"Chat? What's there to chat about?" I asked, now less tense than before, but still with my guard up.
"Oh, a lot of things. You humans are so interesting, I could talk with you and about you for weeks..." Ananke said, his smile growing even wider.
I sighed. 'It really doesn't seem like this curse wants to fight...'
"But you're the first human I've actually talked to. You're the only one that has enough cursed energy to perceive me..."
"So, what are you really?"
"What am I? A curse, of course. But if you're referring to my nature..." Ananke paused for a bit and said, "I was born here, in this land. People here place a great deal of importance on freedom. For those who want to be free, there's nothing worse than oppression. Therefore, I am born from the collective fear of losing that freedom—fear of control, of submission, of constraint."
My eyes widened a bit in realization. 'So those Treasure Hoarders were probably being controlled by him...'
"Ah, it seems you realized something. Care to share?" he asked.
"I'm pretty sure you already know. So, why did you do that?"
"Why? It's very simple," Ananke grinned, and then said, "I love humans. I love their experiences, how they act when presented with certain situations..." Ananke grin grew wider, almost shivering in excitement. "I adore it! I wanted to see how you humans would react when faced with a sudden fight, what would you do, how would you fight, what would you do after the fact... And of course, see how you grow from that predicament!"
I scoffed and said, "You have a weird way of expressing love if that's the case."
"Ah, yes, I have learned that, as a curse, I have a different kind of common sense from you humans... Well, let me put it like this." Ananke started slowly walking around, "Humans love their pets, don't they? They marvel when they learn new tricks, they curiously observe their behavior, they raise them, and they are companions that humans place great value in..." He paused for a moment, looking at me with a massive grin. "So just like that, I as a curse, love humans as well."
'This guy is completely sick in the head...'
"You put these young knights in danger just to... see how they react?" I clenched my fists, starting to get a bit frustrated.
"Oh, not at all. That's a secondary objective. It's an extra for me to see how they react and act when presented with a situation like that."
"So what's your true objective? To me, it seems like you want to control humanity because you see them as lesser." Frowning, I spoke with uncertainty. I didn't want to make him angry, but I just couldn't keep quiet and bow in submission.
"Lesser? Control? No, no. I don't want anything like that," he said, still pacing around. "It may seem contradictory, right? But all I want is for humans to be elevated to new heights... I alone will dictate their fate and destiny so they can grow... I am a necessity for humans to ascend and surpass their creators..."
"And you want to achieve that by, what, controlling people and putting them in difficult situations?"
"What other way is there? If some humans have to die for their peers to be elevated further in this world... What greater honor is there than that?!" Ananke laughed heartily.
After a few moments of laughter, he stopped. He looked at me and said, "It's the only way. If I have to pit nations against each other in a massive war, then so be it. Because I know that the result will only be humanity's growth..."
"Dani!" I recoiled, a voice calling me from behind.
It was Lina, trotting toward me. "C'mon, we already restrained most of them and you're here lazying around?" she asked, an annoyed look on her face.
I glanced at her and then back at Ananke. He grinned widely and said, "I will keep striving for your growth, and that of all humanity... We will meet again, Dani." As he said that, he slowly walked away, disappearing into the gentle snowfall.
"I was, uh, taking in the views," I told Lina.
"Well, come help us a bit, at least! We're almost there," she said.
"Alright..."
I helped with the cleanup while my mind was still on Ananke and our encounter.
He was most likely a special grade cursed spirit... Someone like him roaming around freely in Mondstadt won't end well.
If he truly is the manifestation of fear of control, then he must have some kind of mind control technique or something along those lines. If how the Treasure Hoarders acted is any indication, that's the most likely possibility.
Whatever the case, I'm nowhere near strong enough to try and challenge him.
'Now I have another reason to become stronger...'
We spent the next half an hour restraining the Treasure Hoarders and bringing them to the camp. They were still unconscious. Whether it was because they were probably being mind controlled by Ananke or I just went too hard on them, I didn't know.
