Hyperbloom

Unwell feeling

"THE HOLY LYRE!" I heard a knight scream.
It was night, about 11 o'clock.
I was only here to get some papers I needed to finish until tomorrow.

I quickly ran down the stairs into the basement of the cathedral.
"What happened?" I asked, already knowing what happened - common sense and all.

"T-t-the holy lyre der Himmel is gone!"
The frightend knight answered me.

"Did you see anyone?" I grabbed him by the shoulders.
This was a serious situation after all.
He shook his head, all the other knights didn't seem to have a clue either.

I left the cathedral and searched for any information, like who it was and where that person went.
Why would anyone steal the holy lyre anyway?
They wouldn't even be able to sell it!

Sadly, as expected, I didn't find anything.
The next morning, I quickly went to grand master Jean.
Letting all the other sisters know didn't seem right and only cause a fuss.

"Thank you for letting me know. Sadly I can't do much at the moment, there is plenty of other stuff to do." She looked out of the window in her office.

"I'm gonna give you the responsibility. You can take some knights with you, only if you want of course. I know you like working alone. Please don't underestimate this situation though. Take care."

With that, she sat back down to do her piles and piles of paperwork.
I left the office and walked home to grab some stuff for my little journey.
Some provision, my sword etc.

Did I have a plan where to go? No, absolutely not.
Guess I'm gonna rely on my luck again, like I do most of the time.
I walked out of Monstadt toward Springvale, defeating some Hilichurls on my way.

After much of asking around, I finally got a decent answer.
"Last night I saw a strange light right there by the lake" a citizen told me.

"I don't know what it was! It scared the shit out of my I'm not lying. I thought I was about to die and even started praying to Lord Barbatos!"
I thanked him and went on to investigate.

Everything looked normal here.
While investigating and picking some flowers I noticed something - this looked like an entrance! Right beneath this cliff!

I drew my sword and cautiously went in.
Lord Barbatos I knew it! Well, no I didn't but it seemed reasonably - it was a hideout of the Fatui.
"Where's the holy lyre!" I pointed my sword at one of them.

Maybe I should've brought some knights with me after all.
"Hah! You really thought we'd tell you?" He ran into my direction, ready to attack, but I was quicker.
I defeated him but soon I was surrounded.

"What? Not so tough now huh?" One of the Fatui laughed as he came closer.
I closed my eyes in shame.
Jean warned me not to underestimate this, but I frankly did.

After like 20 second still nothing had happened so I opened my eyes and frightend stumbled back.
The man who was just about to get me had a dagger in his back and blankly stared at me with a slightly open mouth.

I looked around me.
All the people that were surrounding me just a few seconds ago - they're dead.

"No need to thank me" I heard a voice behind me and quickly turned around.
It was a tall ginger man.

His mimic was so ... normal?
He looked like nothing had happened, even with all the blood on his face.

"You can call me Childe" he held his hand in my direction.
I still mustered him, not sure what to think of him.
I took his hand "Thank you Childe"

He giggled "I said there is no need to thank me"
I turned away from him walking towards the holy lyre  and quickly took it.
He was staring at me the whole time.

"May I know your name?"
"No" I left the hideout and walked as fast as I could.
This guy gave me the chills.
I know he saved me but something about him doesn't feel right.

Back in Mondstadt I put the holy lyre der Himmel back in its place and reported back to Jean.
This whole thing with Childe I kept a secret.

"That's amazing! Mondstadt thanks you. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, let me know" Jean smiled at me.
I nodded and left the headquarter and walked towards the cathedral.

"Uhm, Y/N?" Barbara came to me.
"Rosaria's missing the paperwork" she said shyly.
"Oh, I completely forgot! I'll bring them right away, thank you for reminding me" I walked home to get it.

Shit, where is it?
I know I left it on my desk!
"You looking for this?" I heard a similar voice.
"CHILDE?!" I shouted in surprise.

He smiled. "It's nice to be remembered"
He was sitting on my bed looking trough the papers.
"What are you doing here?!"
"I still haven't heard your name" He looked at me and came closer.

"Tell me and you get your papers back, these look really important" he looked at me with a serious face.
Wow he makes me feel unwell like no one else does!
"Y/N!" I looked at him angry.

"Y/N" he repeated.
"If you don't leave right now, I swear to Lord Barbatos, I'm gonna scream" I threatened him.
"Oh I'd like that" he said softly.

"One."
"You really wanna do that, huh"
He was openly amused.
"Two."
"Okay, you told me your name, so I'm gonna be fair and give you these papers back"
"And leave" I added.
"Of course"

I madly looked at him while he left trough the window.
I seriously didn't care how he left my house, as long as he left.

Before I could close the window he stopped me.
"Meet me at Windrise tonight, 9 pm?"
"Leave!" I slammed the windows, not caring about any fingers or whatsoever