บท 45: 43. Narrow Escape
The dimly lit hallways stretched out in front of us, each turn feeling like a gamble. The silence was heavy and unsettling, the walls damp and shadowed in the flickering torchlight. The air felt stale, thick with the faint metallic tang of steel and dust. Aether, Paimon, and I moved as one, each step carefully measured to keep from making a sound.
I took a deep breath, letting my senses expand as we crept deeper. My hearing was sharper than ever, every footstep echoing faintly in the distance, every murmur carried to me on the stale air. I signaled to Aether, then pressed my finger to my lips as I caught the faint crunch of gravel underfoot a few corridors away. The patrols had changed since we came in. They must have finally figured out that something wasn't right.
"More guards," I whispered, keeping my voice as low as I could. "Their routes have shifted. We'll need to stay sharp."
Aether nodded, his expression serious. Behind him, Paimon hovered, darting glances down the hall as she tried to keep her own anxiety in check.
"Let's just keep moving," Aether murmured. "The exit isn't far. With any luck, Jean and Diluc will be ready for us."
As we continued forward, I motioned for Paimon to fly ahead and scout the next hallway. She looked nervous but gave me a thumbs-up, quickly flitting forward. Her small form disappeared around the corner, leaving Aether and me to wait in tense silence.
It was eerie, standing in the dim light with nothing but the faint sounds of footsteps echoing somewhere far off. I focused again, letting my hearing hone in. A quiet crackle—a torch being adjusted. A muttered voice. Two guards, somewhere off to our left. Close enough to worry about.
Paimon came back, her eyes wide but a triumphant smile on her face. "The next corridor is clear," she whispered. "But I saw another two guards a bit further down. They seem to be… waiting, I guess?"
"Waiting for what?" Aether asked, frowning.
She shrugged. "Paimon doesn't know. They're just standing there like they're expecting something."
I glanced at Aether. This wasn't good—patrols were one thing, but if they were expecting an intrusion, it would mean more alert guards, more complications. We couldn't afford to draw any attention.
"We'll work our way around them," I said quietly. "Aether, can you use a bit of Anemo to cover our footsteps? Just enough to mask any sound."
Aether nodded, placing a hand at his side and letting a subtle breeze swirl around our feet. The soft current dampened each step, making it easier to move without leaving a trace. We crept down the corridor, careful to keep close to the walls. The pressure of the silence felt suffocating, every inch feeling like a gamble that someone might hear us.
Finally, we reached the end of the hallway, and I peered around the corner. There were the two guards Paimon had seen, standing rigidly near the entrance to a storage room. They looked distracted, muttering to each other in low voices, their attention shifting to the shadows in front of them. Whatever they were waiting for, it wasn't us—but we couldn't risk passing so close to them without taking precautions.
Aether caught my eye, and I nodded toward the guards. He held out his hand, the faintest glimmer of Anemo forming as he directed it away from us, down the hall, toward the far end. The air swirled, stirring dust and making a soft thudding sound like footsteps receding. The guards stiffened, turning their heads in the direction of the noise.
"What was that?" one of them muttered, reaching for his weapon. "Did you hear something?"
His companion nodded, narrowing his eyes. "Probably one of the others checking the perimeter. Let's go make sure."
As they moved away, Aether released his breath in a quiet exhale. Paimon threw us a relieved smile, but we didn't stop. We moved swiftly, silently, slipping past the abandoned post and heading further down the corridor. My heartbeat quickened as the next turn approached. Each corner brought us closer to our exit—and hopefully closer to Jean and Diluc.
"Almost there," I whispered to Aether, feeling the familiar tinge of excitement building with each step. He nodded, his expression focused, and we quickened our pace slightly, the end of the hallway finally coming into view.
Our path lay just beyond, through a discreet exit that would take us to the outer edge of the compound. The air grew cooler, the stale smell of the compound shifting to something fresher. My breath eased slightly as I realized we were nearing freedom.
"Stay sharp," Aether murmured, his gaze scanning the shadows around us. "We're not out yet."
