Faith || Childe x Reader

Chapter 13

I took one last look at myself in the mirror as the soft golden light of the setting sun cast a warm glow across the room. It was finally time to leave. The two days since Childe left the house had dragged far too slowly. I'd kept myself busy with commissions, trying to make use of the time.

One of those commissions was for a man who suffered from persistent headaches. His ususal remedies weren't working, so Katheryne, aware of my skills, had asked if I could take a look. It seemed like a chronic condition, so rather than wasting time with ineffective treatments, I decided to prepare something that would at least ease the pain until he was diagnosed properly.

I mixed an opium and apple cider vinegar solution—a remedy I learned from my mother—and soaked a cloth in it, so he could apply the poultice to his forehead for relief. as I finished preparing it, my mind wandered to Childe's letter. Though it wasn't my place to make a decision for him, his father seemed to be suffering from a similar affliction. I couldn't help but feel a nagging urge to help him somehow.

I kept a portion of the solution for myself, deciding to somehow give it to Childe when I saw him. I handed the rest of the solution to Katheryne.

As the last of the light from the sun faded, I felt the weight of the evening ahead, the dinner with Zhongli and Childe. What an ironic night, I thought to myself.

I checked my satchel one last time to make sure the solution was securely packed before heading out. As eager as I was for the dinner, I felt anxious to meet Zhongli again after all these years. We'd exchanged only a few words after that faithful day, and they mostly consisted of warnings and advice. So I couldn't say that I truly know him. Still, I wanted to thank him once again and show him how far I'd gotten. After all, he was the one who had made it possible for me to escape my past and start anew.

I was lost in thought when I bumped into someone. "I'm so sorry ma'am, I–" I began, but my words caught in my throat as I looked up and saw who it was.

A sharp surge of frustration and anger rose within me the instant I recognized her. "You."

The woman stood before me, her cryptic smile as unsettling as ever. "Ah, hello dear. To see you again, how nice it is." she said as though we were old friends. Behind her, I spotted the fortune tellers cart, tucked in a quiet corner of Liyue Harbor. I had no idea how she managed to get it here, let alone park it in such a spot.

But what unsettled me more than the cart was the memory of those strange dreams, the haunting images of the monkey. I was sure she had something to do with it. "Stop messing with my head." I said, the anger bubbling over. "I know what you're doing."

"What you are talking about dear, I do not understand." she said, her voice laced with mock innocence.

"The dreams. I know you're causing them. Make them stop."

She tilted her head, as if pondering my words, and a slow, knowing smile spread across her face. "So dreams, it is." she hummed to herself. "Not my doings they are, but the price, which pay you must."

"The price? What are you talking about? I already payed you."

"Oh no," she replied. "The messenger I am only. This price... hmmm yes, this price pay you must to the universe."

I narrowed my eyes, my heart racing with anger and confusion. "You're making this up."

"No, no. Make something like this up, how dare I?" She laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Comes with a price, every message from the future. But fret not, for a blessing this price is."

"How is having constant nightmares of you and that stupid monkey a blessing?"

"Stupid?" She gasped dramatically. "No fool Iosef is! Wonderful and most wise, he is."