PAVO OCELLUS CHAPTER, ACT I, PART II
As you arrived to the Whispering Woods, you saw a lady was running away from a group of hilichurls. You immediately took out your sword and jumped in to protect her from them. Aether stayed close to the lady to make sure no monster come close to her.
"Izvinite* (sorry)." You apologized and swung your sword before using your wind power to blow them away. They disintegrated only dropping few shattered mask. You took them before heading towards the lady.
[*A/N: This is a made up hilichurlian word since there's no sorry in hilichurlian. If there is, please let me know]
"Why is this happening to me? I shouldn't help him..." She said, sounding very done with Kaeya's shit. You felt sorry for her to go through this.
"Him, who?" Paimon asked as she turned to you with a grateful look on her face.
"Thanks so much for saving me! You're far more reliable than those Favonius guys." She thanked you as you just shrugged.
"It's really nothing. I'm doing this for my own entertainment of how this going to go." You lied. You just want this to end so that you could get your hands on the Harbinger of Dawn.
"After all, Y/N is a traveler. He has to deal with stuff like this all the times." What happended to Aether? Is he not a traveler as well? You looked at Paimon. "Of course, Aether is also a traveler as well." She added.
"Travelers? I've heard stories about you two. I didn't think I'd be saved by the ones here to meet." She said, looking quite thrilled to meet you two.
This feels too different back at home where you only have bullies that noticed you. The only friend you had was your sister. This really going to take some times for you to get used to being in the center of the attention and all.
"Oh, so you're the..." Paimon trailed away as she nodded before she chuckled.
"I didn't know how to pay you back initially, but now, I think I'll just give you the intel for free. People in our circle knew how important the network is." She said as you just smiled.
"Thank you." You thanked her. You really want this to end.
"LUCKY!" Paimon shouted that almost deafened your left ear. You glared at her but she didn't notice it. "But... it's lucky for Kaeya, isn't it? He's supposed to pay the intel..." She stated.
Yeah and we are practically doing his work. You thought as you sighed. "Listen well then, the intel on Arcadian Ruins... 'Three six armed giants reside in the city in the lake. Two guard the statue, one, the treasure." You already knew the answers although at first when you started, you thought that you have to go against with a Ruin Hunter.
"Wait, that's it?" The lady rummaged in her pocket while trying to find something before she pulled out a map.
"There's also this map came with it." Aether took a look on the map with Paimon as they were very puzzled.
"Could... this be the X-marks-the-spot? So the clue is more like a riddle. Well this should be a piece of cake for you two, right? Paimon'll leave it to you then!" Paimon said as Aether have a doubt look on his face.
"Sure... I hope." He answered.
"I'm just going to guess it's the windmills in Mondstadt but you guys could ask Kaeya if you are unsured." You answered as they were confused why you said windmills.
"I'll leave the intel so you could review it at any time." She said as she gave Paimon the notes about the intel.
"Thanks, Vile." Wait how do you even know her name. I don't even know her name till now... You looked at Paimon in confusion.
You certainly are very bad at remembering names unless they have a great impact in the games like Timmie. "Anyways, I think we should ask Kaeya about this." Paimon said as you ade your way back to the Knights of Favonius Headquarter.
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"Travelers, you're back! Looks like you got the intel." Kaeya said. You managed to convince Aether and Paimon to stop by Angel's Share for another Apple Cider on the go so you are just going to drink till they are done.
As they were busy thinking, you quietly went to your phone to search up the gameplay on which windmill was it to save time before putting it on your minimap.
"Y/N said that he guessed it was Windmill." Aether said as Kaeya's eyes lit up.
"Hey, that's smart. A windmill has six blades... it fits." Kaeya said as Paimon looked at you.
"Woah... How did you managed to think that?" You just shrugged before sipping on the Apple Cider. You just went through your profile to level yourself up for the sake to become stronger. If you remembered correctly, you are going against with a Ruin Guard later...
I need to use a fucking bow.... You came into realization before going through your bow collection. You somehow owned a Sharpshooter's Oath but you are not going to complain. The question is will you use the bow better than Childe?
Wait... I don't have any arrows, do I?
You went through your inventory to see none. You just smiled in pain. Why does no one here sell arrows? It would save you the trouble than fighting innocent hilichurls.
Perhaps... It's same with the game mechanism? But wait... I just used sword, does that my abilities only limited to sword?
You thought before you equipped the bow. You can't test using bow here so you'll use them later. If only this world bless you the ability to use the bow as same as Venti. You can't deny the way Venti fought with bow looked so awesome.
