They say that history repeats itself.
You have always dreaded such a phrase, having been one of the beings that was part of history.
You wished for Celestia to pity the mortals that walked this land, hoped for mercy for the ones who you hold close.
Alas, it seems as if your prayers have been ignored as per usual.
The hellish fire that licks at your skin feels as if its seeping into your veins as you clutch Kunikuzushi's body close to yours, your legs taking you around the area, hoping to find that of the body of Niwa under all of the rubble and smoke that's licking at every crevice of your body.
You'd have teleported the two of you out of this place the moment Kunikuzushi uttered your name but the boy before you had whispered his pleas for you to find the man who had cared for him for months. Treating him as family.
And as usual, you can never ignore such pleas from Kunikuzushi.
Perhaps it was minutes or mere seconds but soon enough, you see it.
In the corner of your eye, in the middle of the burning furnace, you see the familiar cloth that was wrapped around Niwa's head, but instead. It lays on a burning piece of wooden beam, wrapped around something small.
It makes your insides curdle as you run towards it, hand quickly snatching it up and immediately teleporting yourself out of this hellscape.
As soon as you've made it to somewhere safe, you carefully set Kunikuzushi down on the ground, already treating his wounds with some salve that you take out from the plants, staying silent as you do so, hoping that your mind will follow suit with your own silence.
"His scarf..." The boy before you whispers as he tries to reach out to the scarf beside you.
Taking it out once you're sure that you've taken care of every wound that he may have, you take in a deep breath, a little apprehensive with what the scarf is hiding inside. Carefully, you place it on your lap and slowly unfurl the scarf.
...
...
A heart.
Hidden away in Niwa's scarf is a heart, the blood staining the cloth as you continue to stare at the organ on your lap.
Your hand can't help but reach out and touch it, unable to stop yourself from checking if what you're seeing is reality.
Oh how cruel can fate be...
How merciless must Celestia be to let such a thing happen to him?
It feels like you're stuck in a trance, only ever looking as the organ starts to disintegrate before your eyes.
Like it wasn't even there to begin with.
The only thing that pulls you out of your thoughts is the sound of retching.
In a second, you're beside Kunikuzushi, pulling his hair away as he throws up on the grass, his tears, saliva, and other bodily fluids mixing together as he coughs it all out. The sight alone makes your insides churn, regretting ever letting Escher stay in that village without you there to keep an eye on him.
Oh how you could've stopped his plans if you had only warned them all sooner, or much less, taken Escher out yourself. Maybe then the village in Tatarasuna would still be standing.
Perhaps the villagers would still be happily going about their day, calling out for Kunikuzushi, listening to his stories, teaching him what a normal life is.
If only you had taken your weapon and ended him yourself...
Kunikuzushi only lasts for a few more seconds before he leans on you, eyes fluttering close as the tears leave streaks on his porcelain skin.
Cradling him against your body, you carefully take the scarf that's been laying on the grass, folding it up before tucking it away, the remaining dust of the organ that was previously tucked inside now carefully concealed.
Niwa...
If only you had done something to save them all.
Standing up with Kunikuzushi in your arms, you're about to teleport away, somewhere far from this place. Somewhere safe...
But instead, you feel a familiar presence getting closer.
Your hair stand up on edge as you stand rigid, your hold on Kunikuzushi getting tighter as you feel the hilt of your weapon against your palm, ready to attack if necessary.
"I see that you've seen my present for the village. What did you think of it, adeptus? In my opinion, I thought that the plan was quite lacking, a bit rushed." The masked figure appears behind a tree, a smirk placed on the man's face as he gestures behind him. "Personally, I would've liked to do it a few days later though I've had a feeling that you were catching on to the plan, we wouldn't want you getting in the way now, do we?"
Gritting your teeth at the way the man chuckles at his own words, you point the blade towards him, the act making the man take a few steps backward with his hands up in mock defeat. "Il Dottore of the harbingers... what is your purpose here? Do you wish for my blade to end your fate now?" You bark out, hand trembling with suppressed anger as the man merely gives you a lazy smile.
"I do not believe in fate. I control my own fate. I control my life. No god shall ever control me-"
"Is that why you grovel at the feet of the tsaritsa? Wasting your knowledge from the akademiya in order to do the cryo archon's bidding?" You hiss out, emotions going a little out of control when you notice the way the harbinger's been eyeing Kunikuzushi who's still tucked away in your arm.
Shaking his head, Dottore crosses his arms. "I wouldn't say that I'm awfully loyal to the tsaritsa... it's merely the fact that we may share some goals..."
"And that would be?"
A chuckle leaves his lips once more before pointing at you...
No.
Not at you...
At Kunikuzushi...
Immediately, you're encasing Kunikuzushi in some vines and other flora before you launch your claymore straight at the harbinger, the metal cutting his cheek as he tries his best to dodge, a yelp leaving his lips when he sees just how close you are to him.
Your claymore flies back to you, another cut marking its way onto Dottore's arm as he chuckles at his predicament.
He should've known not to mess with the adeptus... for how smart he is academically, he sure is foolish.
With every swing of your claymore, the blade gets closer and closer towards his neck, the ground also starts to rumble as more vines spring out from the ground, desperately grasping at his limbs which makes it harder to move.
He really did fuck up...
Before Dottore can even think of teleporting away, he feels a tight grip around his neck, your face merely inches away from his as you glare him down, your other hand holding your claymore above your head, ready to bring it down and end him with a single swing. "Harbinger... what do you want with Kunikuzushi? Answer me now or else you'll be facing your end now."
"Even if you kill me now, I have hundreds of segments roaming Teyvat and they'll hunt you down." The harbinger tries to threaten you, a smirk plastered on his face in order to show a facade of bravado but alas, you do not care for such things.
Tightening your hold on his neck, you scoff. "Then so be it. I shall tear every single one of your segments to bits and send your body to the tsaritsa. Do not test me, harbinger. You will not like it."
By now, your hold on his neck has gotten too tight, Dottore's air circulation has been cut off causing him to cough and gag, his hands trying their best to claw at your arm, hoping to push you off as best as he can.
Alas, it is useless.
"Let m- augh me go now - Irminsul knows of his f-fate! Saving him is fruitless-" With one swing from your arm, the sharp edge of your claymore makes contact with his neck, effectively severing it from his body.
Huffing, you let go of his body, letting it fall limp on the ground as the flora start to emerge around his body, burying itself inside his remains until he's completely covered in it. "Let your segments know of your fate... this too shall be theirs if they continue your plans with Kunikuzushi. I will exact the wrath of the archons upon you."
Turning your back, shed your weapon away from you, willing it away as you open your arms for Kunikuzushi, the flora that was protecting him opening up for you to take him back in your arms, glad that he was not touched by the harbinger.
Ever so carefully, you wipe away the remaining tears that cling to his lashes as you open up your abode, taking him back to where you think he is safest.
Maybe now you won't be so willing to bring him out into the real world...
Maybe then you'll finally be able to protect him from all the hurt and pain...