"Alright, that's the last one," I said, placing one of the Treasure Hoarders' unconscious bodies near a big tent where all of them were being kept.
"Good job," Kaeya said, patting me on the back, "We'll keep them here for a bit. Some knights from headquarters will come and take them away."
Kaeya turned to the group of knights, who had just finished setting up camp. "No slacking off! Do your routine exercises, and we'll eat afterward."
An unison of grunts of frustration came from the knights, but they complied nonetheless.
"As for you, Dani. Make sure the Treasure Hoarders don't escape if they wake up," Kaeya said.
"Huh? Why me?" I asked, giving him an annoyed look. "You're making me do a lot of chores... I'm just the moral support here."
"Come on, you know that's not true," Kaeya said, chuckling. "Besides, the Knights will be paying you a handsome amount of money."
"Well, yeah..." I said, sitting next to the tent where the Treasure Hoarders were being kept. "At least keep me company, otherwise I'll get bored."
"You mean 'lonely'," Kaeya teased.
"I think you're just projecting."
"Heh, maybe so," he said, as he sat down on a nearby wooden crate, silence befalling our conversation.
But it didn't feel wrong. Normally, I'd hate being in silence with someone next to me, but now... Well, just being quiet with a new friend made in a new world, seeing how the knights struggle with exercise... It's not too bad.
Still, I have to stay alert. I don't know if Ananke will still be here or if he'll mess with us again...
_______________________________________________________________
It was night already, and it was significantly colder than before. A group of knights had come a few moments ago to retrieve the restrained Treasure Hoarders. All of them had woken up and were back to normal, but none of them really remembered what had happened. They even denied ever attacking us. Of course, no one believed them, but Kaeya had a glint in his eyes, almost like he was suspicious of something.
Nevertheless, after the Treasure Hoarders were taken away, it was time for rest.
I sat with Kaeya, Lina, and Mattias around a bonfire, the crackling of the fire serving as background noise to our conversation.
"And he... he fell down..." Kaeya said, stifling a laugh.
"C'mon, you still remember that?" I said, lightly shoving him.
"So Dani can be sloppy as well..." Mattias mused.
"That's kinda cute!" Lina added, her usual enthusiasm still present even at night.
Kaeya coughed, completely suppressing his laugh, and then said, "But you've grown quite a bit since that day. And in such a short amount of time as well."
I remembered the events of that day. How I was sidelined, and how immediately after I decided to be more involved in whatever I did. The binding vow certainly helped in my growth and provided a boon of strength that I otherwise wouldn't have, but taking that out of consideration I still grew in strength at a fast pace.
Gojo helped with that a lot. Now I can use Infinity, and my hand-to-hand combat has improved vastly thanks to our continuous spars.
"Well, I've taken things more seriously since then," I said.
Suddenly, a shadow moved past quickly behind Kaeya. It seemed I was the only one who noticed. The shadowy figure apparently intended for that, as it stood quietly in a nearby mound of snow.
The group continued conversing, while I glanced at the figure. It didn't seem to have any ill intentions, as it gestured for me to follow it.
It waited patiently, and I took the time to examine it. It had a hood and a mask covering his face, and his cloak slightly waved along with the light wind.
'It can't be anything bad... Besides, I think I recognize that figure...'
Standing up and getting the snow off my clothes, I said, "Be right back. Nature's calling."
Kaeya simply nodded, and continued talking with Mattias and Lina.
I went around the camp, walking up to the mound of snow where the figure was moments ago. A few dozen meters behind it, the figure stood waiting for me. I slid down the mound and approached the mysterious person.
Now closer to them, I could tell my suspicions were correct. A Fatui Agent. He stood with his arms crossed, tapping his foot on the snow.
"What do you need?" I said, immediately trying to get to the point.
"Nothing. I came here on behalf of Lady Signora." The fatuus took a pouch out of his cloak and threw it at me. "That's for you. Consider it a reward for your trust."
