Under The Oak Tree

Alatus Chapter X: Oceans of Crystallised Tears

"________, go to Morax and Guizhong. Continue helping them with fighting for a week and don't return. I'll bring my people to a safe domain."

There was something about that sentence that made me worry. Maybe it was the serious tone in her voice or the entire sentence itself. 'Don't return'? Why can't I be there with the one I'm supposed to protect? It doesn't make sense.

Nevertheless, the contract states that I have to protect her but I also have to obey her commands. Reluctantly, I assure her that I'll be there when she calls and I leave to fulfill the order.

A couple of days later.

"Xiao, have you seen _____? I saw her sneak off to Sal Terrae yesterday- oh! Don't tell her I said that, anyways I haven't seen her since. Is she hiding from us again??"

I turn my head to see flame-like hair and a girl with a personality of the sun. Bright and way too energetic.

"No, I haven't. She'll probably be here in a few minutes, she's always lounging around afterall." I reply calmly, secretly a bit worried for _____.

If she doesn't show up soon, I'll go look for her in Sal Terrae myself. _______ isn't somebody to be tardy, I can imagine her breathlessly telling me all about her day after she sprints all the way here.

1 minute passes.

It would be funny if ______ ended up tripping over a branch or a rock and came here with dirt all over. Although, that wouldn't even be the first time.

20 minutes pass.

I smile to myself, thinking about what things I could tell the girl all about. Maybe she'd like to listen to me talk instead of her carrying the conversation.

3 hours pass.

It's evening and I can see the sky turning a light pink and the sun lowering. I can't deny that this entire time I was waiting, I was a bit worried for her. Now that she's been multiple hours too late, I was definitely panicking.

"Xiao calm down. It'll be fine, she's going to be fine." I tell myself.

I take a deep breath before finally composing myself.

Everything is going to be okay.

Once I'm fully collected, I make my way to Sal Terrae. I pass by broken down houses, wilted flower fields and cracked dirt paths. All of Liyue looks the same but is so different. It's full of the same places I'm familiar with but the air is filled with worry and despair.

While sighing, I take another good look at my surroundings. I'm at Sal Terrae, the place where the followers of Goddess Havria should be residing. Except nothing is there. I feel my eyes widen as I frantically look around to see if there was any trace of a ____ haired Adeptus.

Soon, I come across a domain. It looked clean, as if it was somebody's house. Gripping my polearm tightly, I enter the domain. Like the exterior, it's neat inside and I see furniture and food. Just as I speculated, the people of Havria were probably living here for a bit. I didn't see any signs of people around so they might have moved places to live or they were further in the domain.

I continue into the domain for what seemed to be 5 minutes and then I find somebody.

"...hello. Have you see an Adeptus with ____ ha-"

My heart shatters into pieces.

The girl turns around with red eyes and tears racing down her cheeks.

"Xiao-..." she closes her eyes and takes short breaths, gasping for air.

I run to her and hold her tightly.

"______, what's wrong? You know that I'll always be here for you. Take deep breaths, speak slowly." I try to reassure her and I feel my chest tighten.

She tried to explain what happened in the domain but no words could come out, instead she broke down in tears and sobs. I could tell that it was hard to breathe for her, whatever happened must have been terrible. I held her head on my shoulder, continuing to reassure and comfort her.

Not being able to control herself, she falls to the ground in my arms as her grief pours in.

"It's Havria... she's-" The female Adeptus slams her fist into the ground in frustration.

I feel my throat closing up, understanding what she was trying to say. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry _____. If I was with you- If I worried about you more, I could've prevented this.

"_____, I'm so sorry."

There isn't an answer but I hug her tighter while she cries out.