NOCTURN BRIDE • genshin Impact | ✓

CHAPTER FOUR.

if there was an oscar award, piety apostle would without a doubt snag the rewards without a hitch. fooling a god, without any difficulties? what a feat indeed! little omens like her couldn't resist the temptation that allured her soul, just imagine, god walking down by the palm of her hand!

she was undeniably a master of foolery and trickery.

"you're back..." the disguised archon grip tightened around her shoulders, embracing her cold stature with warmth. his scent of wood-pine with a tinge of cinnamon surrounded the silent pair. "you're back..."

"i came back home, barbatos." returning the sweet gesture, she held onto the petite head that sobbed on her shoulder, comforting him with the sweetest lies. "i'm back."

"i'm so sorry... i'm sorry for leaving you alone."he continued sobbing, bawling his eyes onto the apostle's now ruined tear-stained attire. it felt as if a gruesome claw forcefully ripped his heart out — agony, regret, sorrow — yet, they still empathise. "it won't ever happen again..."

holding back a stifle laughter, she couldn't help but pity the poor fool. it was indeed bizarre, the fact that the piety apostle dared to oppose the almighty archons.

what obscene fools they are, residing within teyvat! watch them crumble, watch the holy and worshipped gods and goddesses bow beneath a mere jester's feet.

a tempting idea, yet, the apostle had to refuse.

now, it wouldn't be fun if everything fell in place all according to plan, right? there had to be, some sort of spark within!

"no matter what it cost?"

all she had to do, was to paint his canvas, a pure white canvas into a pretty shade of crimson red. no, she didn't even have to paint it — it was like adding a drop of red dye into a bowl of water — slowly seeping and consuming whatever it was fed. ignite the little spark, and let the flame burn on it's own.

and that was the foolish barbatos, when it came to the ever-so manipulative apostle.

"even if i had to give up celestia for you." his emerald green puffed eyes admired the apostle's hair lockets. placing them upon his peach blossomed lips. although his face was stained with salted tears, his eyes told a different story. it screamed pleas and mercy deep within, glowing a thousand shades of green within the dark lonesome night.

"i would do anything to save you."

darker and darker. paint the canvas with beautiful crimson and onyx. let teyvat collapse into it's own wrath! watch the order, watch the hierarchy slowly fall apart — mondstadt call this a ruler? — pathetic indeed! there was no such thing as barbatos the benevolent saviour and lord of freedom; he was nothing but a fool carrying the weight of a god, nothing more but a mere shell that embraced the wind.

after all, gods were once humans too.

the apostle's lips tugged up into a smirk. naive, vain, dexterous, cunning, she didn't care what she was labelled. hell, no one would even see through her facade! as long as it benefitted her, it didn't matter.

"promise?"

regardless of ones own position or authority, in the end, even gods are used as chess pieces.

"i promise."

archons can be used as pawns, let alone bishops or rooks. pawns that were used as sacrifices, pawns that only can move in one direction, they only can change it's own path if it took another's life away.

barbatos was the pawn that helplessly obliged the piety apostle's commands.

never in his whole life, did a second feel like an eternity. it was as if time extended itself, distorting the realm of space for the pair of complex unrequited lover.

he slid his hand down by the apostle's cheeks, holding onto his oh so dearest. she was his treasure, and forever, she belonged to him.

no one else, but him.

on the other hand, piety apostle was rather amused with the god's conflicting emotions — obsession, protectiveness, love — a wonderful combination. it seemed that her first ever marionette was complete!

before her lips could utter words of compliment to further flatter barbatos, an ominous presence slowly neared. it felt, otherworldly. perhaps it was the traveller — aether — and his floating companion nearing. she sighed, before looking up at the archon that also seemed to notice.

"farewell, barbatos." giving a pseudo-smile, her hair danced along a gentle windshield that flowed like a river. gracefully, she slowly vanished away, leaving the poor god alone once again as he witnessed the shimmer of hope glimmer past him, only to leave a swirl of anemo and cryo remains left.

shall she be back? what a curious question indeed! perhaps, perhaps not, but barbatos bet his entire life on her.

"till we meet again," facing the grand tree in windrise, he looked up at the sky. his fragmented eyes showed fractured, and almost non-existent hope that shattered into pieces. she was back, and he swore to protect her with his life. "my love."

war is alive. war is alive. war is alive.

and war killed a god that was meant to save it's people from it.

"the wind amongst the branches is good," humming, barbatos let out a huff, admiring the scent that the piety apostle left. the reek of a soothing melody that sedated him from reality.

"i love the way it smells..."

she was his morphine in his world of despair.

━━━━

( CHAPTER  IV )