The Truth of the Lochfolk (Genshin Fanfic)

Chapter 5 - Danger

I laid a picnic blanket over the soft grass, crunching as I sat on it. The rushing river was loud, water crashing into each other, "I wonder what's making the river like this today?" Cherlye was by the lake, running around trying her best to capture some Crystalflies. Unfortunately, her pyro vision instantly burned them in sight, a poof of sparkles exploded as the Crystalfly vanished.

"Oh, come onn! Zepherlyn, this is the 34th Crystalfly I've burned. These things are so hard to catch!"

I chuckled, then stood up. I saw a nearby flustered Crystalfly trying to escape, stuck in a tree. I ran and jumped, not allowing the Crystalfly to escape at all costs. It flattered its wings, desperate to untangle itself out of the leaves. I swooped it up but clamped it up carefully. Its pristine wings felt fragile, as if it would break with the slightest collision. I immediately turned around, excited to show the Crystalfly I just caught. However, I saw Cheryle tiptoeing on a large rock next to the deep lake, which was connected to the river. Her arms branched out, trying to reach for an escaping Crystalfly.

I chuckled, Cheryle's limited knowledge about Crystalflies was too funny not to laugh. To surprise her, a Crystalfly caught by me would be a great present, especially since how beautiful they were. 'It won't be too hard' I thought 'This place is practically littered with them.' I looked around and locked onto my prey. A nearby Crystalfly was stuck, fluttering its wings in its best attempt to escape the tangled branches. I swooped it with ease, careful not to accidently kill it like Cheryle was doing. Its pristine wings felt fragile, as if it would break with the slightest collision. I turned around in excitement, ready to brag to Cheryle about my newfound caught Crystalfly. However, I saw Cheryle tiptoeing on a large rock next to the deep lake, which was connected to the nearby river. Her arms branched out, trying to reach for an escaping Crystalfly.

"Wait, Cheryle!-"

However, it was too late. I heard a loud splash, a head reaching out desperate for air. The river was fast, and I could see Cheryle desperately waving her arms around, unable to swim. I ran as fast as I could, but every second Cheryle has sunk lower and lower into the lake. The constant motion of a human was getting weaker and weaker, 'I have to hurry.' I jumped in the river without a proper plan. I tried to swim towards her but struggled to reach Cheryle as the water rushed me back.

It was too late. Everything felt like a blur. Sounds of screaming and panicked splashing echoed in my eardrums. "What should I do?? Cheryle's in danger... And I'm doing absolutely nothing! I'm the worst friend ever..." I furiously shook my head in frustration, "This is no time to be focused on me. Cheryle's in danger and I need to save her." Without a second thought, I jumped in the rushing river. My arms stretched out, trying my best to reach Cheryle in time. But it was too much "The river is never this violent, what's going on?? At this point, I might drown too-!"

My muscles were getting weaker, strength giving out. I closed my eyes, ready to accept my fate. I then opened them in shock. "This was the same feeling as before... The same beady eye watching me from afar. No... It couldn't possibly be..." I shook myself out from the trance, remembering oxygen was escaping my body every second. "I promise you Cheryle, I will save you with the remaining strength I have and help us accomplish our dreams together-!"

From my chest, a light glowed with warmth. I looked down, hand on my chest, to see what was going on. The light grew dimmer, but a frosty delicate ornament appeared in place. Without thinking, I summoned my Black Tassel, hoping something would happen. I didn't have much time left. The water surrounding me expanded, large ice spikes quickly formed in place, impaling anything in sight. My eyes grew in shock, "That wasn't me... Was it?" I gasped; a breath of fresh air felt good. Really good. However, Cheryle was still nowhere to be found. "Please be alright!" I prayed. 

Desperately trying to find Cheryle's whereabouts, I saw steam arose from the south of the river, "Was that Cheryle?" I ran- no, more like hopelessly skidding across the slick ice. It didn't take long to get there, and thankfully Cheryle was there, melting the ice spikes intensely with her pyro infused sword. She then looked up with an aggressive stance, expecting a slime or a hilichurl to come attacking. Instead, she saw me. Her once aggressive exterior turned into an excited puppy.

"Zepherlyn! Thank God you're alright. I saw you jump in to save me, so I felt super guilty you might've been hurt because of my carelessness."

Cheryle looked down at her shoes, embarrassed. She then turned to me; face full of curiosity and questions.

"More importantly, WHERE THE HECK DID THIS ICE COME FROM?! I mean I'm grateful it appeared; it did save my life after all."

I was just as confused as Cheryle, "Where DID it come from anyways?" We both looked around, the once beautiful lake was now a frosty disaster. It didn't look like a vacation spot anymore, more like an execution by impalement. Cheryle looked down at my hand, curious at the newfound ornament I was holding.

"Wait... Don't tell me... You got a cyro vision?!?"

Cheryle's eyes gleamed with excitement; I rolled my eyes in disbelief.

"It couldn't be... right?" I didn't bother to check what it was, but a vision was out of the question. I never did anything to be deserving of one after all.

Cheryle then snatched it out my hands, carefully inspecting the 'vision.' I couldn't wait for her to finish, so instead I carefully observed the environment. If I ignored the dangerous impaling spikes, it was actually quite beautiful. A perfect photography environment, however I knew it wouldn't last long. Ice eventually melts after all. Although I have heard tales of Dragonspine in Mondstadt, a unique mountain covered in ice and snow that would never melt in that surrounding area. It heard it was so cold that without a proper heat source, you could freeze to death. The ecstatic tapping on my shoulder suddenly paused my thoughts, Cheryle impatient to tell me the newfound news.

"This is... A 100% certified Cheryle approved vision!"

My eyes widened in disbelief. "This is a prank, right? Right. Cheryle was always the type to prank others, especially me." Cheryle then shook her head in disappointment, as if she read my thoughts.

"I promise you this isn't a prank, but I'm curious... How'd you get it?"

Cheryle then kept blabbering on about my vision. She had so many questions I couldn't keep up. In annoyance, I looked towards the sky. Up there was a place where only the worthy could step foot on. Vision users who had a chance of ascending to that floating island. Celestia.