"Come on, Aether, Y/N! Let's go and take a look around that windmill." Paimon said as you were off going to the windmill.
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After looking around and you are once again back at Kaeya, discussing about the clues. You already told them the answer but they still went back to Kaeya. "You should probably take someone who can manipulate Cryo with you." Kaeya suggested.
"Well, can you come with us, then?" You asked, knowing that none of you guys have any Cryo vision. "As you can see, none of us have any Cryo vision and I can't really use my Cryo power at all." You stated.
It's not like you could pull another duplicate of Kaeya or anything here. Oh how you wish being able to use the character to fight instead of you fighting. "Well, I am free so I could come with you." Kaeya said.
You knew this might alter the future a bit but it's not like you have a choice or anything. Unless you really can pull a fucking duplicate or another Cryo character that you have yet to meet like Ganyu or something, the future might not alter at all.
"Thanks, Kaeya." Aether said as you guys made your journey to Spring Vale.
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"So, how are we going to get up there?" Aether asked as he looked up. Aether has fallen down from climbing due to out of stamina and died multiple times. You did tried to catch him but he died anyway.
Quite horrifying to see him dying but a couple of fried eggs or steaks can do the trick to revive him. You still find that ridiculous but I guess all people in Teyvat are immortal until they ran out of foods.
You thought for awhile as you wondered if you could do the same move like Venti. Creating a wind current to make you guys be able to fly up. "I never done this before but if this doesn't work, I guess we have to take a detour." You said which confused what are you going to do.
You took a deep breath before you channeled the wind to your arms which create a ball of winds. You released the ball of winds which exploded and created a wind current that was higher than Venti could even make. "That... actually work." You muttered.
In the boys' eyes, when you created it, they could've sworn that they saw your hair glowed for a second. They were completely entranced by you before you turned to them with a huge smile. "Come on, what are we waiting for? This wind current ain't going to last forever, you know?"
You pulled out your wind glider which flew you up to the place that you were supposed to be. They followed your lead and saw three of those weird ice statue. "So Kaeya, do your thing." You said.
He used his Glacial Ice and send all the 3 icicles to the statue which activated it. Behind you, appeared a treasure chest. You guys opened it to reveal a few Mora and a gem with a map.
"This times, the mysteries have all been solved, it sure took a lot of work. But in all fairness, this treasure map really is terrible.... it looks like it was drawn by a pirate." Paimon stated.
"Well, I did say my grandfather was a pirate after all." Kaeya said. Kaeya took a look at his watch before looking at you guys. "I have to excuse myself as I have a matter to attend. Can I leave it up to you guys find it for me?" He asked.
"If we find that is than you have my word." You said before he gave you a smile.
"I knew that I could count on you. Just don't touch the sword, alright?" You hummed in response but you can clearly see that Paimon is going to do the exact opposite.
"Yup, you have nothing to worry about. It's not like Paimon gonna use the sword to make Paimon super duper powerful just to play." She said with that devious smile of hers as you and Aether facepalmed. He then immediately left out of your sight as you sigh.
"We should keep moving now, shouldn't we?" You asked as they nodded while you headed towards the Arcadian Ruins.
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You guys arrived at the cliff with a little opening at the Arcadian Ruins. Paimon looked at the ruins with a little disappointment. "So this must be the Arcadian Ruins. Is it just me or it looks plain...?" She asked.
"Probably it's a disguise. No one would suspect a thing if it were to be in plain sight, no?" You stated. You are trying to make Kaeya's plan work here so that he could capture the Treasure Hoarder.
"Well, true. Kaeya's grandpa sure is impressive." Paimon agreed.
You heard a movement sound and you saw a figure following you before hiding behind a huge rock. "Listen, Paimon." Aether said as he looked around for any suspicious figure.
"Oh! Mice!" Paimon exclaimed as Aether just gave her a disbelief look.
"You didn't even try, did you?" Aether asked as he put his hands on his hips.
"It's no time to get suspicious. We're close. Hurry! The treasure waiting for us." She said impatiently before disappearing in front of you two.
You two entered the domain and followed the pathways. You took out your bow nervously before you spotted a hilichurl as you aimed for it.
Your basic archery lesson should not fail you as how Childe bow skill. Somehow, your Anemo created a wind arrow which you decided to ask the question for another day. You released the arrow for it to create an explosion of gust wind.
It immediately killed the hilichurl. Aether took care the other hilichurl as you guys continued to proceed in the ruins cautiously.
You frowned as you saw those fire breathing machine with pyro slimes. You really wished you have Cryo user here.
You just summoned a tornado to blew the slimes away and fell down to who knows how deep the pit was. You moved forward and avoid getting hit by the fire after all.