Right. One last stretch, then we'd be home free—or at least close enough to call it a win.
---
We crept down another long corridor, the exit just around the corner. It was so close I could almost feel the cool night air waiting for us, the freedom of being outside this place. But of course, nothing's ever that easy.
A pair of guards turned the corner ahead, stopping dead in their tracks as they spotted us. My stomach twisted.
Seriously? We were so close. I swallowed a groan and shot Aether a quick look. He nodded back, reading my intention in an instant. Paimon hovered behind us, her eyes wide and darting between us and the guards, clearly aware of the fact that we didn't have time to waste.
One of the guards took a cautious step forward, his hand twitching toward his weapon. His gaze flicked to his partner, and I knew that in two seconds, we'd be dealing with more noise than we could afford. Time to move.
One of them reached for their weapon, but I was faster.
Before he could make a sound, I surged forward, the edge of my hand catching the light as I brought my blade aimed straight at him. With one swift movement, I struck him square in the chest, my blade piercing through without trouble. His eyes widened in shock as but he only let out a groan as his body went limp , the sound barely a whisper as he hit the ground.
At the same time, Aether already dealt with the other guard, their lifeless body on the ground as Aether swung his blade in the air, getting rid of the blood.
I exhaled, my pulse pounding in my ears. The silence settled again, tense and heavy. We'd taken them down without alerting anyone else—barely. But in that quiet, I couldn't ignore the tightening in my chest, the strange, queasy feeling that seemed to claw its way up every time I looked at the unconscious bodies on the ground.
Alright, Tayden, focus. Get a grip. There wasn't time for overthinking things; if we didn't get out of here soon, we'd be dealing with a lot more than just two guards.
Aether glanced over, his expression showing his concern. "You good?" he murmured, his voice low.
I nodded, forcing a half-smile. "Yeah. Let's keep moving."
We continued down the hallway, our steps light as we slipped further from the unconscious guards. Paimon zipped over my shoulder, giving me a tiny nod of encouragement. It was weirdly reassuring, like she understood, in her own way, that this mission was pressing something unfamiliar against my nerves.
Almost there, I reminded myself. Just a few more feet, one last turn, and then—
A sudden sound stopped us cold: the echo of a boot scraping against stone. I froze, straining my ears as another faint noise drifted toward us—low voices, muttering in the darkness. Another patrol?
Aether shot me a look, his eyes narrowed. "We need to move, now," he whispered.
I nodded, suppressing the instinct to glance over my shoulder. "Agreed. Let's get to the exit before we end up dealing with a whole squad."
We quickened our pace, careful not to make a sound as we rounded the last corner. The corridor stretched out ahead, empty, silent. The exit door stood at the far end, a dull gleam of moonlight spilling in through a small crack near the top.
But just as relief started to settle in, another shadow moved, blocking our path. Another guard. Great, I thought, my mind racing as I assessed our options. One last hurdle, and this guy had to show up?
Without missing a beat, I moved in, closing the distance in a blink. Before he could react, slashed at his neck. He went down without a sound, his headless body falling down to the ground with a thud.
I exhaled, the tension loosening in my chest as we finally reached the door. Aether reached out, gripping the handle and testing it gently. The door creaked open, revealing a faint path leading away from the compound and into the open night.
"Finally," Paimon whispered, relief clear in her voice as she flitted toward the doorway.
Were almost done. Just a little more!
The night air greeted us like a splash of cold water as we stepped out of the compound, the open sky stretching above, dotted with stars that seemed sharper and brighter after the dim corridors. We stayed close to the shadow of the compound wall, careful not to let our footsteps crunch too loudly on the gravel path.
A faint breeze rustled through the trees nearby, carrying the scent of dew and pine, also more unsettling is a stench of blood. We see multiple bodies of fatui agents sprawled all about the compound. Looks like they got busy.
Paimon, hovering just above my shoulder, let out a long, relieved sigh. "I thought we'd never get out of there," she whispered, her voice still tinged with tension. "That place gives Paimon the creeps."
