The Tragedies of Life {A Genshin Impact OC Story}

Chapter 10: Forgiveness

The two arrived at the sanctuary of surasthana. It was evening already, and Nahida wasn't back yet. "She's with The Traveler solving some sort of dream problem." Wanderer said when he noticed Kinoko looking for her.

"Oh..." Kinoko said, her voice a slight tinge of disappointment. She's been seeing Nahida walking around through the Akademiya in the past 3 weeks, and had grown fond of her. She leaned against a nearby pillar, looking down to the floor. She was still thinking about those photos. She felt his stare on her and looked up. "If the Fatui were plotting to do something to me, how important would the mission be? I mean-do I have to be watched over 24/7?"

Wanderer shrugged in response. He seemed a bit on edge, but also like he had something to say, but was holding it back. "Unless there's something you own that they could want, I don't see why they would prioritize someone like you for a mission, nor do I even know if they know who you are."

"Were." She corrected him.

He shifted uncomfortably, a look of deep thought on his face before Nahida walked into the room. She looks surprised to see both of them just standing there, together, especially Kinoko. "Hello, Hat Guy, Kinoko, is...something wrong?" Her voice echoed in the place when she talked. She walked towards the two, looking between them.

Kinoko cleared her throat, but Wanderer spoke instead. "We were doing a commission, and I caught a Fatui agent taking pictures of her. We don't know whether this is harmless or dangerous, and I figured she should stay here in case they come burning her house down." He seems confused about the whole ordeal, but didn't show even one ounce of fear. It was something Kinoko wondered if it was all a fake expression, or if he actually was just-not scared.

"Wait-they're going to come burning down my house!?" Kinoko interrupted, her eyes widening.

"Probably." Wanderer said casually.

"Hat guy!" Nahida scolded, placing a hand on her hip. She walked to Kinoko, reaching up and tugging at Kinoko's hand with her small one. "She's terrified!" She said, her voice softening.

"Jeez, neither of you can take a joke." He muttered under his breath.

Kinoko sighed. She shut her eyes and sank to the ground so she could be on eye-level with Nahida. "I'm not-terrified. Not at the moment. Yeah, I'm freaked out, but I have too much going on at the moment to really worry about one picture a Fatui agent took of me." She looked up and saw Wanderer's look that said, "You're being dramatic, I told you one thing about yourself today." or, at least, that's what Kinoko made of the look. She spent way too much time worrying about looks, trying to decipher the puppet. Like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

Nahida's face went blank for a moment. She looked like she was staring through Kinoko's soul. "Don't worry, I don't think you're dramatic." She said reassuringly.

Kinoko looked down at her, her face twisting into confusion. "How did you..."

For once in a while, Wanderer chuckled slightly. "Hah! You didn't know! Lesser Lord Kussanali can read minds."

Nahida sighed, shaking her head. "Don't worry. I won't try to read your mind all the time, I just thought you might be going through things you weren't speaking directly, so I want to make you feel safe here in any way possible." She explained.

Kinoko was a bit unsettled by the fact, but then again, she was an archon. "So, you're okay with me staying here tonight? Koi said I should stay..."

Nahida smiled softly. "Yeah, of course it's okay. Did you start calling him Koi?"  She asked. Kinoko nodded, and she giggled in return. "That's a sweet name you called him. Do you know the meaning?"