[HIATUS] Some Childe x Zhongli stuff, I don't have any other ideas for a title.

Found For A Split Minute

(PAGE CONTAINS SLIGHT MANGA SPOILERS, I RECOMMEND READING IT!)
(There will be photos since it might get confusing later on in the page.)

After a few minutes, Childe was well rested enough to go on another search but with a new companion. "So... I think I remember the way I've gone. We can get there in the span of several hours, hopefully!" Collei said while pointing to Mt. Tianheng.

Childe nodded while they both raced to see who can get there first, surprisingly, even as a kid, Collei can run pretty fast. Eventually, They ended up helping each other get up the mountain safely, stopping the race for now. Taking little breaks in the process, they just held onto the rocks since there was nowhere to rest... obviously.

As they made it to the top, half of their energy drained out, Collei pointed the directions to the cave as the two of them make their way to the other side of the mountain. Persevering despite their lack of stamina, they decided to push forward and went up and down slopes, crossed rivers, and more.

At a ledge, Collei grabbed onto Childe as he glided down the mountain, soon to drop down into another deep forest.

"Sorry for making you help me a bunch of times. It must've been exhausting." Collei rubbed the back of her head as she got off of Childe.

"I'm happy to help whenever you want, don't be sorry. And besides, it doesn't bother me at all!" Childe responded with a smile, ruffling Collei's hair.

<>-<>-<>

The duo made it to the cave tiredly. Collei had completely forgotten how long the forest was, her memory is incredibly sharp unless she is distracted. It's almost as if things around her swiftly pass by without a second thought.

She tried searching every inch around the cave but there was no sign of the Ex-Archon inside. Thus lead to a shot of nervousness and worry inside of Collei.

Childe hesitated to come in, he was wondering if he should enter or not. Collei grabbed onto his arm and pulled him inside the cave, "Dunno know why you are just standing there, something on your mind?" Collei asks. "Anyways, I cant seem to find Zhongli inside of here, he is supposed to stay inside or else he'll be more injured." She says while having a stressed expression. Childe could feel her applying pressure onto his hand, causing him to become worried.

"Hey, I'm sure he would be fine. With my past experiences with Mr. Zhongli, he is pretty strong so there is no need to worry!" Childe smiled warmly at Collei, trying to calm her down.

They stared back at each other and Collei noticed the male's dull dark blue eyes. She found it odd how there was no shine or light emitting from them and wondered what caused Childe's eyes to become the way they are. They appear as if he was dead and it's as of now that Collei has come to realize it.

To continue, Childe had a lot of experience with calming people down, mostly because of his siblings. "There's probably no way he could've gone too far unless he used his statues. I doubt it, really." Childe says. "...Doubt, what?" Collei asks while looking away from Childe and then onto the stone floor. "That Zhongli couldn't have used his furthest statue to get away from us. Well... unless the situation is that bad." Childe walked around the cave as he talked, glaring at the items that are scattered around the floor. He also took notice of the debris lying around, wondering what had happened before he came here. Collei then let go of Childe's hand, feeling a bit of weight get off her chest by the ginger's soothing words of reassurance.

In the corner of Childe's eye before he left the cave, he spotted a note which says...

"I will be gone for a while.. and don't worry, I'll be safe on my own." — Zhongli