"Agreed," I muttered, glancing around. "But we're not in the clear just yet. Jean and Diluc should be around here somewhere."
Aether scanned the treeline, his eyes narrowed in focus. "They'll be waiting near the path to the western woods," he said.
With a quick nod, we slipped into the tree line, moving carefully as we made our way along the trail. The shadows shifted around us, casting odd shapes across the forest floor. Every few steps, I found myself glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting another guard to materialize from the dark. But as we pressed forward, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows ahead—Jean, her stance poised, her eyes already assessing us.
"Good, you made it," she said quietly, a hint of relief in her voice as she took us in. Her gaze lingered on Aether for a second, her posture relaxing just a little as she looked at the Lyre in his hand. "I take it the mission was a success?"
Aether nodded, holding out the Lyre. "It was close, but we got it."
Jean's fingers brushed the Lyre's surface as she took it from him, her expression a mix of awe and gratitude. She held it carefully, her eyes softening. "Thank you. Both of you. Mondstadt owes you all a great debt."
"Just doing our part," I said, trying to keep my voice light, though I could still feel the adrenaline simmering beneath my skin. The whole escape had left a weird, electric buzz in my veins, I can't say that I like this feeling very much.
I glanced over at Diluc, who stood just behind Jean, his gaze intense as he studied each of us.
"Are any of you injured?" he asked, his voice low and direct.
I gave a quick shake of my head, glancing at Aether and Paimon. "We're good. Nothing we couldn't handle," I replied, though a part of me wondered if I looked as worn-out as I felt.
Diluc's brow furrowed slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. "You sure? You look like someone who hadn't slept in days." I swear I saw his eyes look at Jean for a split second.
I shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, well, this place doesn't exactly have a five-star relaxation package." My attempt at humor fell flat, and everyone just looked concerned. Smooth, Tayden. Real smooth.
Venti, who had been unusually quiet, perked up with a grin, leaning casually against a nearby tree. "Well, Tayden, if it's rest you're after, I'm sure Diluc here has a lovely vintage reserved just for heroes." His eyes twinkled with mischief as he glanced at Diluc, who gave him a look that could have frozen fire.
Diluc's tone was icy as he replied, "I think we all know who'll be paying for that 'vintage' if you so much as touch it."
Venti just laughed, unbothered, and with a shrug, started idly plucking at his lyre. The notes were light, floating into the night air, a gentle melody that somehow made everyone seemingly relaxed.
Even Jean's lips twitched, though she quickly composed herself and turned back to us, her gaze settling on me. " You did well Tayden, even with the uncertainty of the mission".
I could feel her eyes on me, as if she sensed more than I wanted to admit. I managed a nod, swallowing the knot that had lodged itself in my throat. "Thanks. It… wasn't exactly what I expected, but we made it work."
Jean's gaze softened, but before she could say anything further, Venti's music came to an abrupt halt. He looked over his shoulder, his eyes sharper than I'd ever seen them, and lifted a finger to his lips. "Not to ruin the mood, but I think we may have overstayed our welcome. I suggest we wrap this up."
At that, we all stiffened. The faintest rustle echoed from the direction of the compound, like the quiet shuffle of boots on gravel. Instinctively, I reached for my weapon, my senses sharpening as I scanned the shadows.
Diluc motioned for silence, his eyes narrowing as he looked back toward the compound. "They'll have noticed something by now," he murmured, his tone grim. "We should move before they send out another patrol."
Jean nodded, her composure unfazed but her eyes flashing with a steely determination. "Agreed. Let's stay together and keep a low profile. We'll take the western path, and once we're far enough, we'll plan our next move."
We moved as one, slipping quietly into the shadowed trail. The forest around us felt like a protective cocoon, its branches stretching overhead, breaking up the moonlight into shards that danced across the path. The sound of our footsteps was muffled by the thick layer of leaves, and for a moment, it seemed like we might just make it out without further incident.
