Verisimilitude (GI Various x Reader)

Chapter Twenty-Eight (Viatrix Arc I: Continued)

        Lumine, Paimon and myself had found ourselves tucked away in the home that the Qixing had leant to us before during the time of the Rite of Descension and later the Rite of Parting. After a tiring day such as the one we had, it was no surprise that we'd all almost nearly pass out upon reaching our temporary home in the harbor. Lumine rested her head against my shoulder as she she'd fallen asleep while we were having a conversation. Paimon was also passed out, laying in my lap as the my fingers gently brushed through the little guide's hair.

I fought the urge to yawn as the quiet atmosphere lulled me into my dreams. Before I knew it, my head soon began to lean against Lumine's as I gave into the dreams that called my name. I wonder just what I'll see this time. It feels like it's been awhile since I've had a dream of the future. The last one I had left me unsettled. Surely this one will be different...

When I opened my eyes into the dream, I didn't expect to feel the blistering heat of the desert immediately. Sweat glistened upon my skin as I stood in a village looking out at the giant pyramids from a time lost to the sands of the desert. I glanced around, inspecting my surroundings. The desert village was settled in an oasis, water flowing to form a small lake that surrounded the bottom of the village from ancient-looking aqueducts of similar design to the pyramids out in the distance. The implanted knowledge in my mind told me that the village was known as Auru Village. The only known village in the desert that willingly accepts the outsiders that the Akademiya throws their way. A familiar voice speaks up from nearby.

"I thought I might just find you over here." I glanced over, spying someone I have only met once. It's been nearly a year since he'd taken Collei away to Sumeru. The General Mahamatra makes his way over to me.

"Cyno? I thought you were investigating with Lumine and Paimon?" I ask him. His golden-tanned skin glistens against the sun's rays as his crimson eyes peer back at me.

"I was. However, we reached a stalemate. I came searching for you while the Traveler and her guide went back to Candace and Dehya." He explains. I see, I frown at the information given to me.

"Well, as you can see, I haven't had much luck on my end either. How can all those scholars just go missing like this? It makes no sense whatsoever." I muttered. Cyno nods, agreeing with me.

"I agree. Whoever we're dealing with is cunning. The Traveler and I found traces of incense nearby. It appears as though the Village Keepers were lured away in the dead of night using the incense." I furrowed my brows. The same incense that caused Lumine to have adverse affects?

"Was she okay?" I ask suddenly. Cyno understands my question and nods.

"Yes. Though she seemed to show some discomfort while in the presence of the incense, she didn't seem to have any adverse affects at the time." I sighed in relief. That's good. It'd do us no good if Lumine were to pass out at this time.

"I'm going to continue searching for clues before returning back to the village chief's home to report our findings to the others. Do me a favor and find Alhaitham for me, would you? Maybe you'll have better luck in dealing with him compared to someone else." I nodded and Cyno promptly turned around and left as swiftly as he'd arrived. Once we'd begun the search efforts to find the missing Village Keepers of Auru Village, we'd split off into multiple groups. Lumine and Paimon went around with Cyno, Candace and Dehya were investigating their own matters and leads, and Alhaitham had promptly left without even mentioning where he was going to anyone. I sighed with a shake of my head. Perhaps Cyno didn't want to deal with Alhaitham's standoffish behavior and so he passed on the task to me. Or perhaps there was something else that he wanted to check up on. I guess I'll either find out or never know later when we all meet back up.