Sometimes life changes for no reason. The interesting thing is whether these changes are good or bad.
Does waking up in an unknown world with many people who develop a crush on you count as a nice thing?
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A strong wave of pain finally pulls you out of your dream world. What… is going on? The world around you is spinning, leaving everything blurred. Only after a few seconds are you capable of realizing the total extend of this excruciating pain you are feeling. Shards of glass have pierced your soft skin and your limbs are so immovable that you fear that they might me broken. You have no other choice than remaining still on the cold floor, your blood slowly dripping out of your wounds.
“(Y/N)!” Was that Aether? Is the end of Sumeru’s chaos finally coming closer?
Putting all your strength into it, you turn your head towards where you heard this someone scream your name. Over there you find the Traveler, Paimon, a floating green thing and… Nahida? Why is she here? She is so petite and kind that you can hardly imagine why she would challenge Scaramouche alongside Aether. Unless... Could she be the Dendro Archon then? Given her appearance it doesn’t seem farfetched. Green eyes and matching glowing hair tips. Odd that you didn’t connect the dots earlier when she was visiting your dreams…
Everyone is starring at you, silently. It seems that your current position is as much of a surprise to them as it is to you.
Out of anticipation after not having seen your blond friend for so long you want to reach out for him, but you only manage to move your fingers. Too much is the damage your bones have suffered. Luckily, Aether appears to have the same thought as you and rushes towards you.
One moment you see your friend and then there is only a bright light and a gust of wind. Around a meter before he is able to reach you, your hope abruptly gets cut into shreds as Scaramouche lands a critical hit on Aether with a lightning strike. Where your friend once was there is merely a massive crack left. If there is something left of him it must have fallen down the platform.
Your world starts to spin again, the rising sense of dread engulfing all of your mind. You don’t even register how Paimon flies down the platform in search for her former partner.
“Don’t you dare getting close to something that doesn’t belong to you!” Scaramouche’s attention shifts over to you. “And what’s up with that horrified expression? Have you forgotten your place, puppy? You have no right to look any other way other than mine. Not the Traveler’s, not Dottore’s – only mine.”
“(Y/N) can look at whoever they want. Even if you are far stronger and more powerful than them, you have no right to make them dance to your wishes. ...Nobody has.”, says Nahida confidently. It is impressive how she can speak with such certainty after having witnessed Aether getting one-shot like that.
“Right, we also have other pesky insects disturbing our peace.” The Balladeer begins to chuckle and that not in a good way. “Right, right… We also have the pathetic being who calls herself the God of Wisdom as our guest. Despite being a god, you have zero talent for fighting. I am almost sure that even my lovely puppy would put up a better fight than you. Hm…” Scaramouche pretends to think. “You were the reason why (Y/N) fell out of my grasp, causing them to be badly injured… Wouldn’t you agree that it would only be fair if I do the same to you? Your Gnosis isn’t damaged so quickly, right?” Shortly after having said that, a second massive lightning strike clashes with the ground.
Now Nahida is down as well. Silence fills the air.
How could things escalate so quickly? Not too long ago, things were somewhat alright. Sure, you were in the hands of the enemy, but nobody had to knock at the gates to heaven. They weren’t dying like fúcking flies…
Satisfied with the outcome, Scaramouche turns his body towards you again. He stares at the blood oozing out of your wounds. “Seeing you like this makes me wonder if you secretly like pain. You always manage to find someone who is willing to beat you to a pulp. My poor, poor, puppy.” He reaches out for you with his mechanical arm to pick you up like before. “But don’t worry, I am not one of those people. I will take very, very good care of you.” His tone… It is hard to tell whether he is just mocking you or boiling with anger. “Still, I will have to be more careful in the future. Human life is so very frail and I can’t afford to loose you… Not now, not in one year, never.”
You on the other hand are unable retort in any way as you lack the physical and mental capacities after what had tresspassed. You simply stare in the direction where your head is facing.
Weak coughing from someone else disturbs the hopeless moment. The dust cloud, which has settled by now, reveals a barely standing Nahida. Looking at her state, Scaramouche certainly didn’t miss her with his attack, so her resilience must be on another level.
“You are better at taking hits than I thought.” If the Balladeer wasn’t holding you, he probably would be clapping his hands right now. “-But that is not all you need to win.”
“The… data collection is… almost comple-“ Before she can finish her sentence, another lightning strike hits her.
Then, everything turns into nothingness – including your memories of the recent events. Sweet, sweet nothingness.
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