I Plead, Your Majesty, For Forgiveness

Chapter 11

Deception won't be tolerated.

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He wasn't against lying. In specific contexts, it was encouraged to tell small, little white lies to keep the other content with the situation. This is what he was doing, he convinced himself, watching as the Creator threw themselves into a messy thought of theories and explanations. He was already aware of the situation, grateful for the official contract that allowed him to bypass the corruption spreading across nations.

But he wouldn't tell them that. He understood their sense of righteousness, believing they'd dive headfirst into the situation to relieve the burden of fear: something he agreed with wholeheartedly, but he wasn't able to let them lead themselves into danger. He couldn't sort the situation out. He could only recall areas to hide them until they begin to realise and adapt to the world they resided in. The lack of strength they portrayed must've been a tell-tale sign of their body veining accustomed to Teyvat and the laws surrounding the land. He won't let them rewire their progress.

He could only keep an eye on them, judging personally of others and the intentions they hold with the Creator. His avian eyes narrowed at the sight of the blonde Traveler and her companion, observing the behaviour before he allowed himself to continue his other duties. He'll take out the karmic foe nearby the city, allowing the Creator to absorb the others further away. He was a tool, not a friend.

He didn't have a say in how they perceived him, and he was okay with that.

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Lumine's eyes averted toward the ground as she gave a hesitant nod, furrowing her eyebrows as she silently questions the knowledge the Creator is aware of. Barbatos was aware she wasn't from that world, but how much would the Creator know of her? Teyvat was created for them, not by them after all. Her lips parted to confirm her name, but Paimon overtook the conversation as usual. "That's her! The best Traveler there is! Is there anything we can help you with? You look sorta rough!"

A grimace pulled at her lips from Paimon's insensitive nature, observing the drop of mood from the Creator as they huffed through their nostrils. "You don't have to point it out-" they grumbled before shaking their head, "No, I'm fine." Another huff left them as Paimon's words repeated, but their eyes brightened as they remembered something. Lumine hesitated to blink, unsure of what the Creator was searching for as they frantically pat down their pockets after dipping their hands inside. "Where is it?" They murmured, squinting their eyes in thought as they ended up empty-handed after the search.

"Whatcha looking for?" Paimon hammed, tilting her head with large, doe-like eyes full of curiosity and wonder. "If it's-!" With a hush from Lumine, the small pixie fell silent as the Creator lifted a hand to their forehead with a wince.

"Ow, shit-..." They whimpered quietly as they felt the spike of a migraine beginning, closing their eyes as their teeth ground together in retaliation. I beg for a break. They complained internally, slowly lowering their hand as the pain subsided and their palm traced a material that wasn't there before. Their eyes fluttered open, narrowing as an eyebrow rose from the small, folded paper that rest in their hand. Golden specs covered the image, joining with one another to materialise the belonging. An inventory? They theorised.