A Forbidden And Cruel Love (Genshin)

Part 6 - The Unexpected Surprise

Could this 'friend' be one of the knights who had gone missing?

Jean quickened her pace as she neared the exit, her mind working through various possibilities. If this friend of Karoline's was indeed a knight, then their situation was even more dire than she had initially thought. Not only were they dealing with a friend of Karoline's who was injured, but also a knight who had been MIA.

She pushed open the door and stepped outside, feeling the fresh air hit her face. As she started down the path towards Windrise, her mind continued to race, turning over and over the different scenarios that might await her.

She eventually arrived at a clearing, where the body of a knight lay. He wasn't one of the missing knights. He was... a simple guard on duty. He seemed to be attacked in a brutal manner with burns all over his body, scarring his skin.

Beside the body, Jean saw something else... a shadow.

As she took in the sight before her, her heart twisted in horror.

Then she saw the shadow beside the body, and her heart jumped into her throat. She couldn't see clearly what it was, but her instincts told her to remain cautious.

She slowly and cautiously approached the shadow, her footsteps light and silent. As she drew closer, she kept her eyes fixed on the shadow, her adrenaline kicking into high gear, preparing herself for... a hilichurl?

It seemed to be crouched over, and was bleeding a little itself. It didn't note her presence yet.

Jean's heart leapt into her throat. But in the next instant, she was ready, her training and experience as a Knight of Favonius kicking in instantly. She drew her sword.

Jean took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing as she studied the hilichurl. It was injured, which could work in her favor. But even so, it was still a dangerous creature. She needed to be careful.

She slowly and silently crept closer to the hilichurl, her steps light and careful to avoid making any noise. She wanted to get as close as possible before making her move, to give herself the best chance of taking it by surprise.

Jean could hear the creature's breaths, short and labored. She crept closer until she was only a few steps away from it. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her breathing steady but shallow.

It was still. And quiet. Was it already about to die?

Jean watched the hilichurl carefully, her eyes scanning for any sign of movement. But the creature was still and quiet, its breathing becoming ragged and shallow. It was clear that it was in distress, and perhaps already near death.

She hesitated for a moment, her senses on high alert. Was it safe to approach? Had it already given up, or was it simply biding its time, waiting to attack?

She closed the distance between herself and the hilichurl, her sword held at the ready. As she came face to face with the creature, she could see its injuries up close. Its body was badly damaged, and it seemed to be barely clinging to life.

And finally, it looked up at her. It's mask was also torn and dirty, almost to the point of decomposing. It stared at Jean, never moving.

Jean stared back at the hilichurl, her heart racing in her chest. It seemed to be staring at her with no emotion, no hate, no fear, NOTHING.

For a moment, Jean felt a strange sense of kinship with the creature. It was clear that it was on the brink of death, and yet it continued to defy its fate, refusing to give up the ghost.

For a brief moment, she wondered what was going through the hilichurl's mind. Did it feel fear? Did it feel pain? Or was it simply driven by some primal instinct to survive, no matter the cost?

Jean was beginning to feel a bit confused. The hilichurl continued to stare at her, making no effort to attack or defend itself. It was as if it had already accepted its fate and was simply waiting to die.

The knight right beside the inactive and creepy hilichurl was burnt and torn beyond recognition. But was it the hilichurl's fault? It couldn't have caused the burns. There were no signs of a forest fire, either. The knights' death could only have been caused by a Pyro vision, judging by Jean's elemental sights. None of the missing group members had a vision, at least, from what Jean remembered.

She looked from the knight to the hilichurl, trying to piece together the puzzle in her mind. Was the hilichurl innocent in this? Was it simply a victim of circumstance? Or was it somehow connected to the unknown Pyro user?

Her eyes flicked back to the hilichurl, and a thought suddenly occurred to her. Maybe the answer lay in the creature itself. It was possible that it knew something, or had seen something that could help her.

She took a step forward, moving closer to the hilichurl. It didn't move, its eyes still fixed on hers. Maybe if she could communicate with it, she could find out more...

Jean thought about Ella Musk, the young girl who had dedicated herself to studying the hilichurl language. She had a lot of respect for the girl's passion and dedication, and it was clear that she was making great progress in her studies. But could she really communicate with the hilichurl?

Jean looked back at the creature, her heart racing with uncertainty. If she could somehow communicate with it, she might be able to get some answers and unravel this mystery...

She took a deep breath and made her decision. She couldn't leave the creature here to die, not without at least trying to learn something. And if anyone could help her communicate with it, it would be Ella Musk.

Jean holstered her sword and approached the hilichurl, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. She knelt down beside the creature and looked at it, trying to find any hint of understanding or recognition.

She slowly and carefully reached out a hand towards the creature, hoping that it wouldn't see this as a threat. To which the creature did nothing.

Jean took a deep breath and gently touched the hilichurl's shoulder. It felt cold to the touch, its skin rough and scaly. It didn't react to her touch, either.

She stood up and looked down at the hilichurl one last time, her heart weighing heavily in her chest. She would have to leave the creature here while she went to find Ella Musk, and hope that it would still be there when she returned.

As she walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling that leaving the creature behind in its current state was a huge risk. But what other choice did she have? She had to find a way to communicate with it, and that meant seeking out the help of Ella Musk.

She quickened her pace, her strides becoming determined and driven. She was a woman on a mission, and nothing would stop her from getting to the bottom of this mystery.