a/n: after this chapter im going to start making the backstory. it will most likely be in 2 parts
because of this i might not update everyday saturday
and i'll also be editing a bit :)
alr enjoy!
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"The hour is upon us."
Ningguang stepped forward, and 4 geo crystals started floating around her. She turned and put a hand out to the table, and the crystals flew over to the (whatever that thing is called- pot thing? idkkkk help). It glowed, and an odd tornado formed in the sky.
You watched as it started turning black. The ground rumbled, and you took a step back, your eyes wide.
A dragon fell out of the hole, landing on the table in a cloud of smoke. The crowd yelped and backed up. You gripped Aether's wrist.
Everyone took looks at the limp dragon, that was unmoving.
A pit grew in your stomach as Ningguang stepped forward and crouched in front of him. She got back up after a moment and stepped back.
Turning, she threw out a hand. "Rex Lapis has been killed! Seal the exits!"
Millelith came pouring out, surrounding the area. You tugged on Aether's arm. "We need to get out of here."
"Paimon agrees with y/n! They might find out your identity!" Paimon exclaimed, floating down to us.
Aether nodded, and we slipped out of the crowd. We went around the side, trying to keep away from the Millelith.
~
You peeked around the stone, scanning the area. A gaurd was slowly walking away, his back turned.
You nodded to Aether, and we carefully stepped out. Well.. Aether didn't really.
Crk!
A leaf snapped underneath his shoe, and the gaurd turned, spotting us. You gasped, and Aether ran forward to the stairs. You followed him, and you both jumped down the stairs as the Millelith cried out "They're here!" "Arrest them!"
Aether stumbled a bit when landing, and you grabbed his arm, as you turned the corner, coming face to face with a group of Millelith.
You looked back up the stairs, seeing them coming down.
"There's nowhere to run!" The captain said, pointing his sword at us. Aether summoned his, getting ready for battle. Remembering your broken one, you summoned your bow, since you didn't want to risk breaking it even more.
"Hey buddy, girlie, hold still-"
You and Aether looked up to see hydro-infused arrows hit the gaurds. A ginger-haired male landed in front of you guys, holding a bow. The male stepped back, the bow turning into hydro blades, and rushed forward. It was a blur of water as the Millelith were all knocked unconscious.
The male stood up, the blades disappearing.
"Stop! Stop!"
We looked up to see yet another group coming from the stairs. The ginger looked at us, tilting his head in a direction. "Come with me."
You and Aether shared a look, and you nodded. Aether looked at Paimon, and we ran after the guy.
~
"Phew.. Paimon's exhausted!" She exclaimed.
"What muscles are required to float around?" Aether deadpanned, and you snickered.
"So insensitive! You have no idea just how tiring floating arou- Wait!" Paimon said, then turned to the man. You looked at him as well, and he seemed to be studying you.
You got a feeling who this was. On Earth you thought he was hot, but now... he was just dangerous.
"Just who are you exactly?" Paimon asked.
"Call me Childe!" He introduced himself, and your suspicions were confirmed.
"Childe? What, so we're supposed to dote on you?" Paimon insulted, and he laughed.
"Haha, no no, not at all. It's an alias of sorts!" Childe said. "In Mondstadt.. I don't suppose you came across a Signora by any chance?"
"Signora.. Childe..?" Paimon slowly put it together. Aether got it a bit quicker and put an arm slightly in front of you, looking at Childe with a bit of distaste.
Paimon gasped after her tiny brain finally figured it out. "You're Fatui! One of The Harbingers!"
"Oh, no. Don't worry, I'm not looking for a fight. Nor am I looking for her." Childe glanced at you, then looked back at Aether.
"Signora gave you quite the bad impression, huh? Tsk, that woman... Can't say I'm a fan either." Childe said, then crossed his arms. "Right, let's forget all about her, shall we? I'm here to help you."
"We don't need help from the Fatui," Aether said.
"Come now, don't be like that!" Childe exclaimed.
"Kind of hard when one of you kidnapped me." You finally said, staring him in the eyes.
"That's a discussion for another time." Childe sighed, and Aether glanced at you, putting his arm down.
"I'm not a bad guy-" You both gave him a look. "Ok, perhaps I'm kind of a bad guy, but I'm not here to give you any trouble. Would it be too much to ask you to keep the sword sheathed?"
You and Aether looked at each other, and you slightly nodded. He stepped away from you, bringing his focus to Childe.
"heh, I thank you for your knightly nobility, Aether."
You raised an eyebrow. Childe seemed to sense that.
"I heard of your deeds in Mondstadt, so I couldn't help but notice you doing the proceedings back there. And because i had my eye on you the whole time, I know it wasn't you. Someone else was clearly behind it."
He closed his eyes. "But, regrettably, given I'm a Fatui envoy from Snezhnaya (why is that so weird)... there's no way I'd be trusted after something of this magnitude."
'Regrettably' You thought, scoffing a bit.
"The ruling Qixing of Liyue has always been overly suspicious of us."
"Well, can't blame them." You pointed out, crossing your arms.
"Heh, guess I shouldn't try to deny that." Childe agreed.
~~
As you arrived at Northland Bank, Childe started to explain a couple things.
"Here let me give you this."
You all looked at it. Your eyes grew wide at the words written on the golden slip.
"This is a.." Paimon trailed off.
"I'm not sure, exactly. Sometimes all money can buy is 'things' and not a name for oneself." Childe claimed. Aether pocketed the sigil.
"All I know is that it's a sigil. A sigil to keep the 'mighty and illuminated adepti' from bringing harm to you."
"He's not wrong." you mumbled, and Aether heard it.
"Adepti?" Paimon asked.
"If you head north from the harbor, then west from Guili Plains, you will eventually reach a stone forest known as Jueyun Karst. The people of Liyue believe it to be the abode of the adepti."
"Isn't it just a legend?" Aether asked. You shook your head.
"Legend or not, they believe it. As such, offerings to the adepti are made at its borders. Nobody dares venture in."
"but we have to?" You confirmed.
"Yes. Because I know for a fact, that the adepti truly exist." Childe nodded.
"Hate to admit it, but your Fatui intel seems alright. But, why would we go looking for them anyway?" Paimon pointed out.
"Oh, my little friend. There are plenty of reasons mortals seek the blessings of adepti."
~ (got a little lazy so time skip) ~
As you and Aether started walking along the marketplace, Aether finally brought up the question he was wanting to ask.
"So, the adepti, they really are real?"
You sighed, eyes elsewhere. "yes."
"But how do you know about them?" paimon asked.
You slowed to a stop on a bridge, gazing out over the harbor, staring at the setting sun.
"I.. remember them."
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no you guys dont get to see what happens :)
sorry
this chapter was fairly easy since i mostly just had to watch the cutscenes.
so yay
anyway i might do just one more chapter with the adepti then the backstory, mostly because im on a roll-
k bye