บท 23: Number 1
"Swiff!" "Pang!" An arrow flew across the air, hitting at the outer circle of a diana.
"Swiff!" Another arrow was shot, hitting it in the middle cercle.
"I need to improve" Allen sighed seeing his results. One week had passed since he returned to Snezhnaya from his travel at Liyue and he had spent most of his time training.
This travel had showed how many shortcomings he had, his strength being too weak. He had always been aware of him being weaker than the typical soldier, but he put his age as an excuse, thinking that it wasn't comparable. However, after meeting Keqing, he discovered how low he was.
Replaying Keqing's movements in his mind, he knew that it would be impossible to win against her. Allen's aim at a long distance wasn't good, his agility in managing the bow, changing directions while charging, and quickly following it with a next attack, sucked, making it quite impossible to hit a moving target. Finally, once the target was near enough for Allen's to effectively draft its movements, it was too late for shoot an arrow, needing to change to a short weapon.
"I really don't have talent for the bow." Allen sighed "At most, it would only be useful as a sneaky attack before starting to fight."
Allen left his bow away, taking two knives from his suit and charging to a straw target, slashing it and barely grasping it, due to the lack of power "The knives had low power and are very difficult to use as a defense, needing to avoid attacks and focus over the weakness of the enemy. Unfortunately, I lack that speed and agility, the only good thing being my size, having a low hit area."
"I wish I was like Ellen" even now, Allen perfectly remembered how reliable and strong was Ellen when she was healthy. Even three years ago at 6, her strength, combat instincts and agility were better than him "Without my Vision, I would really have nothing noteworthy."
Allen turned around seeing the different practice weapons aliened and sighed "It seems quite useless to practice them. I might better spend my time, increasing my resistance, strength and trying to control elemental power. There would be a time when I'm older to learn to use a weapon. For now, the bow and knives should be enough. I certainly lack talent."
"Are you sure?" A voice resounded all over the room and seemed to pierce Allen's body, making his heart stop for a second.
Allen slowly turned around and saw a man walking towards him. He should be a man in his fifties, with spiky white hair and bear. A black mask with some blue marks and without any hole covered the right side of his face, letting it reveal his nose and mouth and his left eye which was pale blue with a diamond like primogen-shaped iris.
His aura was strong and majestic but something felt wrong, surrounding him in mystery and making him seem unfathomable.
...
At Pantalone's office, Pantalone was sitting over the desk while reading and firming some papers when someone knocked his door.
"You can pass, Alina" Pantalone answered, the door opening and Alina entering while wearing a summer dress.
"My apologized to interrupt you, Lord Pantalone" Alina bowed "I came for Allen's personal report."
"You can start" Pantalone said, his gaze and hands not stopping from doing other works.
"Yes!" Alina "Allen..."
Alina started retelling a very detailed report of Allen's action during this months under her care, about their classes and his quests. When she reached the Liyue part, Pantalone made the first interruption, even his hands stopping.
"Alina, it was a good plan, but never involve the Yuheng in future plans" Pantalone warned.
"If it is no offense, can I know the motive?" Alina asked quite interested. Using the enemy's weak point it was the best option and it was clear than the Qixing's weakness was Keqing at least, for now. Limiting themselves to not make use of it, would limit their future movements.
"She is special over the Qixing. While the other seems to be working together, they are more like ravenous wolves than wouldn't hate any moment to jump at each others' neck, but the Yuheng is different. She is protected by all of them, if for some plan, she would be injured, all the other will react, forcing a full fight with the Qixing" Pantalone's explained.
"They are our enemies, but it's not time to fight them. At least, not yet"
"I understand" Alina nodded and continued with her report.
"In conclusion, Allen's strength while above average thanks to his training under us, it's nothing too noteworthy, with expected results in attack, defense and stamina. Even summing his vision, his results don't change much, showing a sub-average Elemental Mastery and Energy Recharge, his control being the only praise worthy." Alina explained.
"Academically, his processing speed, learning speed, academics and wits are top-notch, showing great results for his age and a bright future in them."
"Mmm" Pantalone thought "What would you say are his possibilities to become a Harbinger?"
