The Truth of the Lochfolk (Genshin Fanfic)

Chapter 10 - The Oceanid

Little by little, I started hating trekking the mountains of Liyue. Fontaine was so much easier... I started to feel homesick but quickly shook off the feeling. Wuwang Hill was a mysterious place. Day or night, it always felt ghostly and dark. I've heard of ghosts roaming around Wuwang Hill from the locals, which is why no one goes there. I had a feeling those were but silly fairy tales, but I had to be careful, just to be sure. My hands were beginning to feel coarse and rough, many cuts appeared on my hand from the sharp edges of mountainous rocks.

I'm growing nearer to the Lochfolk, I know it. I could hear the sound of water crashing into each other, heavy rain pouring even though not a drop of rain fell from the sky earlier. What's this... A pathway? It was cramped, but I couldn't think of that as of now, as I had a bigger problem. What seemed to be a purple mage with a strange looking lamp ominously walked towards me. She seemed to possess the power of electro, however, didn't seem to possess a vision. She's part of the Fatui... I know it.

"Are you... Here to play with me?"

Play? She was toying with me...!

I swiftly summoned my White Tassel and imbued the power of Cyro within it. I lunged at her and took a quick strike to the head. She seemed to become stunned from my attack, but after I could make another move her body was surrounded with electro.

"Ahaha! Let me amuse myself a little..."

Suddenly, multiple electro cicins appeared before my eyes. They were small and weak but made up for it by being annoying and hard to hit. They weren't my main focus however, that cicin mage was. She was agile and fast, toying with me by teleporting before I striked. She may be quick, but I was quicker.

Frosty and battered, the cicin mage looked as if she couldn't stand up anymore, however her willpower was strong, fighting to keep on going.

"Oh! Now you've got me worked up!"

Worked up? This was only the beginning?

I had no time to think, the cicin mage started to float – every second she was gaining more and more power. How is she doing this..?! I jumped back, wary of her newfound power. As I thought I was far enough away from her, a zip of lightning reached me, dealing constant damage. I quickly looked back to check if she was vunerable... Quite the opposite. Around her was an electro shield, zips of lightning surrounding her as a protective barrier. She must've used all her energy to conduct such a power move... As I ran far enough, I checked back to see her condition. She was slowly lowering on the ground, shield dissipating. This is my time to strike! I quickly got my polearm out and struck her. Infusing my polearm with cryo felt too cruel. She fell dead, disappearing into gold sparkles. I feel bad... At least I got her out of her misery. She was an admirable foe.

This fight was a wake-up call. I was barely able to hold up against a cicin mage, how was I going to defeat a Lochfolk by myself?? I started to worry, having Shenhe decline my request was troublesome. As I appeared around the corner of what seemed to be the exit, a giant arena awaited me. It was pouring like never before. I could sense a large, hydro creature's presence, waiting for her next victim.

I nervously approached the arena, awaiting what either could've been a lucky victory or horrible death. In the far left corner was a small ripple, it glowed a fascinating bright blue hue. I walked towards it as if I were in a trance, unable to stop myself. On closer inspection, there was a small inscription engraved on the platform. It read 'Challenge the Oceanid?' Oceanid? I guess they've really been attached to that name. Perhaps I should start calling them that as well. I stuck my hand in the ripple, hoping that meant I accepted its challenge. Suddenly, a large beast emerged from the lake. Its body glowed a bright blue hue, possessed a mermaid tail and had only one eye. It was an Oceanid.