Your POV
" Time for bed Lady (y/n)... " I heard Adelinde said behind me carrying a nightgown and handed it to me. I nodded and smiled at her.
" Yeah, I am a little bit tired today. " I told her and took the nightgown she handed to me.
" Sweet dreams, Milady. " She said, " Good night Master Diluc, Mr. Zhongli. " She said with a bow and left.
" You should go to sleep, (y/n). " Diluc said and started placing back the chess pieces back on the board.
" Oh? Another game? " Zhongli asked him and Diluc nodded. I yawned while staring at them.
" We still have a long day tomorrow, (y/n). Go get some rest. " Zhongli told me with a smile. I nodded and wiped my eyes.
" Good night you two. " I said and started to went upstairs.
" Good night, (y/n). " They both said in unison, I chuckled and turned around to see them starting another game of chess.
I went to my room, changed my dress into a nightgown, and flopped myself on the bed. My eyes felt so heavy and tired, I started closing my eyes and slowly fell asleep.
Zhongli's POV
" Checkmate. That's three times in a row, Zhongli. You kept on sacrificing your King for the Queen. " Diluc told me, I chuckled at him and looked at the time.
" Guess we're done for tonight. " Diluc said and stood up, he placed the chess pieces and board back.
" You should get some rest as well. We'll be retrieving the Holy Lyre tomorrow after all. " He said and stared at me. I smiled at him and nodded.
" You too Diluc. Have a good night. " I told him and saw his mouth smirked.
" Sure. " He said and took a quick glance at a huge vase filled with all sorts of local flowers from Mondstadt. He then frowned and went upstairs.
I slowly stood up seeing his shadow disappear and went my way to the room. " Mr. Zhongli, here is your nightshirt. You may use it for tonight, it's pretty comfy! " One of Diluc's maids said.
" Ah, thank you. " I replied with a smile. She nodded and left. When I opened the door to the room my eyes widen seeing (y/n) sleeping peacefully on the bed.
" She must have been mistaken. " I told myself, watching her sleep. I gently stroke her hair, to avoid waking her up.
" Uhmm... Zhongli... " She said in her sleep. My eyes widen, I turned around to face her.
" Yes, (y/n)? " I asked her. She then chuckled.
" It's hot... Like lava... It's flowing down my throat... " She said. " It's delicious... " She continued and my eyes widen.
" Uhh... W-what's delicious (y/n)? What are you drinking? " I asked her with my eyes completely widen at what she's saying.
" The tea you gave me... " She replied. I then sighed in relief and chuckled at her. My mind is playing some dirty tricks on me, this woman started it all.
I slowly took her off the bed and carried her into my arms. " I need to bring you back to your room, (y/n). Or Diluc will scold us. " I told her and got no response.
" Perhaps she's entering another dream. " I told myself and brought her back to her room, gently placing her on the bed.
" Good night, my dearest (y/n). " I said and kissed her forehead.
" Hmph. I'm impressed with you Mr. Zhongli. " I heard Diluc said, I turned around to see him leaning his back on the door. He then gave me another smirk.
" I guess it's best to say that I can trust you with her. " He said and turned his way out of the door. " But don't you dare break it, because I won't hesitate to take her back. " He said without looking at me. I nodded and smiled.
" There's no need to fret, Master Diluc. For I won't. " I told him.
" Hmph. " He said and turned around to glance at me, he then left the room without a second word.
~ Timeskip, the next day ~
Your POV
" The sun is about to set, you guys ready? " I asked Lumine and Paimon. They both nodded and wore their masks.
" Here. I forgot to give you one. " I heard Diluc said and handed Zhongli a mask. Zhongli smiled at him and took the mask, they both wore their own mask as well.
" We'll be forming into two groups, it'll be easier and faster that way. " Diluc suggested, he then looked at me. I glanced at Zhongli whose eyes were also fixed on me.
" I'm going with (y/n). " Diluc and Zhongli said in unison. I just sighed and look at Lumine and Paimon.
