(Chapter 17 Oceanid)
"Seven hells..."
Tempest muttered to himself as he took in the sight before him, the Lawachurl completely severed in half with a clean cut. Blood still gushed from its bisected body, creating a horrendous scene that would make any ordinary person vomit and turn away in horror. But Tempest just stood there, unfazed, staring at the aftermath of his decisive strike.
His entire outfit was a mess, with blood staining every fabric. He remembered everything vividly, yet he wasn't the one in control, he had merely witnessed the entire scene unfolding before his eyes. The red shade in his eyes had faded, and the Pyro manifestation of hands and blade had vanished, leaving him standing amidst the aftermath of the brutal battle.
"Tsk... My head hurts..."
Tempest said to himself as he put his hand on his head.
"Turn around and let me see your eyes."
Constantine said with a threatening expression. He pointed his swords at Tempest. He was unsure if Tempest was in control of his own body or if some unknown force had taken over. The tension was palpable as Constantine's eyes searched Tempest's for any sign of recognition or assurance.
"Lower your sword, Teacher, it's me."
Tempest turned around to see Constantine pointing his rapier at him.
"Say something that the Young Master would say."
Constantine spoke to him with a threatening expression, his swords still raised and unwavering. He remained cautious, not yet ready to lower his guard.
Tempest sighed and responded to him.
"Clean your hellhole that you call your room..."
Constantine lowered his rapier and sighed, finally dropping the threatening face.
"You alright?"
Constantine approached him while sheathing his swords.
"I am... My head just feels heavy..."
"Your ribs?"
Constantine asked him.
"Hurts... But I can still walk, let's move to the shrine."
Constantine nodded in response.
"That's enough using your Pyro Delusion, you have clearly suffered its side effects, for now take this."
Constantine handed over his katana to Tempeset, still sheathed in its scabbard.
"Fine by me."
Tempest grasped his katana with his right hand while retrieving his Pyro Delusion from his pocket with his left hand.
Tempest took a deep breath and emptied his mind, pushing away the horrible memories of his Father. Instead, he focused on the times he cherished, the lullabies from his Mother when he was young, the moments spent with Penance, the heartfelt conversations he had with his new friends in the court, the Melusines... And his mind subconsciously thinks back of the beautiful heterochromatic eyes of the Hydro Archon.
And with that, his Delusion started to dim and revert back to its original state.
"No more using your Delusion, Young Master. I'm not suggesting this time."
Tempest simply nodded in response and put back his Delusion in his pocket.
"I need a long bath after this..."
Tempest said in frustration as the bloodied clothing he was wearing was making him uncomfortable.
"Same here, but how are we going to explain this... Mess?"
Constantine said while looking at the corpses that littered the forest clearing especially the giant decapitated body of the Lawachurl.
"Hm... Permission to use my Delusion one last time for today?"
Constantine turned to Tempest and raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"They will most likely believe we survived a Hilichurl encounter since you're here with me, but that big one over there? They will most likely not believe we took it down just the two of us."
Tempest said while looking at the Lawachurl's decapitated corpse.
"Indeed, they most likely won't believe us, so? What are you planning to do?"
"I'm going to burn the body down to the last bone, leaving nothing but dust."
Tempest declared grimly.
Constantine's eyes widened, but he quickly sighed and responded.
"No need."
"Hm?"
Tempest turned to Constantine.
"They'll believe us. I'm Constantine, after all, the Blademaster."
Constantine asserted confidently.
"Let's just say I handled the big one, and you assisted with the smaller ones. I've encountered those big creatures before in my long journey, and I always emerge victorious. I just don't want you to overuse your Delusion Young Master. The side effects have already shown, and I'd rather not witness them again."
After finishing his statement, Constantine turned to Tempest, his expression serious, yet tinged with a hint of concern in his eyes.
"Very well then, let's move on to the shrine then."
Tempest walked past Constantine toward the shrine, dismissing the idea of burning the Lawachurl's corpse. Constantine smiled, pleased that Tempest had agreed to his suggestion, and he followed after him.
"So, is it true that an Oceanid resides in Egeria's shrine?"
Tempest said to Constantine as they walked towards the shrine.
"It's true, Young Master."
Constantine explained solemnly as they walked towards the shrine.
"She goes by the name of Maris. Legends speak of this place as where Egeria wept for an entire week when her supposed lover, the God of the sun, Ra, departed Teyvat for the sun. Egeria's tears are said to have blessed the shrine's waters, making them as pure as any found in Teyvat. After Egeria died in the cataclysm, and the Oceanids left Fontaine, refusing to serve the new Hydro Archon, Maris took residence here to safeguard the pristine waters in the shrine."
Constantine finished his explanation.
"Is that so? Intriguing..."
"It is a tradition for the villagers to come to the shrine once a month, offering gifts to the Oceanid and paying their respects to the fallen god."
Constantine added.
"Well, we have come empty-handed..."
Tempest said.
"Haha, we are not gonna stay for long, we simply need to check if there are Hilichurls threatening the shrine."
Tempest nodded in response, and after a while of walking, they finally arrived at the shrine's entrance.
"Be gone from this place heathens! This place will not be defiled with your presence!"
A booming female voice echoed from inside the shrine, its sound reverberating through the tranquil surroundings.
Suddenly, Hilichurls poured out from the stairs of the shrine, appearing as if they were in retreat from within.
"Ho-oh? Where do you think you're all going?!"
