A whole day had gone by since the All-Devouring Narwhal was slain. Peace had returned to Fontaine, bathed in tense silence. It was no surprise; no one would be able to forget the sensation they felt when that primordial beast first appeared through that portal, bringing forth promised end and washing away all.
So when the next sunrise appeared, the city remained quiet. None of the usual hustle and bustle could be seen, and the streets were practically empty. There were a few Garde officers here and there to maintain the peace, but even they knew that their presence was pointless. No one would dare come out after they'd truly experienced how it felt to have the end of their lives hang above their necks.
In that lull, rumors began to spread. After all, though not every Fontainian had attended Lady Furina's trial the day before, but enough had seen and heard it all. Had witnessed that journalist flip the trial entirely, and expose a lie about Fontaine that had remained hidden for centuries. Saw the way she carried power no human should be able to wield, even if they had a Vision on their side.
Some recognized her—Vivianne of The Steambird. But that was the extent of their knowledge. Asking further found nothing more. Her background was no better than a mist. Even Charlotte, who'd worked with her from time to time, found herself perplexed at how empty Vivianne's life was before she seemingly appeared in Fontaine.
So people wondered. And theorized.
I didn't bother to listen to whatever ideas they were cooking up about me. And knowing my luck, it'd probably be either a 'god' or some divine entity. I always ended up being called that somehow.
Not that I cared much. Instead,
Woosh!
Childe went flying back, his Hydro spear shattered. But he swiftly spun mid-air and landed on his hands and feet, a wide grin stretched across his lips as his eyes bore into me. He straightened up, formed new Hydro spears in each hand, and he roared in laughter as he charged back at me.
I smiled as I weathered his animalistic assault with ease, my movements no different to a dance as my wooden baton struck with just enough force to divert his spear's trajectory. His spears missed me by inches, and I deliberately stopped my baton seconds away from slamming into his flesh.
But this spar wasn't just a show of blades.
Once my [Swords Dance] had built up enough speed, my leg blurred as I swept him off his feet. "Woah!" He said as he lost his balance, and then he grit his teeth as he saw my eyes flash blue, before my baton came rushing at him with all the speed I'd accumulated.
Last time, he'd been entirely overwhelmed, being sent flying like a ragdoll. He managed to defend this time, stabbing one spear into the ground before using it to leap above me, letting my baton crash into the spear alone. '
His back arched as he then attempted to stab my neck from behind, but my [Swords Dance] wasn't over. My speed carried over, and his eyes went wide as I spun and swung my baton at him. He winced as my baton slammed into his wrist, causing him to lose his grip on his Hydro spear. I then made use of the chance to slam my foot into his gut, sending him crashing back onto the floor.
"Better." I said, letting my wooden baton dangle from my fingers. "But not enough."
Childe coughed a few times before he shakily stood back up. "Fuu, this is nostalgic." He whispered, a grin growing across his face. "Man, you're awesome! Nothing like the Barbatos that Signora kicked!"
I tilted my head slightly. Once again, I was being compared to Barbatos, though he seemed to imply that he was…weaker than me? That couldn't be—Barbatos was a god that was thousands of years old, was he not? That was the same domain as Morax.
Hmm. I really should take a visit to Mondstadt. Just to see why so many people thought Barbatos and I were the same person.
And if things went alright, then I should be able to. After all, I did promise Furina that I'd show her around Teyvat when the time was right.
Ah, but that was a concern for later.
I saw arcs of Electro dancing across Childe's body, and he frowned as he saw me hold up my hand. "What?"
"I believe such a transformation is not needed for this moment, no?" I said, idly spinning my wooden baton. "Not to be arrogant, but I doubt it would make much difference. And besides, this is a moment of learning. Relying on that explosive strength would dilute our lesson."
He pouted, but complied. The buzzing of Electro died away. "So, what's the lesson?"
I distantly heard Arlecchino sigh from the distance, but I pretended not to notice. "What did you take away from our most recent spar, Childe?"
