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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The Tsaritsa's feet barely touched the ground as she raced back to the mansion, Y/n held securely in her arms. Her breaths were steady, her focus sharp, but a chill ran down her spine as she took a quick glance behind her. A figure—a god—appeared in the distance, shimmering with divine light, his gaze sweeping the area. Her heart skipped a beat as she froze for a split second. Had he seen them?
Thankfully, his eyes passed over her, and she exhaled in silent relief. But the urgency only intensified. She pushed herself harder, the forest flying past her in a blur as she closed the distance to their hidden sanctuary.
When she reached the mansion, she didn't slow down. She charged straight to the massive wooden doors and slammed them open, bursting inside with a whirlwind of cold air.
The Archons, scattered around the living room, were startled by the sudden noise. Zhongli, Raiden, and Mavuika stood up instantly, their senses alert. Venti, who had been lazily lounging on the couch, sat up abruptly, his eyes immediately locking onto Y/n in the Tsaritsa’s arms.
“Y/n!” Venti’s voice carried a note of alarm as he noticed the faint red marks on Y/n’s neck. “What did you do to him?”
The Tsaritsa barely registered his question, her eyes still wide with tension as she carried Y/n deeper into the room. “There’s no time for that. The gods—" she spoke quickly, her voice filled with urgency. “The gods are here. I saw one of them on the way back.”
Her words immediately silenced the room.
Zhongli’s expression darkened, his gaze flickering from Y/n to the Tsaritsa. “Are you certain?”
“Absolutely,” the Tsaritsa replied, setting Y/n down carefully on the couch. “I saw one of them not far from here. We barely escaped without being seen.”
Raiden’s eyes narrowed as she processed the news, her posture tense. “This means they’ve found us.”
Mavuika stepped forward, her face grim. “It was only a matter of time.”
Y/n, still dazed from the sudden rush, looked between them, his heart pounding in his chest. The fear he had felt moments ago in the Tsaritsa’s arms was slowly being replaced by confusion as he pieced together the conversation. “The gods… are here?”
Venti, ignoring the Tsaritsa’s warnings for a moment, crouched beside Y/n and gently brushed his fingers over the marks on his neck. His expression was a mixture of concern and irritation.
The Tsaritsa glared at Venti, her icy composure momentarily cracking.
He stood up, his usual playful demeanor gone, replaced by a rare seriousness. “If the gods are here, that’s bad news.”
Zhongli nodded gravely. “We’ve managed to avoid them for so long, but now it seems our time is running short.”
Raiden clenched her fists, electricity crackling at her fingertips as her eyes glowed with determination. “Let them come. I’m ready to fight.”
