LANTERN RITE, ACT III: LIGHT UPON THE SEA, PART II
You teleported back to Mondstadt and this place is much more cooler than Liyue. Probably because this literally being ruled under by the Anemo Archon. Though you have to remember the reason why you came here. You were about to go on and find Kaeya but instead, he found you when you were looking for him.
You approached to him and tapped his shoulder. He turned around and saw you who seems to be rather hesitant about something. "Hello, Captain Kaeya." You greeted him almost sounded so shy as he smirked.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Honorary Knight. You looked like you need something from me?" He asked as his hand brushed against your cheeks. You could feel your cheeks became red before you pushed his hand away.
He was a bit surprised to see you flustered before you cleared your throats. "Well... I was visiting Liyue for the Lantern Rite and there's this suspicious person has been rummaging through the Lantern supplies filled with woods, oil and flammable stuff. He also left this symbol, do you recognize it?" You asked as he thought for a while.
" Hmm... Lantern supplies... Stockpile of wood, paper, and oil... At the very least, it sounds like an accident waiting to happen." He chuckled before looking at you with a smirk. "How very amusing. What makes you think I would recognize this symbol?" He questioned you before you thought for awhile.
"Because you seems to flirt with the dark side so I thought you would know." You said truthfully that came to your mind.
"Uh-ah! You should watch what you say, Honorary Knight." You... Totally forgot he responded like this. Why does he sounded really hot when he said like that? "What do you mean, flirt with the dark side? The Knights of Favonius certainly does not have dealings with its enemies. That has to do with a certain knightly virtue called "integrity." He explained as you shrugged.
"Though, with your looks and that voice, I would say that if you were to flirt with anyone you would have them fallen for you in no time." You stated before he looked at you in amusement.
"Does that include you in the list, pretty boy?" He asked as he cupped your face. His eyes seems to be really need of the attention and not only that, you are in public and there's many eyes on you two when he pulled that move. You really find this is embarrassing.
You pushed him away before looking away. "Kaeya. Not here..." You said as you heard him chuckle.
"Alright, alright. I digress. This is the symbol of the cross-border criminal organization you know as the Treasure Hoarders. If you are curious to know more, I can put you in touch with an informant on the inside. A little later, make your way over to Windrise. I'll arrange for the informant to meet you there." He said as you noted it down.
Your memory about this whole Lantern Rite thing started to freshen up a bit. After this you believed that you'll meet up with Nimrod and he gave some info before you make it back to Liyue. "Thank you, Kaeya." You said to him as he smiled.
"No need for your thanks. I'm happy to help whenever. Oh and don't forget, 'wine begets wisdom.'" He said before you nodded and made your way to Windrise.
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You did meet up with Nimrod at Windrise and he told you all sort of info and you have to grab the letter from one of the Treasure Hoarders' branches. So here you are standing in front of their leader. "Sorry pal, wrong way. Wherever you think you're going, it's that way." He pointed at the direction of the main road towards the Liyue Harbor. Probably... You don't know, you rely too much on the Teleport Waypoint.
"...Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that way go to the Liyue Harbor?" You asked as he nodded.
"Right. Here is nowhere. So the other way is Liyue Harbor." He said before the other treasure hoarder began to state.
"If you're looking for somewhere to stay, I suggest you go to the Wangshu Inn. Fair prices, great customer service, and a wonderful view." He said, sounded almost like a tourist guide.
"No... I'm here for that anonymous letter. Give it to me and I leave this place unharmed." You demanded before they looked at you in shock.
"How did you know about the letter?" He asked as you tried to remember what was the excuse for this before you remembered about Xiao sending you out here in the first place.
"One of Liyue adepti told me about it." You said when there's clearly a doubtful look on their faces.
"Did they now? I somehow doubt it." He said before you felt a familiar breeze and someone patted your shoulder.
"You should not doubt it. It was I who sent them to investigate. Any further questioning, you may direct to me." You were somewhat used to this already for some reason.
The treasure hoarders began to pick a fight with Xiao and you were going to help him but Xiao stopped you from interfering. "Just give me your shield and I'll do the rest." He said before he put on his mask as you frowned and gave him a shield while watching him fight.
Though, this was rather surprising to see that unlike his fight in game or the one you watched when he's exorcising the karma, he's rather softer with them yet it still look as powerful as ever. They immediately went on to their knees as they began to beg and gave him the letter before he passing the letter.
You just stared at it pretending you understand it. Xiao probably didn't know that you don't know how to read. "This is really gibberish but from the looks of it, it seems like he wanted to meet you guys?" You just guessed around not sure if you are right.
"I see. Then let us send him to the meeting. The sender may be plotting something truly diabolic for the Lantern Rite. It seems they want to burn down the entire city." Xiao said as one of the treasure hoarder let out a sigh in relief.
"Great, everyone's happy. You're good, we're good. However..." He trailed off as he eyed you from head to toe.
"This guy... He don't look anything like us."" The treasure hoarder said as you just smiled.
"I'll change my clothes later when I'm going to meet him. I know how exactly you guys dressed." They looked at you in doubt before the two treasure hoarders began to drag you.
"We'll do it for you instead." Xiao who were surprised as the two treasure hoarder just gave him a friendly look. "If this guy going to meet a treasure hoarder, he has to look like us. It'll just take a minute." They pushed you to one of the camp as you gulped at the amount of clothes they had.
TO BE CONTINUED
Author Note:
The pain of having your drawing file to be corrupted. dfuhfe- I already completed it and it had to be corrupted. Also a kind person @DAInspirai and @Whoops_ahaha has done some fabulous fanart!
Also another announcement! I have released another fanfic but it's Scaramouche x Male Reader called Prepossession which you can check out soon. Now you wonder about the other fanfic I written like Nyctophillia, Musical and Dream like when will I update them. For now, I still need to figure out a teensy bits of the plot so it actually make sense. I might continue them this month or whenever I'm free. For now the active fanfic that I will continue on updating will be Prepossession and Addicted.