We'll meet again

○Chapter 7: Kid with the strange hat○

Its been 7 months ever since your training started. It was very strict and harsh from the beginning.
Every month your mentors changed, each one more skillful as months passed by.

The vision hunt decree also got established. To your dismay, Kazuha couldn't come home due to the decree. Now you had to wait another few months for his return.

In midst of all this, you progressed a lot more on your investigation.
Rather, your investigation complemented the training. You've been around beating up fatui camps at every nook and corner of inazuma, trying to get information about the Balladeer.
Some would spill and some would piss their pants in fear of that name.

"Lord Scaramouche got stationed in inazuma for a very important mission"

"What mission?"

"We only do as we're ordered, we don't get much information regarding important missions."

This bitch of a balladeer is always on the move. Geez just stay still and make it easier for me.
If I go around inazuma attacking fatui camps, I'll be sure to find the Balladeer somewhere.

Yes. This was your half-assed plan. It's gonna help you train and get used to fatui attacks and if you by chance find the Harbinger, thats that. You kill him then and there. The fatui been real weak, defeating them in seconds like steppimg on ants, how strong can be their measly boss be?
Yeah you definitely underestimated.

"I'll see you later Ayaka! Its time for my training!"
You hurriedly tried to leave the Kamisato Estate before ayato catches you, if not you'll be in big trouble. Even skipping or being late to your training gets you in trouble and you recieve punishment.
On top of that, you've skipping training lately, feeling confident about being strong and instead investigating. Ayato was definitely angry about it. If you managed to escape Ayato then you're good to go. Just wait for his anger to calm down.

Yeah no. Nevermind it. You're in big trouble.
Ayato stood at the gate, his arms crossed.
"You done?"

Fuck. He did not look amused at all.

"Im sorry, Ayato, it's just- I've been real busy, you see-"

"You've been such a good girl, maybe its finally time, should i train you myself?" He said with an evil smile.
"We're gonna have lots of fun."
He put on the fakest tone possible.

"Im really sorry, it won't happen again, sir." You said standing in a prim and proper apologetic pose.

"Your new trainer is waiting. Last warning, you better be there for training today" he scolded.

"Yes sire!" You exclaimed running off as fast as possible.
Yeah, you definitely head to the wrong direction.

Attacking fatui camps was your new hobby, and that's exactly what you were going to do.
You decided to head towards Tatarasuna. You haven't been there much, your luck may be in favour today.

Mr. Balladeer just show up and let me fucking kill you.

You thought, as you spotted a camp near Mikage Furnace. It was the biggest camp you came across.

Heh, I'm up for a challenge.

You thought thinking up a battle strategy immediately before heading towards the camp.
You hid behind a pile of broken carts and wooden boxes, observing the movements and numbers of the fatui.

2 cryogunners, 3 geochanters and 2 pyroslingers, huh?

One thing you noticed is that they seemed to be protective around a particular tent. Their defense was also high.
You were certain that they were protecting something important.
You had a exciting feeling in your stomach.

"I hope its some useful fatui information, It'll be a great deal of money and knowledge if i can get my hands on this."

Alright!

You were confident.
"These numbers should be nothing for me."

You charged straight towards them, not even a sound of your footsteps to be heard, with fluent speed, you charged at the middle of the camp, without any breaks or hesitation, you let your elemental energy out.
With a surge of anemo, attacking the two cryogunners and making them unconscious in a oneshot. The fight continued on for a few minutes, but getting bored with the same weak enemies, you rendered the rest unconscious with a single surge of anemo.

'Phew'
You chuckled, moving inside the tent they seemed to be guarding so much.

Nothing was there except a mattress, a pile of clothes and a small table with a few papers and a pen.
You examined the papers, contracts and debt records were written. The ink of few papers were still wet.

He was here not long ago.

You noticed an opened envelope, out of your curiosity, you opened it.
"Obtain the electro archon's gnosis."

Gnosis? The word gnosis definitely rang a bell. You were sure you read about it in a book Lady Yae had lent you.

You rummaged through the papers to find the envelope.
"Balladeer", was the name written on the envelope under recepient.
You assumed that the important mission was to obtain the electro archon's gnosis.

Bingo.

Not only did you know what the secret mission was, you now have information to blackmail the Balladeer with.
'Ahh, what an accomplishment!'
You thought sitting by on the mattress, streching out your arms. You decided to lay on the mattress for a rest, until you heard faint footsteps approaching.

Someone was outside the camp. From the shadow, it seemed to be a fatui. Unable to make out if it was a gunner or a pyroslinger, you walked out the tent to face the enemy head-on, thinking it was small fry.

In front of you, a couple of yards away, stood a young man. Despite the distance, you could make out a slender but sturdy frame under his fluid inazuman garments.

He was not very tall but definitely taller than you, with long legs .

Although you couldn't make out his features very clearly, you could tell that he had a rather pretty face, with a well defined shape and soft lines, his indigo eyes lined with red eyeliner.

As he walks towards you, his navy blue hair bounced gently, partially covering his forehead and ears.

What a wierdass.

"Hey you! Kid with the strange hat! Spill where your little Harbinger is and maybe I'll let you go"
You said, his funny features making you crack up.

"I've been wondering why my subordinates have been decreasing lately, so it's you huh, 'y/n'."

"Just tell me where your Harbinger is before I beat your ass- Wait..did you just say my name?."

The man smirked, maybe even laughed a bit

"Nice to meet you again, y/n. I am Scaramouche, no. 6 of the fatui Harbingers."

"...huh?"