Well we're almost at the part I've been waiting for since I started the book, Finally we're almost at the end of act 1. Yes technically the forest arc was an act but minor details that was unplanned and is soon to be reconned.
Also the love interest should be obvious wasn't really hiding anything with that, people really never look past "wow this girl is hot" in the genshin fandom
Soo I chose one that realistically I'd date if given the chance, though I was considering Ganyu (hell literally she fits the lovers perfectly i'd argue) it's low hanging fruit considering well....yeah.
anyways y'all didn't come here for my ranting y'all came for the story
_______________________________________________
[5 months ago]
Mc PoV
The meetings became a monthly occasion, every start and end of month a set time and place were set to meet up and chat.
Cloud Retainer in particular found great enjoyment in teasing me with my encounters to my embarrassment, but I did enjoy the often meetings.
Sometimes Ganyu would arrive late due to work, not that we minded. Despite her being the most excited and active of us she similar to me has issues.
It was around the 4th meeting when we were having a picnic ' My idea obviously~ ' oh yeah I noticed Lucifer hanging out with the adeptus 3 months ago.
They still seem at edge due to the many ventures he told me about when I asked him a while ago, surprisingly though he does seem to express genuine interest in Cloud Retainer.
I don't know how that would work exactly considering persona are an extension of a persons psyche based on what I've learned from Lucifer.
But who am I to stop the man? I'll take any consequences that happen later due to my choice in full, if he and she want to be happy I won't bother them.
Back on track though Ganyu seems to have serious self worth issues ' Hypocrisy is wild honestly~ ' whenever I've tried to make jokes like I do with my homies she takes them extremely literal.
One time I was mildly mentioning...ok maybe I said it a bit out loud, but in my defense I was just trying to think it about how hard she works herself and if it's really needed.
That seemed to really put her on the ringer though as she got really quiet and I had to double back to save the conversation all while getting dirty looks from everybody.
Yeah, they could never hang around my black friends, the amount of self roasting and hate we say to each other would probably send her catatonic.
I've explained everything to them though about how usually friends from where I come from say mean things unilaterally as a sign of true friendship, think they thought I was bullshiting.
Speaking about Friends though...much to my first thoughts I let something slip the last meeting, I said in a slightly serious but joking manner after Ganyu asked about my friends
" Oh funny thing actually I was taken from my home when I was hanging out with my friends, fell into this wierd hole while running away from a butterfly, almost died a couple times, awakened my persona as I bathed in the blood of something again trying to kill me, pretty sure I almost murdered a guy I met, Made this really big wolf pissed at me and almost freeze me to death. And then a nice person I met just kinda ran away after that whole scenario, all cause I was being kinda reckless and touched something I wasn't supposed to "
I said as I laughed at myself so hard in-between sentences as they all just looked at me concerned as I hear Lucifer laughing with me as tears fall out my eyes
It took me a minute as I calmed down still giggling as I looked around and everyone just looked shocked at me as I said " What it was funny "
The mood kinda fell short though as the adeptus especially Cloud Retainer were processing what I said as the 3 girls I was sitting with asked if I was ok.
sureee I may be traumatized and still have nightmares of me stabbing razor in the stomach but that doesn't mean I can't laugh about it.
I just laughed it off and said I was fine and it wasn't that bad, things were still somber though as Ganyu and Yanfei tried to lighten the mood with some stories
Yenfei told this story of a guy who bought her services who tried to sue a pickle because it turns out the dudes uncle turned into a pickle due to a curse and there was a whole lot of shenanigans happening.
Funniest shit I ever heard though I haven't seen Shenhe and Cloud Retainer for a while heck didn't even see them during training so I just did some workouts and some training with Lucifer who would smile widely whenever I ask where they are but wouldn't tell me.
Since Lucifer isn't busy though he has been helping me with my abilities, well moreso strengthening my imagination, he said a lot of interesting things I wanna test out
Still though they have been missing for a whole month, wonder what their preparing for the most recent meeting and why they didn't ask me for help?
