You were well known in Liyue. You're one of the "golden girls" of Liyue Harbor. Always striving for perfection, eager to help everybody, with a deep admiration for your homeland. As nice as that all can be, you desired something more. Different. You loved Liyue and helping people, truly, but you felt as though your life lacked excitement.
That's how you found yourself wandering through Lingju Pass, hoping to find at least something interesting. You admired the scenery, picking flowers occasionally, braiding them into a little crown to wear. You stared at your feet mindlessly as you walked, until you bumped into a person.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" You bowed and apologized.
Upon hearing silence, you stood straight again and looked up.
The fatui.
Different members of the fatui stared at you sinisterly, and your eyes widened.
"I didn't mean any harm, I was just taking a stroll," You rambled, stepping back as they step forward.
"Boss said to take out anybody who interferes with our plans here," One of them snickered to another, pulling out a gun.
"No, please! I wasn't interfering, I was just walking! I'm so sorry! Please!" You begged, tears welling in your eyes.
One of the taller ones grabbed a fistful on your hair and shoved you to the ground. You cried out, looking up at the group around you.
"Please, please, I don't want to die," You sobbed, voice cracking.
The fatui agent with the gun pointed the barrel right at you.
"Hey, boys! How's everything coming along?" A cheery voice boomed in the distance.
"It was going good boss, until this bitch showed up. We're taking care of it now," One of them replied, kicking you in the ribs.
You cried out again, "Please! I was just passing through!"
Suddenly, the gun pointed at you was tossed aside and the agent pinned to the ground, dual hydro blades to his throat.
"Tell me, do you think killing an innocent bystander, of such known status as well, would keep our plans secret?" The ginger haired man asked the agent.
"But she's a witness, sir-" The man began, and the blades against his throat dug deeper into his skin.
"Witness or not, you are supposed to know the noteable people of Liyue. Nobody would notice if it were a random civilian. Don't you think there would be severe backlash towards the fatui and our plans had you killed the niece of Lady Ningguang?" The weapon-wielding man hissed.
At that, every agent stepped away. The ginger stood and dusted himself off before offering you his hand.
"Please don't kill me," You begged, tears still falling.
"Of course not, my dear princess," He offered you a smile and you took his hand with your shaking one.
He helped you up and helped dust you off.
"Get back to work, and next time you make a mistake, it will cost your life," The boss seethed, then put his hand on the small of your back to usher you along the path you came from.
The two of you walked in silence before he directed you into a little house along the way.
"This is my temporary house, please, make yourself at home. I'll prepare some tea," He motioned to his couch before walking into the kitchen.
You sat uncomfortably and awkwardly on the couch, your mind racing. This man is dangerous, and the agents referred to him as boss. He's likely a harbinger. He knows you. Or, of you at least. You cursed internally for not owning a vision. If you had one, maybe you could have handled the agents without being indebted to a fucking fatui harbinger. You knew you couldn't tell a soul about any of this.
