I Plead, Your Majesty, For Forgiveness

Chapter 4

Vessels do not harm the Creator.

—

His senses seemed to upgrade after his defeat, recognising the location he was being drawn towards. Starsnatch Cliff was one of his favourite places to be, but he couldn't fathom why he felt the need to be there.

His eyes clashed with another set, ignoring the swirling of confusion inside, before the wind picked up around his form. A sense of recognition flashed within the other's eyes but soon dulled as his power struck their limbs.

The connection screamed at him, reminding him of the atrocity of the individual, but he couldn't shake off his own morals. Why did he feel so shaken by his own actions?

◇◆◇◆

The camp was silent by the time [Name] got back, letting their steps echo as the blades of grass beneath their feet flattened. The land of Dragonspine lacked anything they could bring back. It was as though the land had directed the strength elsewhere, leaving the rest of the mountain to struggle and pick the most important places to focus on. 

From the whole island, [Name] managed to find three measly Sunsettias and two apples.

Shame flooded their system as they reached their hut, filling their eyes with unwanted tears as years of bottling caught up with them. They sat themselves down, pressing their hands to their eyes as they struggled to keep their composure. Their nerves shook, unsettling their bones and muscles within, as they took gasps of air to keep themselves oxygenated. 

This is so pathetic, they mused to themselves. It's not that big of a deal. Just go somewhere else to find things. The rational ideas were soon outcasted as the anxiety picked up, throwing thoughts left and right of all the possibilities that'll happen.

Until the thoughts stopped.

Their attention was soon moved somewhere else as the night sky rumbled and complained, copying their turmoil as the rain mixed with flashes of lightning. Their eyebrows furrowed, the sky was clear earlier. Mondstadt has always had clear skies according to the NPCs due to Barbatos, or at least that's what Vind implied in her commission, so it was a little strange to see the gameplay mechanic override the lore. They slowly neared the entrance of their hut, reaching their palm out to feel the freezing rain that tried to drown out the lightning.

The soft pattering of the rain - combined with the soft grumbles of thunder - slowly soothed the Creator, lifting their worries and cleansing their shame: resulting in the settling of the weather as the multiple stars peeked through the moody clouds. Perhaps Albedo was right - great, they're now copying Tor's speech pattern: Teyvat had been created for them.

Or maybe Teyvat just knew the ways of the Creator. Either way, it helped them open their eyes to new possibilities.

✧✧✧

The cheers from the Hilichurls woke them from their exhaustion, echoing the unknown language as it bounced from wall to wall. With a soft sigh, [Name] sat up from the uncomfortable flooring (not that they would ever tell the camp) and stretched the aching limbs that begged for a comfier surface. Rubbing their crusting eyes, they glanced towards the group around the tree as they held up the few fruits [Name] had managed to scavenge.