Hu Tao x Reader - An Archons History

The Dragon's Items (1)

(This chapter will be the Traveller's, Paimon's and Kassim's experience of getting the items for the ceremony.)

The Travellers POV:

Us three started heading towards the left side of the volcano, waving goodbye to the other three who left to go to the town to start training Y/N there. We aren't too sure what we're going to experience over here, all we know is that there is a puzzle of some sort and a giant fog covering the place. Before we left, Murata had told Kassim to grab 'masks' which by the looks of it are gas masks. I wonder how deadly this fog is. We were approaching the edge of the fog, as I could tell from Kassim yelling at us to put the masks on. As we approached the centre of the fog cloud, I could notice a few things: the uneven densities of fog; a Statue of the Seven; some hilichurl camps in the distance; a feeling of lively activity. I'm no genius when it comes to volcanoes or deadly gases that I've never explored, but I don't think a place which is known for being so deadly would have such liveliness in it.

Traveller:"Kassim, you said this place is abandoned right?"

Kassim:"Should be. My army usually scouts this place all day, fully geared because of the gas of course, never sees anyone or anything enter. Once, Big Joe decided not to wear his protective gear, hah, it wasn't a pretty view..."

Traveller:"Just guarding at day? How about nights?"

Kassim:"What do you mean 'how about nights'? We need to sleep you know."

Paimon:"That must be how the hilichurls get in here. How do they avoid the gas though?"

Traveller:"Their masks?"

Paimon:"No chance."

I stopped to think for a minute. A hilichurls mask isn't strong enough to let the gas out, and by the sounds of it they come here at night. Hilichurls are Khaenri'ahns that we're changed by the abyss, so their internal systems should be similar to ours, and this place is only guarded at daytime. I looked up, the moon was right above us. I stopped walking and held on to the mask. If this goes wrong, then someone help me. I pulled my mask off and quickly breathed in.

Paimon:"Traveller! What are you doing!"

Kassim:"Damn, dude really has a death wish.."

I slowly started breathing. I was fine.

Traveller:"I'm fine."

Kassim and Paimon slowly took off their masks.

Kassim:"W-What?"

Paimon:"Wait, this gas?"

Traveller:"Can't confirm anything but it only seems to be deadly during daytime."

Kassim:"How does that work?"

Traveller:"Not sure. It also means that your army leaving their posts at night is the reason why activity has been suspicious."

Kassim:"Once again, we need to sleep, you know."

Paimon:"Night shifts?"

Kassim looked at her in confusion.

We started heading further into the fog, concentrating on our breathing. Looking around, there were a lot of hilichurl camps, a few rifthounds, countless spectres on the volcanoes edge, and a few sightings of treasure hoarders scattered around the place. A while later, we ran into our first Fatui Agent. As per usual, we fought it out and with the help of Kassim's Sword skills and his ability to use his Pyro Vision, we were able to defeat them and I climbed up a cliff face until I reached the first Statue of the Seven in Natlan. I touched it and felt my heart blazing. The coloured spots of my outfit glowed a bright red.