Constantine said while he unsheathed his black longsword, preparing for battle with a focused determination. Tempest mirrored his actions, drawing his katana with a stoic expression.
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."Ika... Odumu..."
Tempest slashed the last remaining Hilichurl's neck with a clean cut.
"Well, that was underwhelming."
Constantine said while he sheathed his long sword.
"There are only a few of them here, most likely we intercepted the main forces earlier."
Tempest said as he sheathed the katana gracefully.
"Let's get moving, there's most likely more up there."
Tempest agreed by nodding and they quickly climbed up the stairs to the shrine.
"Woah!"
Constantine yelped in surprise as he and Tempest were swiftly surrounded by golem-like creatures made entirely of water, their single green eyes glaring with anger.
In the distance, an Oceanid in her true form could be seen, engaged in a battle with a masked, bluish-furry creature wielding a small staff. With a swift gesture, she imprisoned her adversary within a water bubble prison. She turned her head towards Tempest and Constantine.
"We mean no harm! Great one!"
Constantine shouted while he dropped his sword to the ground and raised his hand in surrender. Tempest does the same, dropping his katana, but doesn't raise his hands in surrender.
"Explain yourselves, outlanders, if you intend to not become like this intruder."
The Oceanid commanded while she showed Tempest and Constantine the imprisoned Abyss mage slowly drowning.
"We simply came here to check on the shrine, Great one, since we saw Hilichurls marching towards here."
Constantine said.
"There are more?"
"No, Great one. We have dealt with them, there shouldn't be any more coming to the shrine."
The Oceanid gazed at Tempest and Constantine for a brief moment before finally responding.
"I thank you, outlanders, what are your names?"
The Hydro golems surrounding them both transformed into water droplets and dispersed, moving to clean up the bodies of the fallen Hilichurls scattered around the shrine.
"I am Constantine and this is my companion, Tempest Proudmoore."
Constantine said while he gestured to Tempest.
"Mm"
Tempest muttered.
"A Proudmoore? It has been a long time since your lineage graced this shrine, yet I sense a malevolent aura emanating from you."
Spoke the Oceanid, with a swift turn she transformed into her human form, landing gracefully on the ground. Her long, flowing blue hair and piercing blue eyes marked her unmistakably as an Oceanid.
"It's nothing..."
Tempest replied to her, keeping his emotionless and unreadable face.
"You seem injured, Proudmoore, come."
The Oceanid gestured for Tempest and Constantine to follow her. After exchanging a quick glance with each other, they picked up their swords and followed her lead.
As they walked across the grounds of the shrine, Tempest couldn't help but sense the sacred aura enveloping the place. Crystal-clear waters flowed gently, Hydro golem creatures roamed peacefully nearby, and at the far end of the shrine, they reached a serene pool of water. In the center stood a statue of Egeria, water constantly flowing out of her eyes.
"How long have you been here?"
Tempest couldn't help but question her.
"Many centuries have passed since then, so long that I have lost count. Yet, I do recall your ancestor aiding me in constructing this sanctuary... It has been so long that even I have forgotten his name."
Spoke the Oceanid with a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
"I see."
The Oceanid looked at Tempest and said.
"As thank you for helping me deal with the intruders, submerge yourself in the pool, and your wounds shall heal, Proudmoore."
The Oceanid said, Tempest looked at Constantine and he nodded in response.
"Very well, thank you."
Tempest removed his boots, returned the katana to Constantine, and descended the stairs leading to the pool.
'Cold...'
Tempest thought to himself as Tempest's feet touched the water, he felt an immediate sense of relief. Without hesitation, he submerged himself fully, leaving only his face above the surface to breathe. He could feel the healing properties of the water beginning to work on his wounds.
The blood on his clothes dissolved into the crystal-clear water, not even staining the water. Tempest could feel the healing properties of the water as his ribs mended and his injuries began to heal, the soothing sensation enveloping his entire body.
'Hmph... This isn't so bad... Not bad at all...'
Tempest thinks to himself.
"Drink, Proudmoore, and the malevolent aura within you shall be cleansed."
The Oceanid offered him a goblet of water, Tempest got up from the pool.
He takes the goblet and contemplates it before drinking it.
'Cleanse my malevonant aura? Does she mean my Delusion? This will most likely stop me from using my Delusion ever again...'
Tempest thinks to himself, he then looks at the Oceanid.
"Can I ask you a question?"
The Oceanid tilted her head in confusion.
"What is it? Proudmoore?"
"What do you think of the current Hydro Archon?"
Tempest asked her his question, curious to know what an Oceanid thinks of Lady Furina after 500 years.
"The usurper?"
Tempest's face immediately darkened to the Oceanid's simple two words... In the end, nothing has changed The Proudmoores and the Oceanids were all the same.
"We're leaving."
Tempest got up from the pool and handed her back the goblet.
"Eh? Young Master?"
Constantine said in confusion as he saw Tempest getting out of the pool.
"Thank you, Maris, for the healing, but we must take our leave now."
Tempest wears his boots and makes his way out of the shrine.
"Wait! Young Master!"
Constantine said, he turned around to bow his head to the Oceanid.
"Forgive him, Great one, and thank you for the healing, we will not forget this kind gesture."
Constantine immediately ran to catch up to Tempest.
"I thought I had found a great ally for our cause... In the end, nothing has changed... Proudmoores, Oceanids, they're all the same..."