Chapter 3: Suspicious men in suspicious places
I awake a man of fire.
As I look into my core, I see that within the foggy moonlight, there is something else. A type of energy that burns the fog around it red, craving a small space for itself among ashes.
As I pour aura into my hand, I tap into this energy, and it rushes from my core much more readily than pure aura. It excitedly jumps and flickers as it runs through my body, dyeing the milky aura a shade of crimson as it passes.
Then it bursts to the surface, and my broken fingertips erupt into flames. I move the aura around, and the flames answer my call, shifting from my finger to my palm and to the back of my hand.
I see. I'm now able to do what only one other person in genshin impact can do. That is, control the elements without a vision. It also means I can copy the abilities of foes I've slain. A convenient fact, to be sure, and one I'll leverage and milk till there's nothing left, but it does also paint a huge target on my back. I've carved a spot for myself alongside the Traveler, and I'd sooner slit my own throat before getting involved with all that bullshit.
Speaking of, where am I on the time-line? I assume it's roughly around the beginning of the game, but that's a completely baseless assumption strung together by hope and a yearning for familiarity. Realistically, it's just as likely Khaenria is still around. Though in that case, I might as well just lie down and wait to die.
But I can't know for sure, so for now, I keep looking for food. I'll have to build up an arsenal again.
I curse the samachurl for setting me back and continue to look for food, but not before stealing its staff.
*
It had long turned night when I realized I'd made a great mistake.
Donning the clothes and weapons of the hilichurls in the forests surrounding Mondstadt might not have been my brightest moments. In fact, you could call it one of my dullest.
"I am telling you, sir knight, it was dark, and I didn't know they were humans," I say, rubbing my tied wrists together. "They attacked me first, so I was well within my rights when I beat them with a club."
A young face illuminated by moonlight looks down on me with unveiled skepticism.
"Just to clarify," He started, scratching his head and looking down at his notepad. "You're from Fontaine, you washed up here in a manner you cannot recall, you spent weeks hunting hilichurls and wild game, then you attacked a party of novice adventurers because, in your own words, you were 'blinded by the smell of palatable food'?"
"Yes, but how was I supposed to know they were people?" I say. "And obviously you couldn't tell either, because you marched in and nearly cut my head off."
"That's quite a bit different," Another knight chimed in, "You were running around in Hilichurl clothes, wielding Hilichurl weapons, while attacking humans. It was a fair assumption. They're lucky we were close and heard the screams, otherwise there wouldn't have been anyone to stop you."
I click my tongue. "I wouldn't have killed them. I stopped after the first few swings."
"Save it."
The young knight sighs. "We'll take you in. If your story checks out, we'll let you go. Does that sound fair?"
No, it sounds very much unfair. Does that mean they'll check my story? What, verify I'm really from Fontaine? I can't imagine how they'd go about doing that, or if they can, if it's even worth doing, but I can't risk it.
"How about instead of doing that, you let me go." I say. "Look, we can all agree this was an accident, and it didn't even happen within city walls. That should count for something."
"It will," The knight confirms. "When passing your sentence. For now, you're coming with us."
Well, at least they'll show me the way to the city. I won't have to live off fish and shitty soup any longer. The prospect of a damp cell in some dungeon does rub me the wrong way, but at least I can stop hunting Hilichurls.
They drag me out of the forest by a meter long rope tied around my wrists. The walk is actually shorter than I expected. Seems in my aimless expeditions, I'd managed to get myself quite close to Starfell village.
It's bigger than I remember. Composed of small northern European style hovels and wooden housing, lit up by hearths inside cozy interiors, it can soothe even the weariest of souls. Fire cracks in the distance, and closer by, water rushes through the middle of the village, crashing softly against stone.
Then, I see it. In the distance, over a river that is wider than I ever imagined it to be, high stone walls rise into the air, secluding behind them most of Mondstad, save from some of the tallest windmills and beautiful cathedral spires.
I get to see none of it, however, as the knights cross the bridge and go around the outside wall to an entrance that leads directly into an underground dungeon.
How classy.
There I am stuffed in a predictably damp cell with a man that's basically just a skeleton with flesh. My dreams of becoming wealthy by being an adventurer are shattered by the iron gates slamming shut. I can see it fading, a life of quiet debauchery, away from hardships.
"You'll be tried at a later date." The knight says. "Until then, you're to stay here."
He walks away and I'm left with the bag of bones in the corner staring at me as though he's gonna stab me with his abnormally sharp elbows.
"So, what are you in for?" I ask to break the man's uncomfortable stare. "Let me guess, stabbing?"
He blinks slowly. "Pickpocketing."
"A thief? How great. If you're gonna rob me in my sleep, at least leave my clothes." I say, well aware that I've got nothing on me apart from that Hilichurlian loin cloth.
"I got my own." He says, slowly, as he does most things. "I don't steal cus I like it."
"If you need the money, why not join the guild? It's Mondstad, after all."
"I got mouths to feed. Can't go around getting myself killed, can I?" He says, "Not now anyway. Not with stormterror out and about."
Stormterror as in Dvalin? Then that means I'm close to the start of the game. That's a good thing, I try and reassure myself, even though it means things would be a lot more chaotic.
I lean against one of the walls slick with water. "Well, speedy justice for you. How long's the sentence?"
"Hasn't been set."
A chill runs down my spine. "And how long have you been here?"
He looks at me in understanding, knowing where I'm going with this. "With the stormterror, can't expect the knights to take time. We're lowly criminals, not worth remembering. You can be waiting for a few days, a week , or…" There's a pause, and I know I'm not going to like what I hear. "Months."
I should've killed those guards when I had the chance. This is what I get for being a decent person. Indefinite incarceration. Well, I broke one law already, so what's the harm in breaking another?
"I'm getting out."
He chuckles, and I swear I can hear his bones clatter as his chest moves. "Good luck to ya."
"You said you had mouths to feed?" I turn to him. "I'll get you out if you help me. The knights don't care, right? They're distracted by the stormterror? Good. Instead of rotting here because of that, let's use it."
"Think I haven't thought about it? The knights are busy, aye, but guards run through these halls like rats." He says. "You'll never get past 'em. Never get rid of 'em."
"I have something that'll help."
He scoffs. "Unless you pull a vision out of your ass, I doubt it."
"It's better than that."
I meet his eyes, face obscured by the flickering shadows of torches, and behind the unkempt exterior, I sense something else. Agreement, maybe. "You're serious."
"One of those rare moments."
"You'll never get past all those men in these narrow tunnels, even with a vision."
"Then I go quiet."
"Impossible. Patrols tighter than my ass, you're gonna have to fight at least once."
I think I could handle it, but this man has been in here for who knows how long. He probably knows every guard by face, so even though I can be stronger and faster than the average person, it doesn't mean I can win.
"Alright. Then what? Sit here and pick my nose?"
Until the Traveler arrives.
He sighs, methodically, carefully. "Let this old dog show you his tricks."
Weekly Power Status
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