"Uh." He scratched his neck. "That you're stronger than me?"
Arlecchino sighed louder, followed by the soft giggles of the children from the House of the Hearth. I too chuckled. How simplistic—it reminded me almost of a dog. Though I suppose this is no surprise; he is the youngest of the Fatui Harbingers after all, and from what I've learnt, he became a Harbinger due to his combat prowess alone.
"That, yes." I agreed, before gently placing my baton back onto the ground. "But what about during the battle itself? What did you notice?"
Childe thought for a moment. "...fast." He eventually whispered.
I nodded. That was sufficient for now. "Indeed. Throughout that entire bout, I was faster than you." And I could've been faster, but that would've been overkill. "From the way you battle, I assume you rely heavily on your own speed, and so you found yourself incapable of performing optimally when faced with something that outclasses your own speed."
I sat down on the floor, and I gestured for him to do the same. He nodded and sat down in front of me. "So, what can I do?"
I smiled. It was good to see that he had no arrogance in admitting his faults. "My speed may outclass yours, but that is not the end." I hummed. "Speed is useless without agility. And agility is hampered without observation." I met his gaze. "This is the reason you were unable to break through my [Swords Dance]."
"So I'm not smart enough." He said simply, seemingly not too bothered by his own words.
I shook my head. "That matters not in this scenario. Instead, I would say that you rely too much on your instincts." I let my words hang for a moment, before my hand suddenly blurred forward, my finger stopping just an inch from his neck. "But there exists those who can surpass even the instincts of a well-seasoned fighter."
A bead of sweat rolled down Childe's neck as he grinned. "Woah."
I pulled my finger back. "One's instincts is dependent on the worldly conditions you find yourself within." I gently spun my finger. "And though that can change with training, many are able to diffuse their own presence and intent, striking at any moment you lose your concentration."
And in the end, that was the crux of his style of battle. Once he got into his groove, he stopped 'being' human, so to say, and he began fighting more like a beast. I knew that it was something he learnt due to his experience in the Abyss, and that it was something that'd take years for him to unlearn.
I wasn't sure how I knew that part of his history, but I wasn't going to question it. At this point my possible backgrounds had grown so large that it was practically pointless.
"So I need to keep focusing on the fight." Childe said, humming thoughtfully as he created a Hydro spear in his hand.
I hummed. "I know it will be hard, but it is essential. And once you do," I poked his forehead. "You can begin merging what you have learnt with your beastly aggression. You cannot simply lose sight of your opponent, you hear?"
He grinned as he gave me a salute. "Right'O!"
I nodded as I stood up. I waved my hand, and a swirling sphere of Anemo appeared in the middle of the room. "Next, I want you to attempt to break through that sphere I have created. Use any method you wish, though it would be best if you attempt to do so using Hydro alone if you wish to learn."
He said nothing more as he quickly stood up and began throwing himself at the sphere like a battering ram. And as expected, he was quickly sent flying back, though he quickly stood back up and resumed his attempts. I shook my head gently as I turned away and began walking. Soon enough, I made it to the room neighboring the one I'd been in, and I smiled. "I hoped I didn't leave you waiting too long, did I?"
And there, sitting on one of the couches was Furina, with a cup of warm tea in her hands. "No, no." She smiled, her previous tension forgotten once she saw me enter. "It's completely fine!" She blinked as she saw Childe's back slam into the window, before she giggled as she saw him shout in excitement.
"That fool." Arlecchino sighed as she took a sip of her own tea, sitting on the couch opposite of Furina's. "I do have to apologize. This is, unfortunately, how he normally is."
I waved off her words. "It's fine, it's fine." I smiled wryly. "I have dealt with much worse, trust me." And by that I mean Raiden Ei. Because at least Childe was willing to learn. That girl was no better than a piece of stone once she got distracted.
Arlecchino raised an eyebrow. "Than I fear for when he meets whoever it is you speak of."
I chuckled. "That would be quite the day indeed."
