Eye Of The Storm || Diluc X Reader

Chapter 30: Distant Winds

Your recovery was slow, but those around you wanted to make sure that you would be able to fully recover. Everyone you knew around Mondstadt took turns visiting you each day, at least one person would come and see you daily. You got to see Mona and Amber a lot, but at times Albedo and Jean would visit when time would allow them to.

Though you were stuck on your bed, you could feel your strength slowly return. Your first time sitting up without pain was a huge success in your book, finally able to keep an engaging conversation with whoever came to visit you. Each day you would wait in the same place, hoping that one person would show up.

Alas, he never did.

Though you enjoyed each person who came to visit you and was always thankful to keep you company, your heart throbbed for not being able to see the one you kept your promise for. Was he busy? Could he not face you in this state? Why has no one mentioned him around you?

Though your mind was slightly foggy, your gut feelings were still as sharp as ever. You could tell everyone who walked into your room wanted to ask you about the war that was raging in Inazuma currently, but no one had the guts to ask. Part of you was glad to not have to think about it, you still haven't even fully processed the blood you've seen. Everyone's little visits daily kept your mind from wandering to those hurtful memories, and you were so glad they did.

When you slept however, you could never escape.

New and old memories circled around you in your dreams, causing you to wake in a cold sweat almost every night. The violent memories were too vivid for you to handle anymore, only lasting what felt like a few minuets until you ripped yourself out of your dream. On the brighter side, at least you were getting more sleep than what you got back in Inazuma.

This cycle repeated for about two weeks, having friends visit you in the day and being tormented by yourself at night. It was tiring, but far better than what you put up with in the suffocating air of Inazuma.

Around the three week mark, you finally were able to get out of bed with the help of Barbara to hold onto you. You didn't know how hard walking would be when still very much so injured, but Barbara stood by your side to guide you and to build your strength once more. Now going from bed ridden, you were taking a small walk every few hours with the help of Barbara to help with your strength. Besides, it was much better to get out and get fresh air than just laying in bed.

Even those who visited you offered to walk with you, each person with their own gentle grip around you. Jean's hands always hovered over your waist, Amber holding your hand, and Albedo hooking around your arm to name a few. Everyone had their own way to carefully walk with you, giving you a chance to restore all of your muscles.

Each walk you took made you stronger, building back up to your confident stride everyone was used to. Along your walks around the church you would see those praying to the anemo archon, sometimes Venti playing who knows what, and rarer times you would see Eula strolling around as well. No matter who it was, you always waved and smiled softly at them.

It was a very mundane type of living, peaceful yes, but it wasn't cut out for you.

You often found yourself wondering what it's like back out in the open, the types of fights you could pick with the Fatui, and new routes to go hunting. Your heart resided for something that was more bold to match your personality, you were itching daily to get back out there and feel the careless thrill of adrenaline through your veins. Not having to worry about wars or past mistakes, just getting into the heat of the moment that allowed you to be flashy and cocky.

You also longed to see Diluc once more, not hearing a single thing from him since your initial departure and promise. It always made your heart stir in a way that made you uneasy, everyone in Mondstadt has heard of your return so why hasn't he come and seen you? It was always behind your sweet smile was a whole ocean of unanswered questions and unavoidable worry. Often times you thought of it as the same ocean you saw when you were dead.

Well technically, you did die right?

You always tried to push the thought behind you, it was too distressing to think about with your current mental state.

Sooner than you knew it though, you were finally able to get up on your own and even start to run once more. Once the news reached Barbara, she decided to let you go. Not without a few words though.

"You're still not fully healed, so please come here at least daily so I can check up on you and heal you if needed," She spoke softly. "And please don't go out fighting yet!"

"I won't, I promise." You laughed lightly, getting a soft smile from Barbara.

It's the first time wearing your armor in a long time as well, your body felt quite sore and heavy from the weight of it. It was nothing that you couldn't put up with really, but you knew of your limits for now. You waved to Barbara as you left the church, pushing open the door to meet the cool breeze. Still even now, you weren't sure how long time had passed since initially parting ways from Mondstadt and no one told you no matter how much you begged.

Maybe now was the time to finally push a bit harder to get your answer.

You slowly descended your way down the stairs, watching your vision glimmer lightly in the sun. It filled you with some sort of dread that the god who gave you this vision wanted you dead for it, but also filled you with the balls to stand up to that very same god once more. To say your lucky was an understatement, if you were to tell anyone of your tale new authors would surely have new ideas to reflect off of when writing their new story.

Before you knew it, you unconsciously walked to the headquarters of the knights after almost running into one of the two guards that stood in front of the door. You walked around them and made your way inside, trying to be as quiet as you could. You knew Jean wouldn't tell you the answer, but you knew Lisa would be up front with you.

It had been some time since you last saw her, so you were at least taking out two birds with one stone. Carefully pushing the library door open, you looked to the right to see the witch reading a book. You walked up to her and waved slightly, which caught her attention. She almost yelled as she quickly got up to hug you.

"It's been too long cutie!" She squealed.

"It has been a long time." You chuckled softly. "But Lisa, I need to ask you a question. Or two questions I should say."

She let go of her deathly tight grip and looked at you with worry. "I have a feeling I might know what this is about."

"You do?" Raising your eyebrow in curiosity.

"No one has told you how much time has passed, right?" She sighed, leaving you stunned for a moment.

You shook your head no, watching Lisa's whole energy shift from excitement to sorrow. Was it that big of a gap since you left everyone?

"It's almost been about four months from when you left Mondstadt to when you returned on death's bed." She turned her back to you. "Many people were convinced that you didn't make it."

You froze, mouthing for words that your voice wasn't able to string together. Everyone had thought you had died in Inazuma? Was that why they were so hesitant to talk to you about your time there?

"What about-"

"Diluc hasn't been able to process anything, as far as everyone knows, he left about two months ago." She turned to you with a worried look in her eyes.

"He said he would wait for me..." You choked out, trying to hold back any of the overflowing emotions you felt.

Lisa quickly came to you aid, taking a hold of your hands in an attempt to comfort you. All of your sacrifices and pain, all the time you spent watching people fight for what they believed in, was it all in vain? All of the unprocessed emotions and memories came crashing upon you all at once, trying your hardest to keep your self upright as you started to break down in Lisa's arms.

"Did I make the wrong choice?" You spoke in a soft tone, hurt and having your silent tears rolling down your face.

All Lisa could do at this point was to hug you, as you sobbed into her shoulder as all the repressed emotions you felt during the war came out. In your time of fighting in Inazuma, you gave into your cold and merciless demonic nature. Now all you could feel was the broken soul of a human, unable to gather its broken shards once more.