Eleutheromania (Various Genshin x Reader)

Liyue's Guardians United -42-

Hummingbirds can fly in rain after making slight adjustments to their flying pattern as well as shedding water from their already water-resistant bodies through rapid head shakes. However, they'd often seek shelter from heavy rain to conserve energy.

You, unfortunately, did not have the courtesy at the moment.

The rain harshly pelted at your face as you gritted your teeth so hard you half feared they may shatter. Aether wasn't particularly heavy but you've never concerned yourself with strength so much as you did speed. (Father always said you were an impatient little thing). You just needed to get to the Jade Chamber as soon as possible and not drop your companion in the process.

'Wow. Y/N's really carrying me...! I feel like a princess~'

'Ugh... Aether... I'm sorry in advance... just a little more!!!'

'Paimon signed up to be a tour guide, not a third wheel.'

The minute you reached the Jade Chamber's grounds, you immediately dropped the blonde and collapsed to the floor. A distance like that wouldn't have been too much trouble but that combined with a violent storm and the additional weight, you were pretty proud of yourself for completing it.

Aether rushed to your side. "Are you okay?" He asked in concern as you pulled yourself. "I'm alright," you reassured him, already gaining back both your physical and Anemo energy now that the burden was dropped. Aether kept an arm thrown around your shoulder, keeping you close to his chest for the extra support.

The little pixie beside you panted before shaking her hair out in attempt to dry it while still in the rain. "Paimon's exhausted... If we hadn't happened to see the Jade Chamber flying over just as we came out of the Golden House, we really wouldn't have known which way to go..." she muttered.

"What... are you doing here?" A confused, raspy voice asked causing you to look up. "Xiao! Thank Archons you're here!" You exclaimed gratefully, rushing towards him. You saw his eyes look over you in what appeared to be concern. From over his shoulder, you saw several more people (and animals) approach.

Paimon floated up beside you with wide eyes. "Huh... Hold on! It's the adepti! What are you doing on the Jade Chamber?" She shouted, "Paimon thought you were arguing with the Qixing... Is the fighting over?"

Ningguang moved forward with Ganyu and Keqing by her side. "Faced with a calamity of such magnitude, we have agreed to put our differences aside for now and unite against this common enemy," she reported smoothly. The grand adepti beast, Moon Carver, merely scoffed. "Hmph!"

"Oh, Paimon gets it... So, how do you plan to defend Liyue?" She glanced behind her towards the approaching monster, "Uhh... just seeing this Overlord of the Vortex guy puts a pit in Paimon's tummy, even from all the way out here," she murmured, scooting in closer to Aether.

Keqing sighed. "It's not just you. We've got new Millelith recruits who can't even stand at attention without shaking. The force of an ancient god's presence seems to be too much for ordinary people to handle. Which is why we must stop that monster before it gets any closer to Liyue Harbor!" She declared heatedly.

Paimon shivered. "So the Archon War was fought two thousand years ago against enemies like that thing? Now that's scary..." the girl whimpered, "So will the power of the Qixing, Millelith, and Adepti gathered here be enough to stop that god?"

Ningguang glanced between her fellow Qixing and the adepti with a slight grimaced. "We've already discussed this together, and our conclusion is... not necessarily," she admitted slowly.

Your heart dropped into your stomach. Probably a reasonable answer but not the one you were hoping for. Paimon was clearly in distress at the response. "What!? But all of you are supposed to be the guardians of Liyue. Can't you think of something?" She shouted.