" Fine, go with Zhongli. " Diluc said and we all went silent. Even Paimon who's always talkative never dares to break the silence. When night came we all sneaked inside their hideout.
We immediately saw a Fatui guard. Diluc secretly sneaked on the Fatui's back and grabbed him by the throat. " Speak. " Diluc told him.
" No! Please don't eat me?! " The guard said in a panic. " Y-you guys are humans? I thought it was the Abyss Order. " He said and sighed in relief.
" Where's the Holy Lyre? " Lumine asked him.
" Uh—how did you know the lyre's here?! " The guard asked.
" Start talking or I'll slit your throat. " I said with the dust on my hand slowly forming into a sword.
" Impressive... " I heard Zhongli muttered.
" I-I'll talk! I'll talk! The Holy Lyre is hidden in the depths of these ruins! B-but I don't have the key and I don't know who has it! Please don't kill me! " The Fatui guard said.
" This guy looks like he's about to wet himself. " Paimon said, I just chuckled at her comment. Diluc released him.
" Signora's here at Mondstadt! If she knows you're here, she'll string you up and torture you. If that happens never ever mention me to her. " He said and ran for his life.
" Did he say Signora? What a strange name... " Paimon said.
" Number 8 of the Eleven Harbingers, she's Signora. The fact the Fatui can run amok across the seven nations as they do is entire because of the Eleven Harbingers. " Diluc said and clenched his fist.
" We need to act fast before she catches us. " Diluc said. I then looked at Zhongli. He looked... worried.
" What's wrong, Zhongli? " I asked him and he didn't respond. I tugged on his coat and he finally snapped out of his thoughts.
" Ahh, it's nothing (y/n). Let us proceed. " Zhongli said and gave me a reassuring smile.
We separated ourselves from Diluc, Lumine, and Paimon and went into another room and saw another guard. I manipulated dust to hold his feet still onto the ground without him noticing. " Where's the key to the Holy Lyre? " I asked the guard, he immediately turned around to realize that his legs had been paralyzed.
" Why you?! How'd did you two get in here?! " He asked as Zhongli and I slowly approach him.
" Back off! I'm never—Uh-What the— "
I cut him off by tightening the dust gripping his entire legs. " You better start talking if you want your entire body getting smashed like a pulp, good sir. " I coldly told him, as my dust is slowly making its way on his waist.
" Come on. The more I squeeze my fist, the more pressure you'll feel... " I told him. Zhongli's eyes widen.
" You... This power... I remember you! You're the one who saved the Darknight Hero from ll Dottore's wrath! " The guard said and my eyes widen.
" What do you know about Il Dottore?! About the missing children! About the arena! " I asked him, he never responded.
" Tell me! " I told him and covered his entire body with dust.
" I-I know... nothing about Il Dottore's schemes... all I know is the Holy Lyre and the key... " The guard said, I gritted my teeth and tightened my grip.
" Enough, (y/n). " Zhongli commanded and pulled me by the wrist. My eyes widen, and I slowly let the guard go.
" (y/n)... (y/n)?! Il Dottore kept on mentioning that name... I knew it! You're Il Dottore's—... " The guard paused, he then sighed.
" He has speculations that it was you the whole time! He always thought you were the one who rescued the Darknight Hero! It turned out to be true... You need to be more careful... He's still searching for you. " The guard said and threw the key on the ground. My eyes widened.
" If you think I'm doing this for you, you're wrong. I had enough of this, if my life hasn't been taken by you, it'll eventually be taken by any of the Harbingers anyway... I'm leaving. " He said and left the room.
" Wait! What about the arena and the kids?! " I asked the guard, he stopped from his tracks and faced me.
" I know nothing, but I know you'll be in great danger once you get there, and he won't let you escape next time. And I heard none of the children survived after the experiment. " He said and my eyes widen.
' Is my brother dead? ' I thought to myself.
" I'm saying this because you let me live. Let us not meet again. I almost died by your hands twice, I won't be able to make it the third time. " He said and left.