Those Willing to Drown | Beiguang x GN! Reader

ARC III-ACT IV

Now nations aside, the frightening thing about Beidou was just how much you understood her. In better words; how much you forgave her. Having similar childhoods (in a sense where you had to squint your eyes to see it) you wanted to understand why she was the way she is. Both the good and the bad.

She had struck gold with her ship business, so there was no need for her to be so desperate in having someone join her crew - especially someone like you. One could only imagine that theres a long list of people wishing they could be part of the Crux, so what would be the need for her to go out of her way to get you fired?

There was no reason. Even if she did it out of the good of her heart, wanting to pay you more, telling you that reason straight up would have been a lot easier than going about it her way.

So what happened?

Zhongli continued to keep you company, even after you assured him that he didn't have to. He had lead you down to the harbour where you both walked together, enjoying the fresh air of a much calmer crowd and the sights of the busy city.

It was only until that same harbinger from yesterday showed up that you felt yourself begin to panic yet again.

"Well, well, well. I never imagined Zhongli hanging out with a criminal like this. I must say I'm rather disappointed." He chuckled lightly, as if trying to keep the tension thin - it was anything but.

"Childe." Zhongli nodded, allowing the male to approach you both. "It's quite a surprise seeing you here, I thought you said you had important business to attend to."

"I did, I'm all finished up for the day though. Well, I did have one last errand to run off to but..." his cold eyes snapped to you, running up and down your body before settling on your own hardened gaze - where did all that confidence come from? He chuckled. "Since you're here with them, it'll save me the trouble of having to run around looking all over Liyue."

Turning his body to you, Childe stood tall, rigid and straight. His right hand twitching over his hydro vision as if ready to fight back if you had any ulterior motives. "I spoke with Ningguang today - you know of her, right?"

"We're acquaintances." You furrowed your brows. "Why?"

He hummed, noting the fact you left out a small, insignificant detail worth a couple thousand mora. "As a Fatui Harbinger, it would have been my job to bring you back to Snezhnaya to trial you for your crimes."

You flinched at his tone. He sighed. "But since you're no longer a Snezhnaya citizen, I can't exactly do that. It's no longer in my direct power to do so."

"Does this mean you'll leave me alone? And what does this have to do with Ningguang?"

"Let me finish." He glared, shutting you up instantly. "The agreement that the Fatui have with the Liyue government was that as long as our organisation worked within their nation, we would promise to keep Liyue citizens safe if we deemed they were in danger."

"That being said, I believe you are in a situation you are not aware of."

Your eyes widened. Was he talking about Beidou? "What do you mean by that?"

Childe sighed, running a hand through his hair looking at something from the corner of his eye - it was only then you became aware again of Zhongli having been witness to this. "Perhaps it's better if we speak about this another time. I apologise Zhongli, this is something rather private, you understand right?"

The older man chuckled, nodding his head. "Of course. Perhaps you two can meet for tea on another preferable date."

"Maybe." Childe smiled shakily, turning back to you as the same cold look fell onto his features. "You might have a different view on the Fatui, perhaps that's why you did what you did, but we're still humans. Humans help humans, right?"

Wrong. "Right."

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"I'll be heading off now then, I've avoided my problems long enough and I don't want to confront them too late." You sighed, leaving Childe and Zhongli to tilt their heads at your words.

The harbinger understood, or at least he thinks he does, and he wished he could have stopped you and told you all that he knows - all that could help you. But he didn't. Perhaps speaking to you about it at a later date when you're well rested and calmer would be better.

"Very well." Zhongli hummed, nodding. "I hope we can meet again soon, it was quite nice getting to know you better."

"I'll hope so too." You smiled before turning to childe, eyes narrowing. "And we can meet up to discuss whatever you wanted to say later, I'm free tomorrow if you'd like."

He nodded, crossing his arms. "We can meet around noon. I have lots to say to you."

"But come alone. If I arrive and see any fatui I'll leave, got it?"

"You have my word."

After that, you left without another word, walking away and towards the ships at the dock. The sun was high in the sky, probably no later than late noon, which is why it shocked you at the sudden lighting change.

It happened one second to the other, clouds suddenly forming in the blue of the sky and a violent bolt of lightning striking somewhere far into the seas of Liyue. It was so loud and fierce, that the city people couldn't help but gasp - all turning to watch with wide eyes as a long blue body of what seemed to be a serpent emerged from the waters.

"It's Osial!" Someone shouted, deep into the crowd of onlookers.

Your brows furrowed in confusion, waiting for answers but receiving none as a wave of panic flushed onto the people and they all reacted by turning and running towards the high mountains - away from the increasingly violent waters.

With your feet frozen to the ground, you stopped breathing if only for a second, watching as the serpent body grew and grew and grew until its head seemed to graze the heavenly skies above. What could a mere human do in a situation like this? Against a supernatural being like that?

The waves grew more violent along with the speeding wind, blowing and howling and filling your body with dread, all until a bright flash of gold flew through the sky and hit the creature, momentarily confusing it.

Another flash of gold followed, and then another, and another. All following from one place - the Jade Chamber.

Was Ningguang the one fighting it? But was that even strong enough against a creature such as this?

Liyue harbour sat still with only decorations and belongings from stores flying about with the wind carrying them off - void of any life other than your own.

Ningguang's attacks weren't strong enough. The creature turned and opened its mouth, an orb of energy growing within its jaw but stopped mid way when another set of golden flashes hit it - from somewhere other than the Jade chamber. So Ningguang wasn't fighting it alone?

Three sets of fighters?

For a second, hope grew that Liyue would survive this, that it would overcome this, but that only lasted until 'Osial' threw its head skyward and screeched - a noise so loud your eardrums felt like they were about to burst.

You watched in horror, pure horror, as the seas below 'Osial' grew and grew until it was only that of a giant tsunami wave hurling itself towards Liyue harbour.

Instinctively, your eyes shut closed and your body stiffened - waiting for the worst.