The nightmares have been getting more frequent though since I've been sleeping alone for a bit, though to my happiness ever since the meetings have become frequent I've started to see more dreams
Though I still see food being stocked so I know their still somewhere, I'm just happy my nightmares have evened out a bit as far as I'm concerned right now
[End]
I close my Diary as I cover it with Pride and it sinks in my shadow. I stand up and stretch as I'm done reminiscing as I walk down my room and open the door to see Cloud Retainer and Shenhe
Confusingly though she is in human form but I don't let it discourage me as I open my hands and grab them both into a hug, I let them go a second though
"Yoo your back, how was the trip?" I say with a smile on my face Shenhe was silent as Cloud Retainer clarified " We were visiting a friend sorry for any confusion, I trust you trained well? "
I wave dismissively with my hand " yeah, yeah don't worry Cloud Retainer can't lose these golden abs" ' That admittedly I can't lose due to my wind abilities but details '
She nods as she waves for me to come along as once again I feel myself lifted by the winds as we blast off and within minutes of me chilling in my shared air bubble we arrive
I look around to see destroyed structures and a small pond, as Cloud Retainer ever the one for theatrics spreads her wings " welcome to Tianqiu Valley"
Looking a bit into the distance I see the adeptus, Ganyu seems to be conversing with Moon Carver, with Mountain Shaper brooding looking at the river with Yanfei splashing water with her legs which I assume isn't uncomfortable due to her open dress wear
'I ain't complaining' I think as I follow Cloud Retainer and Shenhe as she walks up and announces " This one has arrived you Old Fossils "
Yanfei stands up and quickly starts to put on her shoes as she awkwardly waves her hands at me shoe in hand as I feel a wisp of wind behind me as I look at Lucifer who walks and stops nearby the Old Adeptus
as if hearing my thoughts though Cloud Retainer glares at me as I feel goosebumps, however focusing back on Lucifer he is in a Suit as he opens up
" Welcome Ladies, and older gentleman to a joint training session " as he claps his hands a roar is heard in the distance " Someone seems to have pissed off an adult geovishap~, wonder who did that "
He says as everyone gives him a glare which he brushes off as Moon Carver steps up " We set this up admittedly with his help as a refresher just in case we arrive at a strong battle "
" We will be standing nearby as you battle, Mountain Shaper took the effort to plant Hibiscus within to trap the monster in the worse of situations "
Ganyu walks up and stands near the older adeptus " I will be standing out due to me simply being there would simplify the training but yell for help and I will assist you " She says doing a short bow as the grounds under us slide
I almost fall but keep my balance as I notice Mountain Shaper's Feathers glowing as we all arrive in front of a cave that's seemingly shaking with roars echoing throughout
I notice Shenhe also standing nearby Cloud Retainer as I assume she is also staying out as Lucifer makes a Microphone to my surprise as he says " Well you too better get on because ITS TIME FOR A SWELL BOUT- "
"we can make motherfucking MICROPHONES, I ASKED YOU IF I COULD MAKE HEADPHONES WHICH ARE IN ESSENCE THE SAME TH-" Lucifer doesn't lose his smile at my interjection as he says with no hesitation
" I Lied " He says gigging as me and Yanfei are sent by a gust of air into the cave with me faceplanting as I hear her shoes land nearby my head as she grabs me by my arms upwards
" No time to rest c'mon " She says as I Look up to see a hulking monster that now that I look at it reminds me of Drednaw well if its shell was spikey and it's color scheme was orange and brown
As the giant roars at me I quickly make a Speaker out of pride as I fittingly put on False Idol by Ivycomb as the music echoes Yanfei looks at me confused and somewhat shocked
Hyping myself up to the music I cover myself in pride as I focus and make a huge construct reminiscent of 'The One Who Waits' as I crack my knuckles
'Who needs Susanoo when you got pride control' The monster rushes at me as it roars as I stand still Yanfei shakes out of confusion as she stands behind my construct
The monsters orange changes into a blue color as the cave temperature drops as it pounces on my construct with me Grabbing it by the tail
Music echoes in my head as well as through the room as I see in the corner of my eye the adeptus and Lucifer, Cloud Retainer seems shocked at what I made though ' Think no~,hear no~, see no evil~'
