The letter

The accident

The sound of their laughter filled the forest around them. Wolvendom was always dark, no matter the time of day, it seemed. The path was near constantly illuminated by the lamp grass that lined the treelines, emitting a soft blue glow along the ground; casting odd looking shadows that seemed oddly comforting when you got used to them. The cool breeze on the two boys' faces was refreshing, a stark contrast to the blistering summer heat that they had previously been walking in, sweat making their clothes stick to their skin. Razor lead the way, mostly so Bennett wouldn't get lost along the winding maze of densely packed trees and bushes. They were in their own world together, the sounds of the animals around them nothing more than a soft hum in their ears. The two had gotten breakfast with Fischl, and they now had the whole day ahead of them to explore and relax. Razor wanted to show Bennett all of his favourite spots to hang out with his family, making sure to keep a watchful eye out for any lingering hilichurls that liked to roam the area, just so they weren't caught off guard.

Razor heard a soft thud behind him, the boy turning around and giggling at the sight of Bennett in a heap on the ground, his foot evidently had gotten caught in a protruding tree root. Bending down, he easily picked Bennett up and set him on his feet, quickly checking him over for any injuries. Just a grazed knee, he'd be fine. Razor kept a careful grip on his hand as he led him deeper into the forest, Bennett blinking to try get his sight to adjust as it got slightly harder to see in the darkness. Wolfhooks clung to their clothes as they dove through bushes, thorns scratching at their skin. This was the life, Bennett thought to himself. This was what he wanted to do forever. Exploring by Razor's side, camping out under the stars, learning how to survive from someone who is unquestioningly the expert in Mondstadt, no, the whole of Teyvat.

The two boys froze in place as soon as they both heard the tell-tale sound of the hilichurls' cry of alarm at seeing them. Fuck. Razor instinctively pushed Bennett behind him, a sense of foreboding and dread settling in the pit of his stomach. Something was terribly wrong was bound to happen, they needed to leave. Swinging his claymore with a controlled wildness that caused Bennet to pause just to ogle at his friend's strength and speed, he quickly took out the two hilichurls that had seen them. Pulling Bennett quickly through the woods to safety, listening for any sounds that they were followed, the two darted and weaved in between thick trunks that seemed determined to cage them in until they reached a small clearing. Safe. They were safe for now. The two boys' pants turned into giggles, and those giggles turned into them rolling on the ground cackling.

After their laughing had subsided, they began to head off again. Walking in a comfortable silence until they reached their destination, the boys climbed a few frocks until they reached where they were headed. A cliff that had one of the best views in Mondstadt. They laid down near the edge of that cliff and watched the clouds, the view below them absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. Bennett rested his head on Razor's shoulder, pointing out a cloud that looked like a rabbit. Razor adorably tilted his head as he tried to see the rabbit, his face lighting up with pure glee when he noticed the similarities. This continued on for hours, and before they knew it, the sun was beginning to set.

Standing up and stretching, they started to walk back into the woods, the chill seeming ominous. Goosebumps appeared on their skin, Bennett looking over at Razor to see if he felt that same chill. Razor's expression and the way his hand hovered over the hilt of his claymore answered his question. It was too dark, Bennett awkwardly stumbling every few steps, Razor barely paying attention. Their senses were at an all time high, alert to the smallest of sounds around them. A twig snapped to the left of Razor, the boy tensing as he peered into the inky blackness. A rabbit ran out of the bushes. They relaxed somewhat as they continued to walk. Their guards slowly dropped as they picked up the pace. Razor wasn't scared of Wolvendom at night, he had no reason to be. But something felt off, and if Bennett was to be separated from him? That most likely would end up in disaster. All Bennett could focus on was his own heartbeat hammering against his ribs and Razor's breathing. Don't be scared, Bennett, you're going to be fine. You're going to be okay. That's what he repeated over and over in his head, trying to calm himself down. He knew he could handle a few hilichurls, and with razor by his side? He'd be just peachy.

Another noise, this time to Bennett's right. And this time, Razor stopped completely, listening and waiting. Heavy footfalls approached in their direction. A soft red light. Within mere seconds, their weapons were drawn, but it was too late. The two were completely surrounded. Hilichurls and mitachurls were rushing towards them. The attack wasn't right, it was too coordinated. Pyro and Electro lit up the confined space as the two boys danced with their respective blades, overloading as many of the monsters as they physically could. But no matter how many they took down, more just seemed to come in waves. Abyss mages and samachurls approached, the deadly dance picking up the pace. One wrong step, one hesitation, they wouldn't be able to hold their own against the horde. Each breath hurt, their muscles screamed at them to stop, but they kept on. Thinning out the numbers, Razor heard a scream. He couldn't stop and turn to see what it was.

After the last abyss mage had been struck down, Razor dropped to the floor, panting and wiping sweat from his face. He half expected Bennett to crack a joke, but the silence was pressing in on him, suffocating him and ringing in his ears. As the last of the flames died down, Razor turned around, trying to spot his best friend. Maybe he was just trying to scare him. A heavy weight filled his stomach as he sniffed the air. Blood. And a lot of it. Scrambling to his feet, Razor wildly swung his head side to side, trying to spot Bennett. He tripped over something, a gash opening in his calf as he stumbled. Bennett's sword.

Eyes readjusting to the darkness, he saw a faint shimmer of something wet from the small amount of moonlight filtering through the thick foliage above them. Cautiously walking closer, he bent down and touched it, his fingers coming back dark. Definitely blood. A trail of it. Following the train, panic and fear took hold of his whole body. He felt too heavy, he needed to find Bennett. As he continued to walk, he tripped over something again. A boot? Bennett's boot.

Looking down, tears pricked his eyes. He was just laying there. There was so much blood, the air reeked of it, causing Razor to gag as his stomach did flips from the sight. Scrambling to his knees next to him, Razor cradled his best friend, shaking him slight, trying to get a reaction.

"Benny? Bennett? Bennett, wake up! Not funny!" his cries and pleads got more and desperate, his grip on the blonde getting tighter and tighter until he let out a sob

"Bennett.. Don't leave.. Wake up.."