After arriving at Lingju pass
Cameo appearance: Straykids Felix as Fatui Agent Felix
Childe was talking with treasure hoarders, and it looked like he just finished fighting them.
Chongyun quickly dragged Teucer elsewhere.
Childe was then seen talking to new Fatui agent recruits.
"The market is like a battlefield." Replied Childe, he then tried to elaborate.
"Huh?!" Asked the new recruits.
"Just an example." Replied Childe, he then continued, "you will now all obey my orders and work for me!"
"Yes sir!" The recruits all replied with a salute.
"Now, let's test your skills!" Ordered Childe.
"Can I help?" Asked Teucer.
"You're dumping him on us again?" I asked, a bit annoyed.
"If you don't mind." Whispered Childe in reply.
We quickly led Teucer away to Lingju pass.
Later that afternoon
Teucer became more and more curious of Lingju pass area. He sat on one of the copper pipes, waiting for Childe.
Childe then returned from his fight after waiting for him an hour.
"Alright Teucer, time to get you home now." Began Childe.
"Okay, but can we please look at the toy manufacturing place?!" Asked Teucer excitedly as he ran inside a cave.
"Wait up!" Called Childe.
Xiao and I ran after the kid too.
Turns out this place was a Ruin Guard Manufacturing Factory.
Xiao took out his polearm, and I took out Dawnbreaker.
Qiq and Chongyun took out their sword and claymore as well.
"This place is giving me a bad feeling." Replied Chongyun, finishing his popsicle.
"So this is where ruin guards come from now." Growled Xiao.
"Now we know." I replied.
"Over here!" Jumped Teucer as he raced passed another set of doors, that suddenly closed on us.
"Teucer!" Yelled Childe, panicking.
"Do you know your way around this place?" I asked, glancing at Childe.
"Yes, this is a Ruin Guard research lab by Dottore, a fellow harbinger." Explained Childe as he desperatly looked around for Teucer.
We swam pass the pool and found a strange path where they built the ruin guards.
"Watch out for lazers." Ordered Xiao.
We managed to avoid the white light lazers and walked into a huge room.
It was filled with Ruin guards.
"Brother look! Mr. Cyclops's family is here!" Called Teucer, jumping up and down pointing at the ruin guards.
"They could be active." I realized, as I took out Dawnbreaker.
Xiao had already took out his jade spear and Yaksha mask.
"Teucer, wanna play hide and seek?" Asked Childe.
"Sure." Replied Teucer.
"You count and I'll hide." Replied Childe.
"Alright, 1, 2,." Began Teucer as he closed his eyes and began to count.
Xiao readied his polearm, while I took out Dawnbreaker.
Childe took out his hydro bow, Chongyun took out his claymore and Qiqi took out a small sword.
"Let's get them." Whispered Childe as we jumped up and attacked the Ruin guards.
There were so many of them.
"Ready?!" Asked Teucer, about to open his eyes.
"Uh...Give me another minute." Replied Childe, glaring at the incoming ruin guards.
Childe had enough and activated his Foul Legacy's final transformation.
Xiao doned his mask and went killer mode on the ruin guards.
"Take this!" Snarled Tartaglia as he slashed at the Ruin guards. His weapon was filled with water and electricity, as they struck all the ruin guards at once.
"Dissappear!" Snarled Xiao as he fought.
"Be Gone!" I yelled at the ruin guard as a wind current formed around them.
After a hefty fight, Childe shifted out of his transformation and went to hide in another room.
"Ready or not! Here I come!" Called Teucer, trying to find Childe, he then got distracted by the dead ruin guards.
"Mr. Cyclops and family!" Called Teucer, "do you know where my brother is?" He asked, curiously.
Meanwhile
"Glad Mr. Cyclops was able to distract him." Replied Childe, weakly glancing at Teucer from the corner of another lab.
"You are in a terrible state." I replied.
"You aren't scared that we will end you right here?" Asked Xiao, looking at Childe.
"No, I'm not, and I know you won't kill me, not in front of Teucer and not ever." Replied Childe, he continued, "I'm sure you must know what it's like to have a sibling."
"Yeah, I do." I replied, sighing, "Aether." I replied, suddenly sad.
"The strange vision you carry seems to damage you." Noticed Xiao, looking at Childe's delusion.
"Yeah, it's a Delusion actually." Replied Childe with a shrug.
"We should get help." Began Chongyun.
"Please, I don't want Teucer to see me like a deflated balloon, I can take care of myself." Replied Childe.
"Then what do you want us to do?" I asked.
"Give this to him, will you?" Asked Childe as he handed over a toy action figure of a ruin guard.
"Alright." I replied.
Childe then quietly left.
We then gave the toy to Teucer and explained that Childe went to work again.
