Tʜᴇ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ Esᴄᴀʟ
"Alright, shall we head to the inn?"
"Yes, however, I must speak with Escal...Alone, please. Here Zhongli, treat our new friend to some tea and discuss some terms and agreement while I speak with Escal."M/n throws a small pouch of Mora to Zhongli, in it was just enough for tea plus some. The two leave for the harbor. Once they vanish from sight M/n turns back to the silvernette.
"Escal, be as honest as you can with me."
"I'll try my best."
"You're Helios, aren't you?"M/n's heart speeds up once the question passes from his lips and into the silent air around them. Escal sighs softly then make eye contact after glancing away from him.
"I am but I am not."
"What?! Hell no! Make it make sense now!"
"I am nothing but his remnant, the part of him that wishes to keep you safe no matter what but I am also the part that wants to push you so that you can reach your full potential. You see, his failed attempt to bring me back created the me you see now. That's why I adorn the mark of the blessed. When I woke, I was above my grave, my red hair had lost its color leaving me with silver hair and shaper features."
"Why?"
"Because my body is still where it was laid to rest but since it lacked life, a new body made itself into existence; the one you see now. You see, the failed attempt was slowly draining your energy without your knowledge and when it finally became too much, your body shut down-"
"Putting him into a hundred-year slumber..."
"Yes, Dainsleif and I were responsible for that. When you gave him the bracelet, he too was shaping away at your energy as he slept. So once you fell asleep, we woke."M/n needed a seat, he was getting a headache; so he pushes up a stool made of rock.
"Not even Val knew, that's how much of a mysterious entity I am."
"Then if you're alive...Why didn't you go to the castle? Why didn't you visit him?"Escal kneels in front of M/n with a saddened smile.
"It would have caused too much pain at the time. I-I didn't want to spread any more pain, so I left and ended up in Snezhnaya after traveling Teyvat for while. You won't believe what someone could see in a hundred years.
Dealing with the Fatui is something recent and it's temporary."M/n was slightly satisfied with the answer he gained by the urge to punch Escal became too hard to ignore and so he punched the male on top of the head.
"Ack!! Wha-!?"
"You idiot! If you would have come back sooner Zhongli wouldn't have tried to kill me- Us so many times!!"
"HE WHAT?!"Escal screeches then he begins to ramble on how he'd give Zhongli a piece of his mind and maybe a punch of two.
"No need Escal. We managed to handle everything."M/n said placing a hand on his chest, though...He could barely feel 'Helios's' presence, he knew that the other way still hanging on. Escal knew all too well that his real brother was fading away.
"He renamed himself Helios to honor you."
"I think it suits him."M/n smiles sadly, he knew that their sharing a body would end but that didn't mean he wouldn't miss the equally sassy male. The two sat in a comfortable silence until a voice speaks up.
"Oi, cut it out with the sadness!"
"Helios?!"This startled both M/n and Escal as a figure appears in the open space next to them.
"I won't be here in the open world for long but...I wanted to see you two face to face."Helios smiles brightly at the shocked pair.
"Can...Can I hug you Heli?"Helios chuckles at his long-haired double and opens his arms to receive a hug. M/n's lip quiver as he rushed to hug him.
"Shh, it's okay. Even when I fade, I'll always be with you. You've learned so much and done more good than I could ever in my lifetime and I'm only a thousand years old but your heart fixed all the horrible deeds I've done. And for that I'm grateful. Through the cost of your help would end me, I'm happy that I did this."Escal pats the two on their heads as they cry.
After a few minutes, M/n steps back while whipping his tears away.
"Sorry..."
"Don't apologize for being emotional. Your heart knows that we'll part soon. I rather you cry now and send me off with a smile later. You two should get going now, I'm sure that Zhongli is talking that boy's ear off."Helios turns into an orb of light that retreats into M/n's chest. Escal places a hand into M/n should.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah, let's get this over with."
"Oh, how are we going to explain me to Zhongli?"
"I say let him figure it out."