I mentally say as I Start to crush it's rocky tail It seemingly fights as spikes shoot out from it's shell and tail shredding through my pride but I shake my head as I heal them
The Creature roars in pain as a little smile appears on my face as I see it struggle in pain, however it's no use as I suddenly see cracks as I put in more effort
My hand is open level with my eyes as I slowly close it as I hear cracking noises as my smile grows across my face until I feel no resistance as I see blood drip on the ground as the tail is ripped from its body
Lucifer PoV
" YES MY BOY DESTROY IT " I say as my eyes go black as my smile grows much to the Adeptus Displeasure as Ganyu says Shocked " This is wrong, I know this is training but he is going to far. He is taking enjoyment in this. "
Cloud Retainer nods to my disappointment 'I wanted to see More blood' I think downcast as she says " This reeks of karma we should stop this before it corrupts him further "
However as the Adeptus were about to move they see Yanfei moving into his pride construct ' of course he doesn't see her as a threat darn simp ' I think clicking my tongue
MC PoV
'Hm this situation feels familiar eh whatever'
I say as I drop it's crushed tail as I ready to move on to the body but I feel someone's hand on my shoulder
' Who fucking da- ' I think angrily being interrupted from my prey as I see Yanfei looking at me seriously " You won already let it go " I look back at the monster and see she Is right
Its eyes are closed and gallons of blood leek from its body where it's tail used to be as slowly my constructs dissapates as my mind regains clarity
" Fuck it happened again " I say as I fall to my knees as my mind trails back to that moment with razor '...why was I even being so aggressive, I could've just slammed it hulk style and be done'
I think as I don't even look at the adeptus and my mind once again circles back to the moment in that Hilichurl camp ' It was kill or be killed at the time but why couldn't I feel anything, why can't I feel anything now '
Stuck in my mind the moment Is frozen for me ' am I going to be left again? ' I think as I don't dare to look but it as I was still wallowing in despair
I feel a warmth in front of me as I feel arms wrap around my neck "It's going to be ok, just breath" As I hear the voice in my ear I feel strain inside my eyes loosen as I feel them
' I'm crying? ' I think as I remember the only other time I cried was when I was in the forest
I look up to see Yanfei smiling with her eyes closed with her arms wrapped around me
I feel my hair being patted by her as I just lay in her comfort as my tears fall down, The only thing I feel Is myself in this moment as I give myself ' a....little....Break '
Yanfei PoV
' This was not what I was expecting today ' I think as I hold my snoring friend as he cried himself to sleep
' I knew he wasn't exactly straight sure after he dumped his trauma last time but this seems way worse than I expected ' I calmly place my friend down on the ground as softly as possible after kicking away some small rocks from the incident
I look back to see the Adeptus looking aggressively at Lucifer who seems to be smiling without a care in the world as I hear Mountain Shaper rage " What have you done to him, you expected- no you planned for this to happen "
Lucifer shrugs his shoulders as he says " I simply helped him get stronger, after all my goal is to strengthen him by any means possible "
" If he gets stronger from losing his mind well~ I guess that is what must be done " Cloud Retainer couldn't take it anymore as she attacks him with a wave that slices through the cave but does nothing to him
His smile grows once more as he says " You seem to have forgotten no? I can't attack or be attacked without him summoning me himself, I simply left his body so we can settle this argument later honey~ "
he says his laughter echoing throughout the caves as he disappeared likely I assume returning to kymani's mind
The cave is left quiet as Moon Carver speak after minutes of silence " we must seek council with Rex Lapis "
_______________________________________________
hehehehe OOOH I was waiting for this part from the moment I introduced xiangling See funny thing uh don't trust the fucking Devil
Some people tend to forget the entire Bible (which I read btw in preparation for Lucifer)
Literally says the devil only works for what he wants, he is a charismatic asshole through and through I was just waiting for this part since I knew I had to introduce it as a plot point at some moment and time
This problem is going to be further explained by 'Rex Lapis' so I won't bore ya with the details since the next chapter explains it all but oooh boy I was waiting for this one
Peace (this chapter got me hype asf just making it)