Rewind | Genshin Impact

Chapter 33

Hey! Firstly I wanted to say thank you again for all the nice messages I appreciate it and love you guys sm! Also sorry for updating slowly, hopefully things will change but I've been pretty busy. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

5th May 2020

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. His previous conversation with Scaramouche has been on his mind for the past week. What could the other mean by that? Why would he tell Venti this?

After those words slipped from Scaramouche's mouth, and before Venti could inquire any further, the others seemed to notice their distance and ushered them to hurry up. Xiao swung a protective arm around Venti's shoulder and guided him away from the others.

Venti didn't want to doubt Xiao, but everyday he was doubting him more and more. Perhaps Scaramouche was just trying to put thoughts in his head, to catch him off guard. Venti wouldn't put that past him. Why would Scaramouche even want to help him in the first place? What could he possibly gain?

However, despite this, Venti couldn't help the twisting in his gut whenever he thought about trusting Xiao, confiding in Xiao. He felt sick.

Was he really all alone in this?

These thoughts were clouding his head as he entered the all too familiar court room, as he avoided Xiao's eye and sat in the seat furthest away from him, as he fixed up his suit and tried to block out the panicky chatter that surrounded him. 

The whole ordeal was pretty similar to as it had been in the previous time loop, however it was also worse. They showed pictures of the crime scene, and described each injury Kaeya had received, Venti didn't know whether he would ever be able to get the images out of his head. 

There was begging, pleading, people being requested to come and speak at the front as the jury gazed at them warily. 

Finally, after the long evening with various private conversations between the judge and many others, the judge came up the front, gaining everyone's attention.

"We've come to a decision." The blank faced man said, eyes raking over each and every suspect. "Albedo." He said, toneless. The gasps just doubled, however no one looked surprised. Venti even thought he caught a smile from Amber, however it only lasted a second before her expression morphed into something of horror, as she grabbed onto Albedo and tears ran out of her eyes.

"N-no it couldn't be!" She protested, as guards came down and grabbed the stunned blonde.

"We have made our decision." The judge replied curtly, Albedo barely made a move of protest as he let himself be dragged away, looking so empty.

If this was a task as simple as poisoning, or perhaps strangulation, then maybe Venti would have believed this claim. However, the way Kaeya was murdered was something he could never see anyone capable of, least of all Albedo.

But yet again, did he really know anyone here?

He watched as Albedo was dragged out of his view, and as they were all dismissed from the court room. Venti wasted no time in sliding out, not willing to speak to anyone. Well, not until he heard his name.

"Venti." He turned around just as Xiao grabbed his wrist and pulled him to the side, out of anyone else's earshot.

"Uh- hey Xiao." Venti replied hesitantly, a strained smile making its ways onto his lips as the words Scaramouche said continued to echo in his head.

"You're going back now, right?" He asked, however the way he said it was more as a statement than a question.

"Yeah - uh - I hope so, wait..." Venti stared at him, his eyes widening. Suddenly, Xiao took a step back as if he realised he did something wrong, in turn his eyes widened too until his face quickly returned to a neutral expression. "H-how did you know that? I don't remember telling you." 

Xiao coughed awkwardly, "Just guessed. Perhaps I should go."

Venti said nothing as he watched Xiao walk away. He felt as if the world was crashing onto him. He couldn't trust Xiao, he couldn't trust anyone.

He was all alone.

Suddenly, everything started fading to black, as the annoying ticking of the clock began again.

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Okay ik this is getting repetitive but we are getting somewhere soon, I promise XD