Oath [BL; Book 2]

46

"Have you found anything?" Nahida asked and Wanderer closed the book setting it down.

"Nothing." He crossed his arms, "There isn't anything about that monster in these scrolls. No books, no notes, there's no trace." It was a useless notion, their curiosity was only met with no proof of existence.

Nahida thoroughly processed the information she had gained from reading the dusty old worn books and scrolls. She had even gone as far as relying on some knowledge capsules she had found stashed in one of the ruins they had thoroughly explored.

Holding the Stellys that had sent Aether into that other realm she closed her eyes and filled it with her dendro power but it didn't react to anything else. "There's no trace of it either." Wanderer said knowing she tried to feel for any power left behind by what they searched for. "I've already tracked the faint elemental power to dead ends. It escaped, what's your brilliant plan now?"

"Hm. How could we let it escape so easily? We were cautious..." Nahida thought some more taking back her dendro power from the Stellys. "You even succeeded in reenacting the "kill the host" scenario."

"That proved to be pointless." Wanderer scoffed and said, "When Traveler touched the Stellys he was possessed, that much I could tell." He recalled the horrifying scream he had heard and then the falling body he had caught by the shirt. "How did it escape?" He too tried to figure it out.

"Ah!" Nahida finally thought of it, "The Stellys!" She hurriedly went to rummage through the box of other books and scrolls coming across one she had tossed having read it already. Giving him the scroll he looked over the language and then looked at her wondering if she was right. "That's the only way!" She was sure of it.

"Then?" Wanderer closed the scroll handing it back to her. "You want me to drag him back?"

"Hmmm." She closed her eyes thinking, "If I am right, the safest place for Traveler right now...."

The sun was bright, rising over the horizon yet no sunlight reached the closed abode to which Aether lay sleeping.

"Is near the Adeptus from Liyue."

Golden eyes opened and he sat up slowly, Paimon was next to him.

"...." Wanderer prefered this plan over having to deal with it himself. "So you're sending me to warn them?"

"Of course not." She smiled, "I need you here just in case." The door opened and in came Alhaitham reading his usual book. He lowered it and looked at Nahida as she did to him. "One can't be too overly cautious." She giggled.

"Ugh.." Wandered sighed already annoyed with the idea.

"We'll have to rely on the Geo Archon to ensure Traveler remains near any of the Adepti." She said cleaning up the scrolls and books. Alhaitham raised a brow, but paid them no mind going back to reading until they were done. "With their Adeptal Energy. They should be able to repel the monster."

"Hah, you're expecting too much of him."

She smiled putting her hands on her hips, "Ah, are you aquainted?"

"Absolutely not, but I've heard enough bedtime stories of the Conqueror of Demons." Wanderer let out a soft laugh amused by the thought, "Hah, if he's your stand against that thing then so be it. Let's see just what he can do." He left first leaving Nahida and Alhaitham there.

She sighed shaking her head, "Is it too hard to admit he's relieved?"

"Hmph, not everyone is up to the task of being wrong." Alhaitham answered, "You're willing to put your trust in the Adepti of Liyue?"