I caught the pouch, and I immediately could tell it was full of Mora. I smirked a bit and said, "Huh, I thought I told her I didn't need a reward... Well, I'm not complaining."
"We did a bit of digging on you... Lady Signora was surprised that you were mostly upfront and that you didn't lie or give a fake name. Take it as a reward of your good faith, " the agent explained.
"Well, I had no real reason to lie or give a fake name. The Fatui's intelligence network is probably unrivaled in all of Teyvat. You'd eventually find out, and it would only put a dent in our mutual trust. Besides, it's not like you guys would throw away a valuable piece like me, I got you a Gnosis after all," I said, fiddling with the pouch.
"Hm, that is true," the agent responded.
From behind, appearing from the shadows, a sickly and pale face leaned over the agent's shoulder. A big smile appeared on its face and then said, "We met again faster than I expected..."
'Ananke...!'
I stood there quietly, nervousness starting to brew. The agent turned around and said, "Know that you'll be rewarded by the Tsaritsa herself if your help to the Fatui continues like this..."
Ananke stepped to the side, and let the fatuus walk away. After moving his gaze from him to me, he waved.
"What do you want?" I asked, nervousness clear in my voice.
"Oh, I'm just waiting for someone," he responded.
"Someone...?"
"There he is," Ananke said, pointing behind me. I heard footsteps in the snow and a familiar voice.
"Hey, who were you talking to?" Turning around, I saw Kaeya approaching me.
Glancing at Ananke, he had an unnerving smile that made me sick to my stomach. Extending his hand, he said, "In conflict is where humans grow the most. In turmoil is where humans learn the most. And when confronted with a difficult decision..."
Closing his extended hand, my fears were confirmed. Kaeya suddenly stopped walking, and his eyes turned empty, his mouth now slightly agape. Just like the Treasure Hoarders, he was now in a trance, in a sleepwalking state.
"...Those who choose the right option will grow." As those words left Ananke's mouth, Kaeya lunged toward me, intending to tackle me and bring me to the ground.
I stepped to the side, Kaeya's hand burying into the snow. Turning around with extreme quickness, he already had materialized his sword. With a quick spin, he slashed sideways, his sword grazing my cheek.
He dashed again, thrusting his sword forward. I managed to stop it with Infinity, his trembling signaling the effort he was making to try and hit me.
"Oh..." Ananke had a look of wonder on his face, still maintaining that sick smile of his.
'Fuck, what do I do...'
It'd be more practical to just pluck the problem from its root and attack Ananke, but... I can't beat him. He could also control me, and not only that, but he's most definitely stronger than me in every aspect.
'So that only leaves one choice...'
Looking at Kaeya, I steeled my resolve. Turning off Infinity, I let his sword thrust come at me. Side-stepping it in the last moment, I buried my left fist in his stomach.
He was thrown back a few meters, but quickly regained his footing. His face remained the same, in a trance-like state, without showing a hint of pain or emotion.
Kaeya thrust his sword forward, a blast of ice forming in front of it. Activating Infinity just in time, the ice contorted around the invisible barrier. Seeing that Kaeya rushed forward, I kept it activated. Slashing his sword downward, it stopped in place. Taking this chance, I used the pouch full of mora to hit Kaeya's face.
In the middle of my attack, Kaeya pulled his sword back and thrust forward. His blade pierced my clothes and skin, blood pouring lightly on the white snow.
Jumping back, I applied pressure to the wound, trying to suppress the burning feeling.
Looking past Kaeya, Ananke was keenly observing our fight, his eyes sparkling with wonder, his hands clasped in excitement.
Taking a deep breath, I knew that I couldn't hold back anymore. I had to give it my all to knock out Kaeya and break him free from Ananke's control. From there, I didn't know what I'd do, but...
"Leave future problems to future me..." I muttered under my breath.
I dropped the pouch on the snow, and as the wind contorted to my fingers, I readied myself for a tough fight.