Precipice

The Unlikely pact

The ground tasted less... appetizing than she thought it would.

[Name] groaned as she lay sprawled on the rocky surface, her fall having taken the edge off her intended dramatic entrance. The rough texture of the ground was sharp and gritty, an unfortunate reminder of her less-than-graceful landing.

She pushed herself up with a muffled squeak, dusting off her cloak and shaking off the remnants of her clumsy tumble. Even in her Abyss Mage form, she was trying to muster the grace and dignity she had imagined for this pivotal moment. As she got to her feet, she cast a quick glance around, trying to regain her composure.

The sound of footsteps and an approaching rustle brought her attention back to the present. The traveler and the floating cloud were moving closer, their figures becoming clearer in the dimming light. [Name] took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. This was her chance to step out of the shadows and make herself known, but she had to ensure she did so without further mishap.

Her hands trembled slightly as she dusted off her cloak and straightened her posture. With resolve, she took a step forward, her small, hooded figure emerging into the dark night. She knew she had to make a good impression, despite her earlier stumble.

As the traveler and the floating cloud drew nearer, their curiosity piqued by the commotion, [Name] caught the traveler's wary gaze. The floating cloud hovered close by, its wide eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and caution.

Great, she thought. Just what I need—a close encounter with an audience already on edge.

She raised her hands to show she meant no harm, though her expression remained frozen, a result of centuries spent in hiding. "I'm not here to fight," she thought, willing her voice to carry sincerity as it possibly can. "I just want to talk."

The floating cloud's eyes widened as it noticed her form. "Eek! It's a..." She took a good second to scan [Name] from head to toe.

"...-Cryo Abyss Mage!" it exclaimed, hovering protectively beside the traveler.

[Name] took another deep breath, her anxiety momentarily overshadowed by her resolve. "Please, I'm not like the others. I've been hiding for so long... I just want to talk."

The traveler's hand moved cautiously toward his weapon, his posture tense and guarded. "Why should we trust you?" he seemed to ask, his eyes filled with skepticism.

[Name] lowered her gaze, her thoughts racing as she tried to find the right words. "Because-"

Before [Name] could continue, the floating cloud bobbed closer and hovered protectively near [Name]. "Paimon thinks this Abyss Mage is good!" Paimon declared, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and determination. "After all, why didn't it attack us from the start? And her fur looks a bit more... Different than other abyss mages. Its much lighter!"

The traveler's gaze shifted to Paimon, a hint of surprise crossing his face. He considered Paimon's words, his grip on his sword relaxing slightly.

"Alright," the traveler said, his tone cautious but open. "If Paimon thinks she's trustworthy, we'll give her a chance. But know this—we don't tolerate any threats to innocent people."

Something washed over [Name] as she nodded, her heart lifting at the unexpected support. "Thank you. You have my word."

With that tentative agreement, the trio set off towards Mondstadt. The path ahead was lit by the rising light of the day, and as they walked, Paimon continued to pepper [Name] with questions, her initial wariness giving way to genuine curiosity. After awhile, she introduced the traveler as Aether-who was still cautious- seemingly accepting [Name]'s presence with a unsettled trust.

As they approached the gates of Mondstadt, the city's towering walls came into view, glowing warmly in the evening light. But as they neared the entrance, the guards stationed there stiffened, their hands moving to their weapons as they noticed [Name] among the group.

"Halt! Abyss scum!" one of the guards shouted, stepping forward with his sword drawn.

The traveler quickly moved between [Name] and the guards, raising a calming hand. "Wait, she's with us. She means no harm."

Before the guards could react, a figure clad in white and silver armor emerged from the crowd—a woman with flowing blonde hair and an air of authority.

She approached with a commanding presence, her gaze shifting from the traveler to [Name]. "What's going on here?" she asked, her voice steady and authoritative.

The traveler turned to the tall blond, his expression serious. "Jean, this is [Name]. I don't think she's like the other Abyss Mages. She's been in hiding for centuries and is asking for our help."

Jean's gaze lingered on [Name], her expression thoughtful but not unkind. After a moment, she nodded. "If what you say is true, then she should come with us to the headquarters. We'll sort this out there."

Paimon, still hovering beside the traveler, added, "We'll explain everything once we get there!"

With that, Jean gave a curt nod and gestured for the guards to stand down. The tension in the air began to ease as the crowd that had gathered slowly dispersed, their curiosity still piqued but their fears momentarily allayed.

Jean turned back to the trio, her piercing gaze lingering on [Name] for a moment longer. "Let's go."

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A/n

Phew, second ch down.
I didn't like this chapter as much because of the breaks i took planning my vacay thats happening in a week. Have i mentioned that i have a bad memory?

And did i get too excited causing me to put too much emotion in her?

I won't know until you comment.☹️😔

I might re-upload this, because this was not as descriptive as the last chapter, and I'm VERY worried that you guys will not find joy in that.😭😹

However, I do hope the chapter is still to your tastes. If not, please reply to this paragraph-and don't feel bad about it! I would be more than glad to re-upload because i feel the same way as you.

Thank you for reading!!💜