In the darkness of night, Eldrin could be seen standing there with his hands behind his back,yet his mind was absent from reality.
In Eldrin's mind.
A little boy of 8 years could be seen talking with a woman who seemed to be his mother.
"Mom,where did i really come from,we don't look alike"asked the child with curiosity and innocence.
The woman sighed when she heard this,the boy was unusually mature for his age, though she expected him to eventually ask that question.
"We found you in a cave near the village, your father and I always believed you were a gift from god,so we took you in."answered the woman with a gentle smile while ruffling the boy's hair.
The boy nodded in surprising understanding, the boy was not angry or sad, after all, they were his only family; their memories together cannot be erased for something beyond their control.
"What does protecting the light mean mom?"asked the boy with a child's curiosity.
The woman's expression turned serious, and she said.
"It is our clan's great purpose ,we were once a family of peasants who became mercenaries trying to make a living, our ancestors had to kill a lot of innocent people,most of them couldn't bear it and ended themselves due to guilt, the only ones who remained were a few who took it upon themselves to build this clan that teaches how to protect instead of how to kill, the light has a lot of meanings, it could mean a better future, or protecting those in need,but more importantly fighting against the darkness that threatens to consume it all, refusing to kneel before it"
Suddenly, a panicked voice filled with fear was heard from outside.
"INVAD-
PIERCE!
The sound of flesh getting pierced could be heard from outside.
The father who was asleep, suddenly woke up and grabbed his sword.
"We need to go now, Basilia!"said the man, his instincts already kicking in,he then walked vigilantly and opened the door and what he saw was chaos, the clan's guards were locked into a fight with multiple armed invaders,thought each clan member was an elite brave warrior they were simply outnumbered and killed one by one.
The husband gestured his wife to follow him,but unfortunately they were spotted by two invaders.
CLANG! CLANG!
The husband suddenly shouted as he was locked in a fight with the two invaders.
"BASILIA, TAKE THE KID AND RUN NOW!"
However the woman was unwilling to let her husband die.
"I SAID RUN!"shouted the husband with a trace of anger.
Balisia finally took the kid and run into the wood's,and after 15 minutes of running nonstop,she stopped panting heavily.
However footsteps broke the silence,the woman looked behind only to see an invader,his eyes were cold holding no trace of warmth for what he was about to do.
He pulled his sword and thrust it into the womans abdomen.
SLASH!
Yet through sheer will, the woman still stood pulling the shocked man closer and at the same time biting his neck and sealing his fate.
Thud!
Both figures collapsed at the same time.
The trembling young boy said in a trembling voice.
"Mom?"
The woman who was still alive thought not for long answered.
"Come here Michael"
The boy hurriedly went to his mother with barely contained tears.
The woman looked into the boy's eyes and said.
"Do not fall into the darkness,no matter what you have to do you must protect the light,i always knew you were meant for a great purpose when i saw you,perhaps god sent you here t-"
Yet the woman could not finish her sentence and took her last breath, leaving the young Michael or Eldrin alone in this cruel world while bestowing him a great purpose or a great curse.
Back into reality.
"I am so tired" muttered Eldrin in an unusual shaky voice,he was apparently going through an episode.
After a few moments, the mask was back on and his face turned resolute and he muttered.
''It has been 391 years since your death Mom, but know this, i will not fail you,no matter what, I will fight for the light."
In castle made of ice stood two figures waiting for someone.
"Have you made your decision"said Eldrin who suddenly appeared before them.
Tsaritsa's gaze turned complicated, but then asked.
"Are you gonna kill them?"
"Most of them yes,though not those with some light in their heart"answered Eldrin honestly.
Tsaritsa sighed and asked.
"How can I be sure that you posses the power to defeat the heavenly principles?''
Eldrin simply raised his hand towards the sky, and after a few moments, something terrifying happened, the whole sky was covered in a carpet of darkness,it spanned for 1000's of kilometers reaching even liyue.
Eldrin then spoke with oumost sincerety.
"No matter what happens, even if the heavenly principles themselves show up,I will protect your people, this is my promise to you as long as you disband the fatui and hand me their location"
Tsaritsa could see the sincerety in his words and with a final sigh she handed over their location.
"Anything you want anything you need, just say my name and I will be there as fast as I can,farewell for now, your majesty"
Eldrin the teleported away, the carpet of darkness also dissipating.
First target, the Doctor