You never know what it felt to be burnt even though you know you have fried eggs to revive you. You arrived to a room with those cube thing with two fire breathing machine. You opened the cube thing and it said to complete a challenge.
This would be a very good training to learn how to use a bow.... You thought as Aether jumped in the fight while you tried not to use charge attack. Surprisingly, you magically have physical arrows.
Of course, your body does what move they wanted to do but it seems to be doing damaged. You still don't understand how your body just know how to fight as if you have been in the battlefield a long time ago. You used your charged attack to shoot the slimes that was going for Aether's back.
After few minutes, you managed to complete the challenge. The door in front of you opened as you head on to deep ruins.
You entered a huge empty room before Paimon appeared. "Ugh, is this the end? Where are you, my treasure?." You turned to Paimon.
"Your treasure, Paimon?" You said, giving her a disappointed look which made her laughed nervously.
"Did Paimon said my treasure? Paimon meant to say, his treasure." She said as she averted her gaze from you.
"Mhm.. yeah, sure." You said as you crossed you arms.
"Anyways, let's look around." Paimon said before you heard someone cackled. You turned to the source of the noise to see a masked person with his hair being tied up as a ponytail, kinda. You don't even know what that hairstyle called.
"I'll save you the troubles. How about you let me take over?" He said while you sighed before you saw his name tag appeared on his head.
"Well, I expected you to be here, Treasure Hoarder or should I say, Izzard?" You said which shocked Aether and Paimon in the room. He let out a laughter before squinted he looked down on you.
"Expecting us, eh? My whole gang is waiting outside and you are going to fight with two people? Are you underestimating us?" He asked.
"It's quite the opposites, actually. Your gang won't be participating in this fight at all." You said before Kaeya entered the room.
He was amused by the situation. "He's telling the truth and if you'd like to ask why, you can go and see them... in Mondstadt's Prison. Or perhaps you'd prefer to join them permanently?" He asked.
"The Knights...?" He already seem to be terrified. Paimon and Aether seems to be relief by Kaeya appearance with two knights accompany him.
"Hey, it's Kaeya! Kaeya, he wants to steal your treasure! Get him!" Paimon said as she pointed at him while Izzard clicked the tongue.
"Ugh, almost had it!" He said in frustration. You took out your bow just to get ready to kill the Ruin Guard.
"Oh, you mean the treasure? Sorry, but there wasn't any treasure to begin with. You came all the way... for nothing. Just give it up." Kaeya said while Paimon looked very disheartened.
"What? No... treasure? Did Kaeya just say, there isn't any?" You nodded while doing some stretches.
"Y/N, why are you taking out your weapon and do stretching?" Aether asked as he watched you.
"Getting ready for a fight. An annoying and painful one. You should be ready as well." He looked at you confused but do as you said and took out his sword.
"Hah, you got good. Didn't think the Knights would resort to such tactics." He said as he slowly backing away.
"A thief has no right to question the Kinghts of Fav- Wait, what are you...?" Izzard ran away and landed on the middle door which opened by his touch.
"You're not gonna get me! Oh god, wh-what's this? I didn't mean it." He said in fear as he took a step back.
You immediately aiming at the middle door waiting for the Ruin Guard to be activated. Your arrow continously charging as you waited for the right opportunity to shoot.
Somehow you can see the aiming thingy which give you a precise aiming if that makes sense. "I am not getting paid for this, am I?" You asked to yourself as you sighed.
The Ruin Guard began to stand up before starting attacking Izzard since he was close to it. Kaeya chuckled as he also took out his weapon. "What a troublemaker."
"You! Knight! You're not going to watch me die, are ya?" He asked as he tried to evade its attack. Another door opened along the way which released bunch of hilichurls.
"I really could careless if you die, honestly... It's up to Kaeya's decision." You stated while you tried to aim for the eye.
"Hmm... what an interesting suggestion." Kaeya said before the Ruin Guard started to shoot it missile to Izzard. He barely managed to escape it before he shouted,
"Fine! I'll confess and go quietly. Please just help me!" He started to cower in fear as Kaeya began to attack it while you still struggling to shoot it's eye. This was much easier with Venti or Ganyu. Aether however, attacked the hilichurls to protect you from being hit by them.
"Alright then. Guess I will have to do some overtime work after all." He said before you managed to get the eye. You released the arrow which cause and explosion on the eye before it went down.
You did not it to be that effective. "I guess you don't have to." You said before putting away your bow. That actually felt good for you since your aiming is pretty bad.
Kaeya stood there speechlessly before smiling. "How embarrassing... Having my life being saved by a Knight and... that."
