The Line of Love

Fatui Side 9: New Recruit

You grab onto Childe's hand and look backwards towards Zhognli, staring at him. You don't regret the choice you're making. Zhongli was wonderful, but becoming an Archon, it doesn't seem like something you were cut out to do.

"I see, I chose the wrong traveller." Zhongli says, "I must go find Lumine to speak with her."

He's trying to guilt trip you, he probably knew Lumine makes you jealous, but you just couldn't imagine a life without Childe. He was the one you liked, the one you wished to pursue. The one you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. You hold Childe's hand tighter, you never want to let go.

"Thank you." you say, "This offer, it really means a lot to me." Childe returns the grip and squeezes your hand back.

"Not to ruin whatever this is.." The blond woman, still in the room, is finally saying something, "What are the logistics of this agreement? What sort of position are you going to be able to get this knight in that will let you 'be together'" she says that last part sarcastically.

"Excuse her," Childe says, "This is La Signora, another of the Harbingers"

"Lovely to meet you," You're trying to sound kind, but Signora's comment wasn't helping, "I'm Y/N by the way."

"I was hoping to get Y/N a position as Harbinger actually" Says Childe, making your heart melt.

You've not had any experience with the Fatui, but something tells you that you could accomplish this with him by your side.

"How are you going to manage that? What sort of qualifications does Y/N have?" Signora is visibly displeased with the idea of a new Harbinger.

"I'm a trained Knight of Favonius if that helps. I have some pretty neat combat skills." you say back to her.

"You know how I can manage this, Signora? Because I'm liked by Tsaritsa. She would be willing to make this arrangement, and you know it."

Based on your limited knowledge, Tsaritsa is the Archon of Snezhnaya, the Cryo Archon, and the head of the Fatui. Getting her support would be how you're appointed.

"Wouldn't the others need to agree as well? Would Pedrolino agree to this? How about Pulcinella?"

"Their opinions don't matter as long as Tsaritsa agrees. Y/N would make a great Harbinger, so there's no point for you to argue with me." Childe defends me.

    "Very well then, but don't say I didn't tell you when the others start to hate this new member." Signora says, and she heads up the stairs, disappearing into some room, leaving you and Childe alone in the bank.

    "If you're gonna take this job, you should come and see what sort of things it entails. I have some debt collection and new recruits to welcome." You agree to this idea, after all, getting some experience would be helpful if your goal was to become someone who may even have to do this sort of thing.

    You exit the bank and start to make your way over to Qingxu Pool to carry out the assignments. On the way, you and Childe begin to talk about Zhongli and the Rite of Parting.

    "So let me get this straight, you and Zhongli were close, you even bought things for him all the time, and you had no idea he was Rex Lapis until...?" You paused because you really didn't know what had made Childe realize that Zhongli was the Geo Archon.

"Until we went into the Golden House. I thought I was going to be the one to get the Gnosis." He sounds serious, but also hurt, it seems as if he was tricked or outsmarted, "It took a moment to click that he had faked the death, and I didn't know you were even involved until he told me himself. So much talk about contracts and things."

"If only I knew your motives, I would have told you, but I was loyal to Zhongli at the time. He's very nice, but I don't think I could ever become what he wanted of me. So many expectations to be the best, I would feel trapped."

Y/N and Childe go out to do the debt collection work that happens in the Story Quest in the game, the part where you get to play as Childe and glide, as well as fight some treasure hoarders, and of course the sparring session with the new Fatuus. This time Lumine is off with Zhongli, leaving a certain character without supervision.