Here's the thing. After their most recent 'betrayal', Furina could hardly stay at the Palais Mermonia without feeling uncomfortable, especially with the Ludex watching her like a hawk. So, since I already promised to spar with Childe the day before, I decided to bring her to the House of the Hearth.
At first I worried that she might be uncomfortable due to Arlecchino, who seemed to have some history with her, but to my surprise nothing much occurred. Through my winds, I even heard Arlecchino express respect to Furina, thanking her for her tireless work over the past 500 years.
And while I certainly had my reservations about the Fatui—the methods some of the Harbingers employed were not ones I could tolerate—I was thankful that at least some of them had some basic decency.
"I must ask; is it true that you wish to bring Furina away from Fontaine?" Arlecchino then asked. "Because if so, then I believe that would be difficult. I doubt the Ludex would be so willing to part with her."
I barely resisted a scoff. "Ha, sure. But I would convince him one way or another." I then sat down next to Furina. "And if he remains stubborn, then all I must do is air out his actions over the past few weeks. I'm sure the citizens of Fontaine would show quite the reaction."
And I was serious. I didn't know the Ludex that well, but I could tell he seemed to dislike me for some reason. Perhaps because he was the next Hydro Sovereign and I had some of his power, or perhaps because I'd stood against him, or whatever else. The reason mattered not; if he would continue forcing Furina to remain, then I would treat him similarly to the Destiny that'd shackled Furina for so long.
While I was taken by my own thoughts, I didn't notice the way Furina's cheeks reddened as I sat next to her, or the way she not-so-subtly scooted closer to me.
Arlecchino smiled secretly as she saw her do so.
In truth, she remained unsure regarding me. After observing me for the past few hours, she didn't know which Barbatos was the real one. Was the supposed drunkard La Signora had struck the truth, or was this soft-spoken yet imposing regality the truth that hid beneath it?
She supposed it didn't matter much. She had already reported it to her Lady. She just needed to listen to her orders.
"May I ask something?"
I blinked as Arlecchino asked. "Ah, what is it?"
She hummed. "I am unsure if I saw it wrong, but I believe you attempted to…shatter the Gnosis when you first received it." Furina squeaked in surprise when she heard that, sending a shocked gaze my way. "Is that true?"
I hummed. She noticed that? How observant. "Yes, you are right." Furina's jaw fell, and I chuckled as I held her jaw and gently pushed it close. Her cheeks reddened even more. "I was simply curious, that's all. I happen to be friends with someone who was capable of shattering a Gnosis with her strength alone, and so I wanted to see if I could do the same." I held up my hands helplessly. "As you'd seen, I'm not quite there yet."
"...interesting." Arlecchino eventually said, mind racing as she digested my words. Someone capable of shattering a Gnosis? That was a feat even her Archon wasn't able to do. "And why would you do so?"
I opened my mouth, and then blinked as I heard Childe's excited scream. I turned around, and saw him trying to break through my Anemo sphere with his own Hydro sphere he created in his hands. I chuckled, before I cleared my throat. "It's quite the long story, but simply put, a Gnosis contains power that Celestia stole. Breaking it would cause that power to be released back into Teyvat, and would drastically change Destiny."
That was how much I could say without diving into forbidden territory. Since Celestia's Destiny was still working as intended here, they could probably detect my forbidden knowledge if I even whispered it.
Well, if everything went well, Destiny shouldn't remain stagnant for much longer.
"Fascinating." Arlecchino leaned forward, now interested in whatever knowledge I might have. "If I may be so bold, would you be willing to share why you place such emphasis on Destiny?"
I smiled. "Of course, though it'd be quite the long story."
She smiled back. "I have more than enough time."
I nodded, and so I began explaining the concepts of Destiny and the False Sky that hung above, though I was careful to not mention anything that overtly involved Celestia or the previous incarnation of Teyvat they had done so much to hide.
And making use of the chance, Furina scooted just a little closer.