"Sorry, sir?" Alina made a confused look "The Harbingers are the strongest force of Snezhnaya, including the strongest individuals from all over Teyvat, Allen could never reach them. His possibilities are the same as any individual that you can take from the street, almost 0."
Alina made a thoughtful face "The best position to him would be yours as Pantalone, but even when he has the wits and ruthlessness to become a good merchant, he lacks the drive, there being far better option like us your aides."
"In the end, it was like I thought. The Tsaritsa's interest never being in him." Pantalone whispered before turning to Alina "What would you think it would be his best future actions?"
"Based in his abilities, the best would be training him to be a merchant or scholar." Alina analyzed "Possibly sending him to Sumeru to expand his mind or at Liyue where he could put in pr-" "BANG!"
Suddenly, the door opened with a bang, a Fatui Agent entering hurriedly.
"You!" Pantalone was angry at the sudden interruption.
"Sorry to interrupt you, sir, but it's important," The Agent said between gasps "It's about Allen."
"Continue" Pantalone ordered.
"Lord Pierro had made a move"
"Clank!" Pantalone's face broke down into surprise, his pen falling to the ground. "Alina!" He commanded quickly.
"Yes!" Alina knowing exactly what to do, completely disappeared, going towards Allen's place.
...
The man reaching near Allen took out the already left bow, looking at it "Why are you using this?"
Allen didn't know why but he felt a compulsion to answer, similar as when he faced the Tsaritsa but completely different at the same time "It's for my Vision that I use it to cover my weapon in ice and make it explode afterward. This damage the weapon and it could even me, so my best weapon for me would be the cheap ones being mean to throw, arrows being the best."
The man's eye was fixed on Allen, it started glowing as it seemed to pierce over Allen's being "Tx!" The glow was becoming brighter, until the man turned his gaze away, closing his eye and making a pained look for an instant that Allen was unable to discern.
The man didn't say anything and started walking to where the training weapons stood, his right hand passing over them.
"You should not let yourself be controlled by power, you need to be the one to control it" He finally stopped, taking two identical short wooden swords "Especially, when the power is not yours."
"Take it" The man said throwing one of the swords at Allen.
"Wah!" Allen hurriedly caught it, hugging it within his arms due to the sudden action, quickly correcting his posture and wielding it with both hands.
"What's the meaning of th-?! HG!" "BANG! BANG!"
It was only an instant, the man's body disappeared, instantly appearing just in front of Allen at an impossible speed, swinging the sword at him. Allen was unable to react, his only action unconsciously moving the wooden sword to protect him which showed no results.
The man swung his sword three times. Two times were blocked by Allen's wooden sword and the third was able to pass through it, resting over Allen's neck.
"Gulp!" Allen gulped, his hands giving up and letting his sword drop to the ground. He was unable to cope with the man's speed and technique.
Allen looked at the man with a mix of shock and terror, turning to his own hands that were trembling and hurt due to the impact.
The man lowered his sword and took the falling sword, taking it "Even unconscious of your movements, you were able to stop two of my strikes" The man said holding the sword "One strike can be considered luck. Do you know what it means a second strike?" The man asked, Allen shaking his head.
"This is Talent" The man said pushing the sword to Allen "Do not waste it and do not be devoured by it." The man said before completely disappearing without any sound. The only proof of him having been there being the marked sword in Allen's hands.
"BANG!" The training room door widely opened, Alina hurriedly entered "Allen! Something happened?!"
Thanks to Alina's voice, Allen broke from his shock, turning towards her "A man came and forced a sword on me, forcing a spar with me."
"What was the result?" Alina asked expectadly.
"I lost. I couldn't even react, he swung a sword at me and I was only able to stop it two times."
"Two times!" Alina's eyes went wide, quickly gripping Allen by his shoulders "Do you know what it means?!"
"No, what? And who was that man?" Allen asked curiously.
"This means that you should never let go the sword. That you are a genius, no!" She shook her head "A monster with it. And that man..." Alina turned serious "He was sir Pierro, the number 1 of the Eleven Harbingers."
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