Archons x male reader
Candle lights flicker, rain drops onto the ground.
7 souls captured in the heart of darkness.
The candle, extinguished.
Credit to the artist who drew the art in the story cover.
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Y/n sat at the dining table, the warm sunlight streaming in through the large windows of the mansion. He had been living with the Archons for nearly a month now, and the days had passed in a blur of laughter, comfort, and an overwhelming sense of belonging. It felt like a dream, one he never wanted to wake up from. But as the days went by, a thought kept tugging at the back of his mind—his best friend Amber.
He hadn’t seen her in weeks, and though the Archons filled his life with love and excitement, he missed the simple, familiar comfort of talking to Amber. He twirled his fork absently in his hand, trying to gather the courage to bring it up.
The Archons were scattered around the dining room, each doing their own thing—Venti was strumming a soft tune on his lyre, Zhongli was reading a book, and Raiden was sipping tea with a look of quiet contemplation on her face. Nahida played with a small flower in her hands, smiling as she watched it bloom under her touch, while Mavuika and Focalors were engaged in a low conversation.
Y/n finally cleared his throat, gaining their attention. “Hey… I was thinking,” he started, his voice tentative, “Do you think we could visit my friend Amber sometime? It’s been a while since I saw her, and… well, I miss her.”
Venti perked up at the mention of Amber. "Oh, Amber! She’s the energetic one from Mondstadt, right? I think a visit would be lovely!"
Raiden glanced over, setting her cup down. "If that’s what you want, we can arrange it. It’s been almost a month, after all."
Y/n felt a wave of relief at their quick agreement. He smiled softly. "Yeah, I think she’d like to know that I’m doing okay. I don’t want her to worry."
Zhongli gave a calm nod. "It’s only right to maintain the bonds that ground us. We should honor those relationships."
Nahida clapped her hands together, excited by the idea. "I’d love to meet her too! She sounds kind, just like you, Y/n."
Focalors leaned back in her chair, folding her arms with a small smirk. "Sounds like fun. We’ve been holed up here for a while now, so a trip would do us all some good."
But then, as Focalors opened her mouth again, she accidentally let something slip. “Especially before the gods start causing any more trouble…”
The entire room went silent.
The mood, which had been light and warm, suddenly shifted as tension rippled through the air. Y/n noticed it immediately—how the playful atmosphere evaporated, replaced by a sudden sense of unease. His eyes darted between the Archons, who were now exchanging uneasy glances.
Zhongli’s calm expression tightened, Raiden’s grip on her teacup stiffened, and Mavuika’s usually unbothered demeanor grew serious. Even Nahida, usually the most carefree, lowered her gaze as if trying to hide something.
Y/n blinked, confused by the sudden change. "Gods?" he repeated quietly, his voice uncertain. "What do you mean?"
Focalors shifted uncomfortably in her seat, realizing her mistake. "Uh… I mean, it’s not something to worry about, really," she stammered, glancing toward Zhongli for help.
