Gazes From The Abyss | Chilumi Fic

Chapter 5: Over the bricked ice

Author's note:

Omg hey guys it's been awhile, sorry for the sudden hiatus. To be honest, I got lazy and I was occupied by many things so I didn't had the time to update this story. In any case, I'm back and I'll be continuing this story of course. So, here's the fifth chapter. I hope you will all enjoy!

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"Hang out with me," he said.

Those three words left her engulfed in confusion. She found herself far away from those enigmatic ocean orbs that hid mysterious motives, yet the sincerity in his voice was evident. It bothered her, despite the chilling coldness of the never-ending winter failing to touch her. In a split second, she felt her pulse spike. It was a strange sensation she hadn't experienced before, neither in the past nor the present. They said it was inevitable—unstoppable, even dangerous. But she wasn't going to fall for it, was she? Humans often speak without thinking, so their words shouldn't be trusted. Her mind kept persuading her not to be deceived, reminding her of all the harm they had caused to their homeland. Yet, Lumine found herself in a situation where he was tugging at her heartstrings. What a fool she was.

Lumine blinked as his words finally registered in her mind. He had to be kidding, right? He was playing with her too much. Out of all the options, why him? Lumine couldn't comprehend her past decisions, wondering if it was her fault for getting involved with the harbinger. Nevertheless, she was already entangled in the game. She wouldn't back out this time.

"What would I benefit from it?" she asked, squinting her eyes. Even if there were potential benefits, what would be the risks? The harbinger was known for being manipulative, reveling in fights with those who were strong and legitimate. He deceived people, making them believe he wouldn't cause trouble, only to be the cause of everything in the end.

The eleventh harbinger touched his chin, contemplating. "Hm, let's see... crucial intel from our organization, the Tsaritsa's plans, Snezhnaya's deepest secrets, and more..." He was clearly bluffing. Of course, he wouldn't recklessly disobey his archon's orders. If he considered her an idiot, she was taking note—he wouldn't last a second if he continued to deceive her.

"What? I'm not kidding. I can genuinely provide you with that information if you agree to hang out with me. Besides, I always keep my word," he defended.

Lumine sighed, her thoughts wavering between going out with him or simply kicking him in the face and disappearing. She was inclined to choose the latter, but if he was telling the truth, it would be a significant missed opportunity. Her eyes scrutinized him. Aside from his personality, she noticed his dark, lightless eyes. A familiar feeling tugged at her mind, but she shook off the thought. She struggled to decide which path was safer, finding herself at a crossroad. But did she really need to go down that path? Why did it feel as though her life depended on it when it didn't?

"Make me," she challenged.

The ginger-haired man blinked in surprise.

"Make you what?"

"Make me believe you," Lumine asserted. She could handle it. Stepping forward, their faces were now mere inches apart. She noticed a dangerous flash in his eyes. Had she overstepped his personal space? Unbothered by it, she stared directly into the depths of his gaze and wore a cold smile. Childe's eyebrow twitched as she initiated the real game.

"If you think you're the only one who can win this by fooling me, then you're mistaken. You've just made the biggest mistake of your life, Tartaglia. You may be able to manipulate others, but not me. Consider this your warning. You offered a game, and I accepted it. If you plan on playing any tricks, rest assured, I'll have the last laugh," she said firmly, her tone unwavering. Her eyes bore into his soul, silently haunting him. He struggled to react, feeling overwhelmed by her intimidating aura, but he kept it hidden. This time, he gazed into her golden orbs, pondering the mystery behind them. He wanted to know more about her, to uncover the final pieces of her resolve.