DECATHECT | HSR x F!Reader

Prelude ~ Pact

The [h/c] girl knelt down as she clasped her calloused hands together in a prayer. Her knees were bloody as the pointed stones dug into her skin. "O' Merciful Medicus, I implore thy to aid my master who has fallen ill. He is the only one I have, so please, have mercy on my master."

A calming breeze blew by as the girl knelt in silence, her eyes still closed shut.

"My child, do not fret, as for your prayers have been heard." A soothing voice spoke.

The girl looked up with tears in her eyes. Her eyes could not believe what they were seeing. An ethereal figure draped in light yellow robes, a set of horns protruding from their head, and multiple arms caressing the tree branches behind them. "Merciful Medicus.....?"

Yaoshi smiled at the girl, "Yes, it is I. Tell me, you wish for a cure to your master's illness?"

She nodded, straightening her back. "Yes, Merciful Medicus! I wish for a cure so I can help my master recover from his illness."

Humming, the aeon stepped closer towards the girl, who was still kneeling. "You wish not for immortality, but instead for a cure?"

The girl looked up, [e/c] orbs meeting crimson ones. "Yes, I only wish for a cure."

Hearing her response, the aeon laughed. Not one of mocking, but that of surprise and slight amusement. Unlike those who came to them before, seeking immortality, this girl only wished to help someone else. Yaoshi reached out a hand and gently stroked her right cheek. "Your intentions are pure, little one. Your heart is untainted. And thus, I shall grant your wish. The Path of Abundance blesses you with its fruits."

Eyes widening, the girl felt a searing pain in her forehead. She could hear it, the words and whispers of countless others who had tread the Path of Abundance. All their knowledge, all their wisdom, was transferred to her in that instead. As the pain faded, a mark was left behind on her forehead. The mark glowed as the skin and flesh parted to reveal a third eye with a black sclera and red irises. In her hands now held a small bottle filled with green liquid.

"Use that bottle, and should you reach your master in time, he shall be saved." Yaoshi said as their form began to fade away.

Still in shock, the girl stuttered, rising from the ground. "Thank you for your blessing Merciful Medicus! I will never forget my debt!" She bowed before looking up, only to realize the aeon had long disappeared.

Stowing the precious bottle of liquid in her worn-out robes, she began to run as fast as she could back to her master's workshop.

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"Master!"

The door slammed open as she rushed inside the workshop, frantically searching for her teacher.

"Master!"

"Silence 笨孩子!" An old voice croaked.

"Master! Please take this medicine! It'll help you!" The girl reached into her robes and pulled out the bottle of medicine. "Merciful Medicus gave it to me!"

The old man's eyes widened as he snatched the bottle out of her hands, and smashed it against the table next to the bed. "[Y/N]! What did you do?!"

"I-"

"I SAID WHAT DID YOU DO?!" The old man yelled between deep breaths before gripping his apprentice's hand tightly.

"I-I asked Merciful Medicus to help you! A-and they gave me this medicine and told me that it would help you!" She stuttered, trembling in fear under her mentor's gaze.

"YOU STUPID BRAT!" The old man yelled again, causing [Y/N] to jolt. "I DON'T NEED ANY HELP! I DON'T NEED TO LIVE! I'VE LIVED LONG ENOUGH!"

"But I...."

Sensing her fear, the old man took a shaky breath. "I can't believe you would do something so foolish. We're on the Xianzhou Luofu. They despise the abundance here. You will be killed!"

[Y/N] could only stare down in shame. "I only wanted to help you..... I-I'm sorry." she said as her eyes began to water.

Her master grasped her hands weakly, "[Y/N], look at me."

Trembling, the girl met her master's eyes.

"Never tell anyone what you did, and never let them see that ugly mark on your forehead." He warned, brushing her bangs to cover up the third eye. "My time is up. You will be fine, don't worry about running the shop by yourself."

[Y/N] remained silent as the old man sighed and laid back down on the bed. "You're too kind for your own good. It's going to get you killed."

"师父... was I a good student?" she asked quietly.

In the dusty bed, he turned towards her and gave her one last smile. "The best I've ever taught."

With that, he closed his eyes as his hands went limp.

That was the only time [Y/N] ever saw her master smile at her.

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A/N:

First chapter woooo! Here are some translations of the characters I used:

笨孩子 [ben hai zi] - stupid child (笨 means stupid/foolish while 孩子 translates to child)

师父 [shi fu] - master/teacher (the first character 师 means 'teacher', while the second 父 means 'father')