That ticked you off. No thanks? Does he know that it took you half an hour to kill this fucking robot in the game to just save his ass? And does he know the struggle of aiming it's eye when it kept shooting and spinning like a beyblade.
"Do you have a death wish or something?" You said in anger as you took out your bow which made him flinched before Kaeya intervened you.
"Now, now... Don't forget your promise or that thing will be the least of your worries." He said before he glared at Kaeya.
"Is this how Knights of Favonius treat the people they catch?" Well, you think your world treated them worst than the Knights.
"I'm just joking. Alright.. Let's take him back." Kaeya ordered as the soldier saluted and escort Izzard out.
"Captain, should we take these three in as well?" The soldier asked as you frowned.
"Are you kidding me?" You asked while putting your hands on your hips.
"Haha, well of course not. They are the ones who made the arrests possible. Without them spreading our fabricated intel, we shouldn't have be able to capture the Treasure Hoarder." Kaeya explained before Aether sighed, looking quite disappointed.
"You and Y/N lied to us?" He asked, sounded quite hurt as Paimon cried very loudly as you covered your ears.
"You two are bad men for lying to me.... shame on the Knights." She said as she crossed her arm refuse to look at you two. Like a child throwing tantrum in the mall for not getting what they want.
Well, you expected much and regret coming here. This is much more troublesome than you thought it'd be. "Alright, alright... Stop it already. Though the treasure does exist, you did want it for yourself, didn't you?" Kaeya asked.
"You did say call that treasure as yours." You stated. You are done with Paimon and her tantrum. You just want two bottles of Apple Cider for you to drink and lay down on the bed. Probably do some reading on how to use your Anemo power efficiently or just laze around and watch Youtube.
"That... well... ah... Hmph!" She immediately huffed as Aether facepalmed. Paimon began to tug Aether's scarf before saying, "Let's go, Aether. Paimon's done talking to them."
"Ha. Just a sec. You did help me out, so you do deserve a reward. This is the 'Triumphant Harbinger of Dawn That Points Towards Victory.' As the name suggests, it symbolizes the light and victory." Kaeya said as he took out the sword which caught Paimon's attention.
"If you don't mind, I would like to present you with this Harbinger of Dawn as a reward." He said before handed it to Paimon.
"Harbinger of Dawn?" She sniffed as she glanced at Kaeya.
"That's right. It suits a well-cultured and disciplined person such as yourself, wouldn't you say, Paimon?" Kaeya asked as Paimon contemplated for a moment.
"Well... if the reward is this Harbinger of Dawn..." Paimon said as she stared at the sword that Kaeya was holding.
"You'd forgive me, right? I'm honored to have such an understanding friend." Kaeya said with a kind looking smile. At that point you don't think anyone could never forgive him. Well... probably Diluc but other than him, you don't think anyone else would be able to resist his charm.
"Yes, yes." Paimon nodded as she took the Harbinger of Dawn and played around with it.
"You have my apologies for the deception. I will not used the same method twice." He said as Aether sighed.
"Paimon has been completely charmed." He said as he watched Paimon swinging the sword around like a child that she is.
"I am quite surprised that you knew about my plan and the answers to the clues, pretty boy." He said as you just shrugged. "How did you find out about it, anyway?" He asked.
"Wait so, Y/N wasn't involve in this plan after all?" Aether and Paimon asked as you shook your head.
You did not think this through at all to expect on this outcome. "Well... To put it simply, I just happened to have an ability to see through people..." That was probably the worst excuse you could think of.
"See through people, eh?" Well... it's not like you lied. For some reason, in this world, it's much more easy to read people than back at your world. Right now.
Kaeya seems to have a little distrust on your excuse and fear that you could see his past. You could see it just from his eye. Guess in this world, eyes does betrays the body.
"Up to you, if you want to believe me." You shrugged as you found a treasure chest in one of the room. A precious chest that is.
I guess it was not completely waste of energy...
"What a wonderful day. Now I have to go and interrogate my suspect... Please excuse me. Do come visit me at our headquarters when you have the chance." Kaeya said as he headed back.
"Hey! You didn't say that you found a treasure, Y/N!" Paimon shouted as you took every single of it.
"Finders' keeper." You said before taking out your phone to switch out your bow with a sword. You still prefer using sword than a bow since it's much easier.
Though, you felt that after this incident, the future might have altered tiny bit. You might really need your cards after all.
TO BE CONTINUED
AUTHOR NOTE:
Honestly, Paimon is sus during this quest. Have anyone wondered how Paimon knows so much about Teyvat especially about the Archon?