But then, a faint sound reached my ears—the distant clanking of armor, the murmur of voices. My heart skipped, and I exchanged a glance with Aether. We could barely make out figures moving back at the edge of the compound, their shapes blending with the shadows but unmistakably alert, combing the area. More guards. And they were coming our way.
Jean halted, her hand raised to signal silence. "They're closing in," she whispered, her tone tense but measured. "We'll need a distraction."
I glanced around, feeling that familiar surge of energy as my mind raced. We couldn't risk a fight; not now, not with so many of them. Im sure we could deal with them, especially with Jean and Diluc. But risking the Lyre being damaged was not something we would like to happen.
That's when Venti's voice cut through the quiet, light and casual, but with an edge that felt strangely commanding. "Allow me. I'll give them something to think about,". He gave a nod to Jean and Diluc, as if to reassure them, before striding a few steps back down the trail, just within sight of the compound.
"Venti…" Jean's voice was cautious, and for the first time, I could see something uncertain in her expression. She was trying to read him, like she suspected there was more to his "charming bard" act than he let on.
"Just a touch of the wind," Venti said, glancing over his shoulder, his eyes glinting in the faint light. "Nothing too drastic."
Then, with grace and ease, Venti lifted his hand to the sky. His eyes closed, and the playful edge faded from his expression, replaced by something more focused. The air around us shifted, almost imperceptibly at first.
Then the ends of his hair started glowing, then I felt it—a stirring in the leaves, a tremor in the ground. The forest seemed to hold its breath as the winds gathered around him, swirling with a quiet power.
With a flick of his wrist, Venti sent a wave of Anemo rushing toward the compound. It wasn't the gentle breeze I'd come to expect from him. This was a force of nature. The wind roared to life, billowing through the trees, shaking branches, and tearing through the clearing like a tempest. Leaves and dust whipped through the air, and a series of loud cracks echoed from the compound as wooden crates splintered and barrels tumbled, scattering across the ground.
The guards immediately reacted, their voices rising in alarm as they stumbled back, their hands shielding their faces against the onslaught. Some tried to brace themselves, but Venti's wind was relentless, powerful enough that a few were actually knocked off their feet, landing heavily on the ground.
For a heartbeat, I just stared, amazed and slightly horrified. All that damage from only a flick of his wrist. So this is just a sliver of power of the Anemo Archon? That is fucking terrifying.
Jean and Diluc exchanged a glance, and while neither spoke, there was a clear understanding in their eyes—a shared suspicion that had been growing for some time now, solidified by this display.
Venti had told them little, and yet… well, actions spoke louder than words. And this action felt louder than any song he could've played.
Just as quickly as it had begun, the wind died down, the forest falling silent once more. Venti turned back to us, his usual carefree grin slipping back into place, though there was a glint in his eye that hadn't been there before. "That should keep them occupied for a while."
"Right," Jean said, her voice even but her gaze sharp, still studying him. "Let's move before they recover. We need to put as much distance between us and that compound as possible."
We moved again, slipping further down the trail as the guards' shouts faded into the background. Venti fell in beside me, hands clasped behind his head, whistling softly as if he'd just finished a walk in the park. I glanced over at him, trying to wrap my mind around what I'd just witnessed.
Paimon, however, had no such reservations. She darted up to Venti. "What the heck was that?!"
Venti just shrugged, flashing her a lopsided smile. "Oh, just a bit of wind. Even bards have their tricks, you know."
Diluc's voice was low, almost a mutter. "Some trick."
We continued on, silence settling over us as we put more distance between ourselves and the compound. The path grew narrower, the forest thickening around us, cocooning us in shadows and starlight. But the tension had eased, and I felt a weight lift as the reality of our escape sank in. We'd made it out. The Lyre was safe.
I glanced at Aether, who gave me a small, knowing nod. Even Paimon seemed to relax, her chatter quieting as she hovered beside us, her eyes bright with relief.
And as the wind settled around us, carrying with it the faintest scent of pine and earth, we moved forward, bound for the safety of the Dawn Winery, our next destination clear.
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