Contracts & Conspicuous Characters || Genshin Impact

II: Escapists

Paimon turns to look around the crime scene and the masses that are now being investigated by the Millelith, "The Millelith is nabbing on suspects who got too close. Paimon's freaking out. The killer is amongst us!"

Your eyebrows furrow, "Are we suspects? We did... get close, though."

Paimon hides behind your head, shivering, "We have to get out of here and find the suspect!"

Aether deadpans, "But how do we leave? The Millelith are everywhere!"

The fairy contemplates on the question. You shrug, answering on her behalf, "Simple. We sneak out."

-

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

You and Aether turn over to Paimon to shush her. Checking the corner to see if any sentries heard you, you sigh in relief as they continue their inspection. Once you reach the outside of the Terrace and tiptoe your way to the stairs, Aether accidentally steps on cracked glass, alerting the nearby Millelith.

Paimon shrieks, "Yikes!"

You pull Aether's hand and run down the stairs as the Millelith call for reinforcements. Unfortunately for you, your group is quickly swarmed by the patrol, "There's nowhere to run!"

Grunting, you summon your weapon as Aether summons his sword. Waiting for the blond's signal, you take up a defensive stance until you hear a voice from behind, "You two, hold still."

Three shots of water suddenly appear from behind, knocking the sentries' polearms. You see the ginger leap and land in front of you and you notice his peculiar weapon. The bow detaches, turning into their own set of daggers heavily infused with hydro. He dashes to the Millelith and disarms each of them of their weapons, then applies a powerful force and knocks them all out in one fell swoop.

He dematerializes his weapon as other sentries rush over to the scene. He turns to look at you and Aether, "Come with me."

You peek at the blond for his opinion. He merely shrugs, and your group decides to catch up to him.

-

"Phew, Paimon's exhausted!"

You scoff at her, "Just what muscles does magical floating use, exactly?"

"So insensitive! You have no idea just how tiring floating arou— Wait!" She looks away from you and stares at the ginger, "Just who are you, exactly?"

The man smiles kindly, "Call me Childe."

Paimon huffs and places her hands on her hips sassily, "Child? What, so we're supposed to dote on you?"

Childe chuckles, "No no, not at all. It's an alias of sorts." He shifts his gaze from Paimon to you and Aether, "In Mondstadt, I don't suppose you came across a 'Signora' by any chance?"

Your face turns into a look of shock as Aether backs up from beside you, his once good-natured visage turning into a scowl. Paimon, however, takes a much longer time to realize, "Signora... Childé..."

A sharp gasp escapes from the fae's mouth, "You're Fatui! One of The Harbingers!"

"Don't worry, I'm not looking for a fight," The Harbinger laughs meekly—something of which he does often, you notice, "Judging from your expressions, Signora gave you quite a bad impression, huh? Can't say I'm a fan either. Unlike Signora, I'm here to help you."

Aether scrunches his nose, subconsciously putting his arm in front to protect you, "We don't need help from the Fatui."

"Wait, let me explain," The Harbinger raises his hands up, demanding truce, "I heard of your deeds in Mondstadt, so I couldn't help but notice you during proceedings back there. And because I had my eye on you the whole time, I know it wasn't you. Someone else was clearly behind it."

You nudge at Aether, "Look, we have a fan."

Childe takes note of Aether's arm in front of you as he proceeds, "But regrettably, given I'm a Fatui envoy from Snezhnaya, there's no way I'd be trusted after something of this magnitude. The ruling Qixing of Liyue has always been overly suspicious of us."

"Well, can you honestly blame them?" You deadpan. Paimon snickers.

"Well, you're not wrong about that. Are you two... in a relationship?"

You stiffen and from your peripheral, Aether's face grows to rival that of a tomato, though he says nothing to counter the question, "N-no... we're just... travelling companions..." You managed to choke out.

"Well, if you want to clear yourselves of any suspicion, meet me at the Northland Bank once you three are ready. It shouldn't be too far from here, and it's not an option to remain here. As the old Liyue saying goes, 'The walls have ears'."

Thank the archons for the sudden change in subject.

The mysterious man walks off and up the stairs and you release your breath that you don't realize you've been holding. Unbeknownst to you, Aether stares at the ground with a look of dejection from your reply earlier.