamed, now delirious from the never-ending onslaught of pain that you've been through for the past several hours. Il Dottore paused his sadistic torture as if a light bulb had gone off in his head.
"Now that is a name you haven't yelled before," a slow smile crept upon his face as he watched your chest heave from exhaustion. "Who is this 'Alatus?'"
"P-please," you whimpered. You were drenched in sweat and tears now.
"How does round ten sound to you?"
"No," you whimpered helplessly, what's left of your fighting spirit finally shattering to pieces.
"Now now, Dottore," a woman's voice rang through the arena. "We don't want her dying on us. She's our only shot at this." Signora came into view, and she eyed you like a piece of meat. "Oh dear, you look tired." Another tear dripped in response to her mocking tone. Tension rose in your body yet again when she came to your side and examined you with cold eyes.
"She's not under your jurisdiction, Signora," Dottore shrugged. "If she had just given me the answers I was looking for, we would skip this step entirely. But if she insists, I have no problem with torture."
"Oh?" Signora narrowed her eyes at you. "So then, who is Alatus, little one? All this suffering would be over if you answer our questions." She gently swiped the hair out of your face, a gesture that heavily contradicted the predatory expression on her face.
More tears rolled down the sides of your face as you stared back at her. It hurts...everything hurts so bad, Xiao. I can't fight... You choked down a sob and looked away from the harbingers. I'm so tired...
"Resume your interrogation tomorrow. She's drained."
Dottore grumbled something under his breath as he set aside his next syringe. "Guards! Hurry up and untie her already!" His subordinates immediately did as they were told, fearful of not moving fast enough to the harbinger's liking. They dragged your limp body back to your cell.
You were too exhausted to resist.