A Harbinger's Duty

Many People's Hearts Had Been Shattered Within A Flash

'No, no, no, no! This wasn't supposed to happen!' Childe thought.

In front of Childe, there lay Lumine's still body. Blood seeped from the countless wounds he had cast upon her. It was a scene no one, not even himself would want to see.

Mondstadt's beloved Honorary Knight laid there, dead.

Childe had no idea that Zhongli was Rex Lapis and that the Exuvia's death was staged, but someone actually died because of it. Childe never killed anyone, just left them nearly alive. But this time, he killed his friend because of his job.

Oh man, and Teucer had heard of Lumine because of the letters. So, by the time he went back to Snezhnaya, Teucer would probably ask when Lumine would come. And Childe knew he couldn't keep up the act that Lumine was busy. Childe could only stare at what he had done to his ojou-chan. Childe had a feeling that this would affect everyone. Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fountaine, Natlan, and Snezhnaya. Childe knew that Mondstadt would be more affected than everyone else.

He knew of the stories that Lumine was the one who defeated Stormterror by herself. Yet, here she was, dead in his arms.

"What are you doing, Tartaglia?" A posh Snezhnayan accent asked from behind.

He knew that tone too well. La Signora, "the Fair Lady" or known as the 8th of the Fatui Harbingers.

"I could say the same to you," he replied, turning the question onto her.

"Her Majesty ordered me to come to Liyue. To fulfill the contract between her and the Lord of Geo," Signora said, her eyes narrowing.

"What? What contract? How have I not heard about this?" Tartaglia exclaimed, annoyed.

Signora sighed.

"Well, since I have business with the Lord of Geo on Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa's behalf, I have no use for such idle chatter with the likes of you. We should get going to Northland Bank." Signora commanded  her colleague.

"Don't be late." Signora snapped at him, strutting away.

Childe reluctantly left Lumine's body in the Golden House.

He had gone to Northland Bank with Signora and Zhongli. When he arrived in Liyue, everyone wondered why Childe was covered with blood, but they assumed that he was killing hilichurls or something.

Childe had changed his clothes, and soaked his bloody clothes in water so the blood wouldn't stain. When he saw Signora and Zhongli not talking, he had to break the silence.

"You call this cooperation between Harbingers?!" Childe yelled at the both of them, "Cooperation involves communication, you know?!"

"Hehe, don't take it to heart, Tartaglia. And besides, aren't you happy that you got to skip the formalities and bring chaos to the land? I'm sure you must have enjoyed that." Signora raised her eyebrow at Childe.

Signora had turned to Zhongli.

"Now, Morax. The gnosis please," Signora stuck her hand out.

"Morax?" Childe asked, realizing that Zhongli was Rex Lapis.

Zhongli- no Rex Lapis had sighed.

"The contract is fulfilled. Thou that which seeketh, will be bestowed upon thee. For my promise is solid as stone."

Childe stared at the gnosis resting in the consultant's palm.

Signora had snatched the gnosis, "Hmph. How sanctimonious."

'He was the Exuvia all this time?! A mora-less man, associated with the Fatui, was the Lord of Geo?!'

Childe's raging thoughts were interrupted by the 8th Harbinger.

"Well, with the gnosis in my possession, I have no use for such idle chatter. We will return to Zapolyarny Palace and seek an audience with her Majesty, the Tsaritsa. Come Childe," Signora snapped at him.

"Ugh, fine. See you there. But I'm not going on a boat with the likes of you," Childe glared at Signora.

"Hmph. Do as you wish." Signora had strutted away.

Childe had turned his ire against Zhongli.

"Why did you and Signora keep me in the dark about all of this?!"

Zhongli hadn't replied.

Taking his silence for granted, Childe had walked away from Northland Bank.

After a couple of days later, the Golden House was to be announced to be back up and running by the Qixing.

When everyone was gathered around, Ningguang had opened the doors, and Ningguang had spotted a body. Ningguang had stepped closer and had realized that it was the Traveler's body, bleeding and cut. She had studied Lumine's limp body for a little bit. After, she had stood up and started yelling.

"The Traveler is dead! Seal the exits!"

Once Childe had heard the rumors of Lumine dead, he knew that he was going to be discovered.

Rumors had gone around that the Fatui were the ones responsible for Lumine's death. The Fatui organization was known for being very shady, and the fact that the Harbinger in Liyue was a bloodthirsty one that wished to fight constantly, it wasn't all that hard for gossipers to spin "lies" about the Fatui.

Unfortunately, Mondstadt heard the rumors.

"Acting Grand Master Jean!" A Knight of Favonius yelled, running into Jean's office.

"Yes?" Jean looked up from her work.

"The Traveler is dead!"