Taking over the Abyss

76- Husk of Broken Dreams

The abrupt call left you at a loss for words. Feeling your heart start pounding, you put on your best smile and turned back to Durin and Enjou. "Please excuse me."

Before either could ask what happened, you left the room and began to swiftly pace down the hallway. Wild Hunt, Wild Hunt... historically speaking, the Wild Hunt was a sort of disaster that none who witnessed would survive. If that was the basis for Teyvat's form of the Wild Hunt, you certainly couldn't let your runaway Baptist bring it back with him.

The threat had more or less confirmed one of your worst fears about your Abyssal Authority ability: a loophole. Just because you couldn't be directly harmed by anybody under its effects didn't mean they couldn't do anything dangerous that indirectly caused you harm. The Dodocommunication device creaked and groaned under your crushing grip.

"Leiptr," you called for your butler almost out of reflex. He was by your side in an instant, his servile smile fading once he saw how stressed you were. "Feilan's issued a threat to bring the Wild Hunt back to Enkanomiya with him if I don't meet him within a day."

Leiptr's eyes darkened with deadly intent. "Would you like me to dispose of him?"

"No!" Your voice came out louder than you intended. Biting the inside of your lip, you clenched your hands into fists. "This happened because I offloaded tracking him down onto somebody else. It's my responsibility now to ensure he doesn't hurt anybody."

"I must disagree. This is no your fault of your own." Leiptr pressed his hand against his chest. "It was our failure to successfully return Feilan before he could cause any trouble."

Not wanting to argue, you glared at the floor. Although you knew Leiptr was right about it not being your fault, you still took the failure personally. You took a deep breath to calm yourself down. The sooner you resolved the problem, the better for everyone. Straightening your back, you gave Leiptr a set of orders. "Have Idunn and Ithunn remain near the activation for the tower's artificial sun. If the Wild Hunt is Abyssal in nature, it'll be effective. Segrimr should be on guard duty for Signora right now, so please move him to the Dainichi Mikoshi, but be discreet."

"As you command, Your Majesty," Leiptr bowed. He disappeared off to do as you ordered. You bit your lip, thinking on what to do next. Having the vishaps all patrolling both Enkanomiya and Watatsumi might be fine. The last thing you needed was to get everyone worked up over nothing and then having to calm them down. But then if you didn't prepare enough...

You shook those thoughts away. No use working yourself up even further. Heading back to Enjou's alchemy room, you opened the door. Evidently, your tired smile failed to convince Enjou and Durin that everything was fine. Durin caught sight of your hand and gasped quietly, rushing over to you.

"What happened?" He reached out to lift your hand. You'd crushed the Dodocommunication device at some point, the light metal frame dented beyond repair. "Are Albedo and Dorian okay?"

"They're fine." He must have assumed from the Dodocommunication device your poor mood had to do with them. Durin gently pried the ruined device away from you. "Somebody else stole one and called to deliver a threat, so I have to leave and handle it."

"I'll come too!" He squeezed the broken chunks of metal tightly.

Your first instinct was to say no to keep him safe. Even if he came to live with you knowing that things were dangerous, and that he would protect you, you couldn't bear it if Durin got hurt. You were supposed to be the one to protect him.

Sensing you were leaning towards saying no, Durin's face twisted with frustration. "I can help you, I promise. I don't want to be stuck waiting around not knowing if you're okay."