OC Oneshots

29

OC: Elija
Species: Human
Universe: Genshin Impact, with characters from Kutan

Elija stepped into her tent.

Upon entering, she jumped, startled.

“Hello,” the stranger said.

She could tell from the looks of him that he was an outlander. He was far too pale to be from the desert, for one. His clothes looked like some sort of uniform, with a collared shirt, neat trousers, and a silver badge that was too small to read at this distance. There was a device at his belt that Elija had to assume was a projectile weapon, as well as a knife and a strange device. An elegant bronze lance was strapped to his back. She decided he was most likely from Fontaine, based on his attire and the device on his belt.

Elija reached for her weapons. “Who are you and why are you in my tent?”

The outlander frowned. “If you speak to all of your clients like that, it's no wonder your tribe is low on money. You're horrible mercenaries.”

Elija pointed one of her knives at him. The curved blade glinted with blue Hydro magic. “Don't insult someone you want to hire. And get out of my tent.”

The outlander put his hands up and stepped out in three long strides. “Forgive me for wanting to be out of the sun for a moment,” he grumbled. It was no wonder, considering his clothes were clearly not made for sand.

Satisfied, Elija put her weapon away. “Now,” she said, tilting her head. “What can I do for you?”

She didn't know why she didn't ask for a name.

“Recently, one of your members went missing, correct?”

Elija hesitated, then nodded. “If you want information on her, I'm afraid I can't help you there.”

The outlander shook his head. “I don't need information. I was just recently alerted to the fact that you sold one of the shards of her Vision.”

“My past transactions are not your concern,” Elija said stiffly.

It was true - she had sold a shard to Kaila. But Kaila had actually politely introduced herself. Kaila hadn't appeared randomly in Elija’s tent and insulted her tribe and her career.

“I was hoping to buy one as well,” the outlander said. “Or multiple.”

Elija shook her head. “They're not for sale. I sold that shard to a customer who has been a partner of ours for a long time and only wanted it for research purposes. The actual owner might still be alive somewhere.”

“And should I get word of her being alive, I will gladly send it right back,” the outlander assured her. “But for all we know, she's been eaten by one of those sentient mushrooms that seem to live around here.”

“That doesn't change the fact that you're a stranger,” Elija growled. “Why should I sell you a magical item when I don't know how you'll use it?”

“I believe as a mercenary, your job is to obey orders and take money, isn't it?” the outlander put a finger on his dagger, a subtle threat that wouldn't be noticed by any eavesdroppers.

Elija glared at him. “Yes. What about it?”

“Name your price,” the outlander offered.

Elija narrowed her eyes and glanced at his dagger. His fingers were still touching it. His face was awfully smug for how uncomfortable he looked in the merciless desert heat.

‘Name your price’ was a term that usually came with strings attached. Go too high, and the client would simply take what they wanted.

Elija wanted to say that those Vision shards weren't for sale.

But that knife whispered a threat. If she said that again, there would be consequences.

“600,000,” Elija tried. If she was going to be threatened into this deal, she would at least try to make the most of it.

“200,” the outlander haggled.

“500,” Elija bartered.

“350,” the outlander sighed.

“450,” Elija countered.

They glared at each other.

“Deal,” the outlander grumbled, and started picking through a pouch.

Elija slipped into her tent and rummaged through one of her crates. At the bottom was a small leather bag containing four shards of what appeared to be blue glass. There were at least six originally. One of them had been sold to Kaila, and the other or others… Elija had to assume it had been lost to the sand, because when they originally found it and put it together, it wasn't there.

She pulled out the smallest one and enveloped it in her fist before returning to the outlander.

He dropped the Mora into her hand. She dropped the shard into his.

And then he walked away.

Elija kept her face expressionless.

It was her life or the Vision of someone who was most likely dead. And she got Mora out of it, too. So why was her gut telling her that it was wrong?

Oh, well. It was already over. The outlander was shady, but she’d hopefully never see him again.

Besides, she could always track him down and kill him later.