บท 78: Ch. 78: A Blood Sky
The sky was as red as blood; the stretching clouds were dark gray; the sun from the west glowed yellowish orange; and a million black cubes floated in the sky.
Furina suddenly woke up, her breathing irregular. "Where is this?"
She glanced at Charles who was at her side.
Charles looked around, frowning. Why does it feel familiar... then shook his head. "I don't know... it doesn't seem to be in Fontaine."
Furina frowned. "I also know this isn't Fontaine!"
Charles turned to Furina, looked deeply into her eyes for a moment then sighed.
"Let's go."
"Where to?" Furina tilted her head. Then furrowed her brow. You don't even know where this is!
"Staying here will get you nowhere." Charles paused for a moment. "If you're lucky, there might be a village around here. Then just ask the people where this place is."
Furina followed suit, then quickened her pace and walked beside Charles. She looked up, staring at Charles in silence.
"What's wrong?" asked Charles.
Furina looked down. "She seems to know you."
"Huh? I wonder what your definition of acquaintance is." Charles paused for a moment. "I don't know her at all, okay? That disaster has nothing to do with me."
"I'm sorry," Furina said softly, as if whispering. "Even though you helped me."
Charles looked at Furina. Suddenly he smiled. "Is this how my debt is paid off?"
"Huh?" Furina looked up, her eyes reflecting Charles who exposed his extremely annoying smile. "What do you mean?"
Furina pondered, trying to understand Charles' meaning.
At this moment, a scene appeared in an instant in her head—the moment Charles borrowed money from her.
Does this mean that his debt to me was paid off because he saved me?
"Of course not!"
Charles clucked his tongue. Damn it... so stubborn! Then he let out a long breath.
At this moment, a smoke appeared in the corner of his eyes.
Charles squinted, then stopped walking.
Furina, who had been at his side, also joined in. She looked at the smoke for a moment, then turned to Charles.
"Is someone there?"
Charles nodded. "Looks like it."
She glanced at Furina. "Hide your identity."
"Why?" asked Furina confused.
Charles said nothing.
Furina pursed her lips. She knew Charles was trying to protect her in his own way. But at least give her a reason why you should do that. She's not good with words!
"Call me Ina then!"
Charles' eyes widened. Ina from Furina? What's the difference... ah, never mind.
"How do I call you?" asked Furina softly.
Charles pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"You can call me..."
"Charles."
At that moment Charles' lips lifted slightly, then lowered again. He immediately approached the direction where the smoke appeared.
Furina was pensive for quite a while.
"Wait!" Then follow him.
...
Bonfire
A man is sitting in front of a bonfire.
He had blond hair slicked back, blue eyes, a classic three-piece suit with a vest, a long coat and a cylindrical hat, a gold pocket watch in his hand.
His hand was holding a satay.
At this moment, his eyes narrowed. His mouth also stopped chewing the meat skewers that had only been eaten two or three times.
He heard footsteps on the surface, slowly approaching!
His hand immediately rose up, pulling something from the void—a sword.
The man propped up his thighs and stood straight. His hand gripped the handle. His eyes never left the direction from which the sound was approaching.
At this moment, two hands were visible out of the corner of his eye. Hands... human? He sighed.
Charles appeared while raising his hand. Next to him, Furina also did the same.
Men and women... very unusual.
"May I know who you are?"
Charles stopped, and so did Furina.
"Wanderer," Charles said, his eyes slowly watching the campfire, then looking into the man's eyes.
Observational hobby, huh? The corners of her lips curled.
"And what is the matter with the wanderer approaching me?"
"I have a question."
"Oh?" the man gaped for a moment. then sat down. "Please sit down first, it's not enjoyable to talk while standing, is it?"
Charles turned to Furina and nodded.
That woman is quiet huh... wait, why do I feel like I've seen her?
"How should I address you?"
"Arthur." Arthur smiled. "And you?"
Charles pondered for a moment. Should I introduce myself as Cavendish? No, I already told Furina to call me Charles... if I suddenly change my identity again, she must suspect that I'm playing a trick on her... I shouldn't have rushed to call Charles.
The rice has already become porridge.
He nodded. "Call me Charles. Are you from here?"
Arthur shook his head.
"Looks like you guys aren't from this place either."
Charles agreed.
Just as I thought... muttered Arthur; he looked at Furina.
Furina glanced twice at him, then looked away.
I've seen her before... but isn't "She" not shy? Arthur's eyes narrowed, looking at Furina.
Or maybe I've got the wrong person...
Arthur turned back to Charles. "Why are you here?"
"We saw smoke." He looked up.
"My fault." Arthur also looked up. "Let me change the question."
"How do you..."
Arthur paused, his fingers gripping the hilt of his sword.
Charles was groping for air.
"COME?"
At this time, Arthur's temple was instantly cooled by the iron surface—muzzle revolver!
Charles also felt cold right on his neck. A sword blade touched his neck.
The corner of her lips curled.
Revolver? Arthur chuckled... now he understood.
As far as he knew, revolvers were only owned by two nations-Snezhnaya and Fontaine. In other words, they were from Teyvat. But, there was another variable on this man's side... it was the woman beside him. She is Archon Hydro—Furina!
As such, they must have come from Fontaine.
But how did the two of them get here? For the residents of Teyvat, this place is unreachable... Furina is from Teyvat, so it wasn't her who did it, but the man who introduced himself as Charles!
"Heh, you..." Arthur paused for a moment.
"Player, right?"
Charles was startled, his mouth opened but said nothing. His lips curled. "How did you know?"
Arthur sheathed his sword.
Charles also drew his revolver... huh, I'm actually out of bullets.
"How should I know?" Arthur chuckled.
Charles widened his eyes. "You too?"
Arthur smiled, agreeing.
Furina looked at Arthur then turned to Charles, giving him a confused look. What are you two talking about! What does this term player mean? Wait, that woman also called Charles a player! Could it be that the three of them are related to each other?
Furina swallowed, she backed away, slowly moving away, staring in fear.
Arthur observed Furina. "Is she Lady Furina? Why is she scared?"
"Look... if a woman suspected of being a player took over a nation and slaughtered its people, then that woman suddenly called us players as if we were best friends living in the same house, how would you feel?"
Arthur frowned.
"Forget about her. She wouldn't dare to be alone in this place anyway."
"Heh, how wicked." Arthur chuckled.
"So do you."
"Why is that? You don't know me."
Charles smiled. "Instuition."
"So how did you get here?" asked Arthur.
"Didn't you have an assumption earlier?"
"I haven't heard your explanation yet."
Charles sighed.
"Alright." He paused for a moment. "We escaped with the teleportation item.
"As I mentioned before. A woman of unknown origin suddenly took over Fontaine and became a queen, or... empress, whatever.
"Furina was imprisoned and I saved her. When I managed to get her out of prison. Suddenly the woman came and I instantly teleported. When I opened my eyes, we were here. Well, that's it in a nutshell."
"You think he's a player too?" Arthur raised an eyebrow.
Charles nodded. "She called me exactly as you did earlier.
"What about you?"
"Exactly the same, except there's no queen part." Arthur shrugged.
He meant that he moved only with the teleportation item.
Furina interrupted. "Where is this?"
"At first I didn't know where this was either. So I guessed while traveling looking for information from various places, villages, ruins, dirty and almost illegible notes."
At this moment, Arthur suddenly smiled. "And I was finally convinced of my guess.
"Abyss—that's the name of this place."
...
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