This poor kid, I hope he never learns what a monster his brother is. I also hope he never has anything to do with the Fatui like his brother.
"Thank you so much for spending the day with me Miss Nice Lady Y/N! And Adeptus Xiao, Chongyun and Qiqi friend!" Jumped up Teucer, giving me a hug, he also gave Xiao, Chongyun and Qiqi a hug.
"No problem." I replied.
"You know my brother talks about you sometimes in his letters read by Sister Tonia!" Says Teucer happily, as he looked up to us, "He says you can come visit our home if you ever come visit us in in Snezhnya, he also says he'll quit his job one day and join you on your adventures!" Replied Teucer.
"Wow. Looking forward to that." I replied with a smile.
"Pinky promise you'll visit us in Snezhnya one day?!" Asked Teucer.
"Alright." Nodded Qiqi as their little fingers made a pinky promise. I gave him the pinky promise, even Xiao who rolled his eyes did too.
We waved as Teucer got on the huge ship.
"See you soon!" He waved as the ship left.
Later that night in Wangshu Inn
"Stay still." Orders Xiao as he held my hand.
Lying on my stomach, I watched as Diluc lit the soaked towel with fire.
"This will help treat your back." Replied Xiao.
I winced in pain as the warm towel was pressed onto the small but deep cuts and burns on my back.
Xiao gently held my hand to comfort me.
"How many ruin guards were there?" Asked Zhongli.
"More than ten of them, my lord." Replies Xiao, gently tightening his grip on my hand.
"Childe managed to take out most of them using his delusion." I replied.
"That must've taken a tow on him, but that's the consequence of using the delusion." Replied Diluc.
"I should've dealt with them all so none of us would be injured." Muttered Xiao.
"Hey, you guys all survived that battle and made it out alive, that's what matters." Replied Diluc.
"Childe is really a strange mortal, we despised him and believed he should be punished for his actions of causing such trouble in LiYue but after seeing his younger brother today, that changed." Replied Xiao.
"I'm glad it did." Replied Zhongli.
"Of course we both despise that Fatui Harbringer." Nodded Diluc.
"He has a family and therefore his punishment shouldn't be death." Began Xiao, "in fact using his ultimate Foul legacy which takes a toll on his health is enough suffering brought to him."
"That is agreeable." Replied Diluc.
"I've said this before, and will say it again, that I don't kill innocent mortals, I only kill demons, monsters and evil gods." Replied Xiao.
"And machines?" I asked with a slight smile.
"Yes, the ruin guards." Nodded Xiao, he then reached for my hand again and caressed it gently.
Diluc and Zhongli then decided to leave us alone, and the two went to find Venti.
That afternoon
Zhongli and Diluc stepped outside the golden house, with Childe walking behind him.
"Wait did you see that?!" Asked Childe pointing at the sky.
"Hmm?" Asked Zhongli.
Diluc's eyes followed where Childe was pointing.
In the air, floated an Adeptus, and a girl, wait it's the traveler. Below then was his little brother, qiqi and Chongyun in a boat.
They briefly zoomed across the nightsky.
"I guess he's doing well with her." Whispered Zhongli with a smile.
"I swear I saw them kiss." Gushed Childe, trying to stiffle a laugh.
"Don't just make assumptions." Huffed Diluc, going back inside.
"Xiao, I hope you're happy now, and even after you finish exploring Teyvat, accompany her forever, for eternity, wherever she goes, you follow, treat her like you treated me, but more." Whispered Zhongli into the sky.
Meanwhile
As if Xiao could hear him, he closed his eyes for a minute.
"I understand, Rex Lapis." He replied, and breathed.
On the balcony of Wangshu Inn, was an adeptus and the celestial traveler.
The adeptus held her hand, quietly looking at the lanterns and the serene nightsky.
Meanwhile...
"It's a good thing he's free now." Smiled Zhongli.
"Who? Adeptus Xiao?!" Asked Childe, raising an eyebrow.
"My contracts have ended and he's free to travel and go wherever he please." Replied Zhongli.
"He was the adeptus I saw in Monstadt with the traveler." Replied Diluc.
"He does look familiar, I saw him and Y/N babysitting my little brother the other day." Chuckled Childe,
"Does he likes kids?" Asked Childe.
"He's fond of them just, hard to show." Replied Zhongli, "why ask?" Raising an eyebrow
"Nothing, I trust them both to look after Teucer if he comes by LiYue harbor again." Shrugged Childe.
"I'm availible too when it's not too busy." Smiled Zhongli.
"I've dealt with kids like him, for example Klee." Chuckled Diluc.
"Oh yeah, Speaking of which, Teucer really wants to meet Klee one day." Laughed Childe.
Meanwhile in Wangshu Inn...
*Xiao and me were enjoying almond tofu together*