𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 || 𝐾𝑎𝑧ℎ𝑎 𝑥 𝐹𝑒𝑚！𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 || (discontinued)

13

We were now on our boat to Liyue, which was pretty similar to the trip with Zhongli. Though, we had Beidou and Kazuha. Thoma couldn't come because of his job though. Instead of sleeping again, I watched the whole trip. The storm was scary and I don't remember waking up in my sleep from it last time. But, now we were here. We're in Liyue, which I had never been to aside from Zhongli. We arrived at night time when lights were turned on, restaurants were busy, and lots of bustling people. We get off the boat and Beidou looks at us. "There's a reason why we needed to come here. I have orders from Ningguang." She tells us. I nod my head. "What types of orders?" I ask.
"Something about some pirate bandits.. so she called one of the pirates she knew. But I don't know why she asked me al the way in Inazuma." She shrugs. "But I'm getting some mora and better connections with people in exchange for it, so I guess it's worth it."
I walk off the boat and step onto the docks where lots of others boat are stopped at.
I begin to walk away, following wherever my feet took me, although I did hear footsteps behind me, I just assumed it was Kazuha. I reached the same 'Wanmin' restaurant from before. I reached into the backpack that I had on my shoulders and took out my mora pouch. "Hello! Welcome to Wanmin restaurant my name is Chef Mao, how may I help you?" He asks me. "Oh, I'll just have a chicken mushroom skewer." I tell him. "Alright! That will me —- mora!" I place the mora on his hand and look behind me as I wait, and I look for Kazuha.
I look closely around but i didn't see anyone. Not Kazuha, not Beidou, and not anyone else I knew. Though some kids and their mom were passing by, but I doubt that they were following me. "Here's your food! Thank you for ordering here!" He waves me bye and I quickly grab m food, taking out my catalyst though I couldn't use it very well. I walk back to the area the boat was in but I didn't see Kazuha and Beidou there anymore. I start to worry as I look around and try to look for them but I still couldn't find them. I thought about where they could be and all I could think about was Ningguang, but I doubt they'll let me see her and Beidou. But, a thought pops into my head. What if I go to Wanshu inn? I heard Zhongli mention that name when he was telling me the info before o left. I started to walk through town when I realized I had no idea where it was. I saw a boy with blue hair and a book so I decided to ask where the inn was. "Hello, sorry I'm new here. Do you know where the Wanshu inn is?" I ask him. "Oh, yes I do. You just follow the trail all the way there. When there's two split paths makes sure to go left." He points to a path leading out of town. "Thank you!" I begin to walk away and to the inn, passing hillychurls, boars, and even some travelers. But after I had accidentally disturbed a hillychurl camp I had to fight again. I got my catalyst out again and shoot my fire butterfly shots, which didn't hit my face this time. I was getting better at aiming and using my power. I quickly killed the hillychurls, but I was already out of breath. I still had a mitachurl that was charging towards me so I barely dodged out the way and fired at his back. It didn't kill him but it did somehow get its shield on fire. He patted the fire out before charging at me once again. I run out of his way and towards a tree before firing at him again, but this time I accidentally burnt my other forearm. I wince know pain as I watch the mitachurl in the background disappear. I take deep breaths to get more in in me, practically gasping for air.
After I regain my breath I lean against a tree and put my catalyst away. I feel the burn on my arm getting worse and I glance at it seeing my burnt flee. I hold in the tears forming in my eyes. I quickly grab my backpack and get some bandages, not knowing what to do in this situation. I look around and see a puddle of water so I walk to it and dip my hand in. The pain is almost gone when I dip it in, but I know I won't be able to stay here forever. I dip my hand out and use the bandages I got out of my bag to wrap up my arm. After I finished wrapping it up I placed all the items in my backpack.
I continued walking down the path and made sure to not wake up the other hillychurl camps until I was met with the Wanshu inn. I looked at all the stairs and how tall it was. I climbed to the top of the stairs and up rhe elevator until I reached the top. I went to the person running the inn named 'Verr Goldet.' "Hello, welcome to the Wanshu inn!" She smiled. "Hello, has a person named Kazuha here? He's my friend and I can't find him." I tell her. "Sorry but unfortunately not." She shakes her head. "Oh, ok then. I'll have one room then." She nods and tells me how much it is for a night and I pay. "The room is the 12th. Make sure to turn the keys right aswell." She reminds me as I walk down the hallway to my room. I reach the 12th door and put the keys through the hole before twisting it right. I walk in and sigh before taking a quick shower before placing my bag next to me bed and laying down. Not going to lie, the bed did feel empty without someone sleeping next to me. I get comfortable in my bed before I hear a creek in the roof of my room. I hear it happen two or three more times until I begin to get nervous.
I sit up and grab my catalyst again before going out of my room and climbing up to the room. I get to the roof and I see a guy standing up above my room, watching the ground below him. I walk up to him and he seems to notice my presence wry quickly, because he swiftly looks up at me. "Y/n? What is someone like you doing in Liyue. You're supposed to be in Inazuma." He asks me. "Who are you..?" I ask him. "Oh, forgot about that. I'm Xiao, or better know as the conqueror of demons. Zhongli and I have known each other for a while." He tells me. "Ok.. I trust you. I'm here because of Kazuha and Beidou who are gonna help Ningguang. I lost them though and all I could think was to come here." I explain. "That's very dumb of you." He shakes his head. "You even managed to hurt yourself while coming here." He points to the burn on my arm. "Oh.. yes. But I didn't know where they were! I also have no idea where Zhongli is, plus the weird noises of people following me. I didn't know where else to go." I yawn and rub my eyes. "I'm going to sleep, I'll talk to you in the morning." I turn around and go down the steps. "You can find Zhongli at the funeral Parlor." Xiao speaks up. I turn around and give him a small smile. "Thank you." I tell him. I walk to my room and lock the door behind me, making sure nobody follows me in. I go back to the bed and lay down before closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep, hoping that tomorrow is a better day.