Meraki

Part 3 Chapter 3: Balladeer's Delusions and Signora's Throne

Once the trio reached the Delusion Factory, they fought their way past Fatui soldiers and ended up in a room with a wooden walkway and purple mist covering the floor. Venti and Aether tried to blow the mist away with Anemo, but it just came right back.

"You actually managed to find this place. Congratulations." A familiar voice called out. Sying looked around the room for the person, but there was no one there.

"So, you're another Fatui Harbinger like Signora and Childe?" Aether wondered.

"Signora and Childe? Huh, I didn't know you and my two least reliable colleagues were acquainted." The person stepped out of the shadows with a smaller person accompanying him. "I'm the Balladeer, No.6 of the Fatui Harbingers. Delighted to meet you, O Mighty Traveler." Scaramouche spoke.

"And me!" Luna chimed in.

"Luna, I'm trying to be intimidating. I have a job to do." Scaramouche reminded the girl.

"Oh, right. Sorry Kuni." She apologized, earning her a pat on the head. The Harbinger cleared his throat.

"So many visitors today. To what do we owe the honor?" The Balladeer asked.

"You're manufacturing Delusions and giving them out to the Resistance." Sying growled.

"Oh, so that's what this is about. I think you've got the wrong idea. I know how this looks, but we're just here to follow orders. We're obviously not the masterminds behind this. Aren't you supposed to be pretty tough? What are you waiting for, go get them." Scaramouche replied. Aether moved forward a bit with his sword raised. Sying pushed him back with his hand while Venti was unsure if he should attack or not since he could risk hitting Luna. "You're getting all worked up over nothing. You've changed. You're getting weak."

"Kuni, be nice!" Luna smacked the Harbinger's back, making him pause. "You don't have to be that mean!"

"You're right. Sorry." Scaramouche sighed.

"How can you say this is nothing?" Aether snarled, returning to the matter at hand.

"How can you call it anything more? It's the way of the world. Human life is almost worthless. They were always going to die, with or without a Delusion. At least having one gives them a chance to fulfill their ambitions. Do you have any idea how useful the Vision Hunt Decree is to us? It took a lot of work to make it happen. Obviously it was in our best interests. Good news is, our hard work is finally paying off. Generating conflict creates a big market for Delusions. Now we just let the promise of power draw in the weak. For just a small price, they get the feeling of controlling the world. Trading their life for supreme power; pretty good deal, don't you think?" The Harbinger asked.

"So the Fatui started the Vision Hunt Decree? You've been behind it all along?" Aether shouted.

"From the outside, Inazuma looks pretty impenetrable, but on the inside; it's a land of opportunity. With a little effort, we were able to break them down from within." Scaramouche answered. "Eternity stretches things out over a long time. But each moment within it becomes all the more fragile." Aether tried to get past the adeptus as the Balladeer insulted the Resistance members.

"Calm down. Getting worked up like this won't help." Sying told his friend. The Traveler moved past him, only to feel a sharp pain in his chest. The boy fell into Sying's arms a few moments later. Scaramouche pulled out his scythe as he came toward the trio. Astral gave Aether to Venti and pulled out his polearm. As the two were about to start fighting Yae Miko appeared.

"Wait just a minute, you two." She commanded.

"Why should I listen to you? Step aside, I have a job to do." Scaramouche growled.