____________________
The Little star fell landed on a thick bamboo forest.
Desperate to go home, she tried jumping and flapping her arms in an effort to go back to her parents in the skies above.
She called out her Mama's and Papa's names yet received no response.
Alone and cold, the little star began to cry.
She cried and cried for many days.
Until one day, the Wind herself heard her plea and decided to help the little Lost Star.
Cradled in her arms, the Wind promise to take the Little Star to the Highest mountain so that she can reunite with her parents once more.
- The Tales of the Little Lone Star
____________________
After briefly bidding farewell to her staff and making sure that her four adorable children are well protected by two of her most powerful familiars, Artoria went towards the upper most part of the Wangshu Inn, a place she considered the most secluded.
She told her confidants that she wanted to be alone for an hour or two, which was her cover for the personal task she had resigned herself to perform.
When she arrived at the building's most secluded site, she felt a pair of eyes watching over her from the shadows.
She felt an inquisitive gaze yet felt no trace of malice behind them, just pure curiosity.
She smiled, 'So it appears that he's here after all, and I thought that he will be out on a scouting mission of sort.'
Artoria allowed her lone hidden audience to observe her as she goes near the railings facing south, towards the direction of Liyue Harbor. And from out of nowhere Artoria suddenly spoke.
"Don't be too surprise on what I'm about to do Little Bird, it's only magic! I'll see you later."
With a simple flick of her wrist, she casted an invisibility spell upon herself. In less than a second her form became a shimmering, ethereal blur that vanished in afternoon light.
With a stealth that far exceeds that of any mortal, she easily glided herself down towards the river bank below where she last saw the child.
*****
Just a few seconds after she disappeared, a short being emerged from the shadows just a few meters away from where Artoria was last spotted.
It wasXiao.
With a look of pure bewilderment plastered on his face, he immediately went over the spot where the woman had once stood.
He tried to look for any traces of residual elemental energy but found none…a perfect get away spell.
Never once had he witnessed or heard such a technique, may it be adeptal art or foreign. It seemed like she just vanished out of thin air!
'This mortal woman', he thought.
No, no mortal can perform such spell on that calibur. Clearly she's more than what she appears to be.
*****
Her descent was effortless.
A silent, graceful dance through the air similar yet more thrilling than gliding. The very wind itself cushioned her movements, bending to her will and making sure that she's safe.
She landed on the soft, damp earth without making a single sound. This was the place where she last saw her, and now the place where she will begin her search.
Coated with an invisibility spell and supernatural stealth, Artoria was now a shadow, a whisper, a phantom hidden within the wind.
She briefly searched the area with her divine eyes now scanning every single inch of the surroundings with a supernatural precision.
She found only a few torn pieces of dirty rags hanging in the reeds, probably pieces torn from the child's garments during her escape.
All evidence pointed southwards, so Artoria tapped into a small fragment of her divinity and extended her senses exponentiallu across a considerable large area south of the Inn.
With her abilities now partially unleashed, she could now feel the most subtle movements of the wind, the inert energies of the land, and the souls of all living creatures under her radar.
She could feel the schools of fishes swimming in the river, the flock of birds flying in the sky, the insects crawling on the ground.
She could feel the very pulse of life itself, a vibrant, symphony of existence.
…
But then, she sensed it, a very foreign energy, one that is so different from the ones present on this earth.
It was so small, hardly noticable even yet present. It was a fragment, a very small sliver of malevolent power that was somewhat left behind along a distant river bank.
This energy was somewhat slowly polluting the very ground and water around it.
It was dark, cold and malevolent like a creeping dread that sent shivers down to any living being's spine who were unfortunate enough to get close to it.
She knows that dark energy very well.
She first encountered it almost five years ago when it ultimately took the life of the veteran adventurer Doug and had almost corrupted the soul of her son Bennett while he was still an infant!
It was energy, a dark presence that shouldn't belong in this realm.
Abyssal energy.
Artoria's mind immediately went into overdrive, trying to speculate and connect the dots.
Could it really be the Abyss that was responsible for the series of mysterious phenomenon that had been plaguing this area for the past two years?
The disappearance of that entire village?
The strange ghosty apparitions that were described by that old historian Master Fu?
The systematic hunt and subsequent disappearance for people with connections to the old gods and magic?
The pieces were now starting to fall into place forming grim mosaic of a possible grand sinister plot happening behind the shadows.
The Abyss, or rather the Abyss Order, was probably at play here.
They were not just some random and mindless conglomerate of monsters.
They were organized.
They were methodical.
And worst of all, they had a purpose.
From what she can gather of her past memories pertaining to this dark organization, their purpose does not only including sowing chaos and destruction all across the seven nations. No, they aim for something more, something deeper, something more insidious.
Does the Qixing know about this? Surely they could not just stand by and sit on their pretty little offices while the Abyss is cooking a potential catastrophe underneath their feet?
How about the Adepti? And more importantly, what about the Geo Archon, her colleague, Rex Lapis, does he know about this?
This is his nation, his domain and being the god of the very rock and soil itself, surely he must have sensed something dark and malevolent slithering its way within his territory!
Regardless of the situation, the higher ups of this nation must be informed. She doesn't even want to imagine what sort of problem this could situation could impose in Liyue.
She's even concern if such a scenario would somehow in someway, affect her own country of Mondstadt.
But for now though, her first priority is to look for that child and to make sure that she is safe, especially now that she just found out that the Abyss might just be hiding somewhere around the corner!
She concentrated further, turning her divine senses into a set of finely tuned instruments, a divine radar that could pierce through the veil of the mundane.
After a few short moments, she finally sensed it.
A very small life signature that clearly belonged to a human, much more so to a child.
A small faint, flickering flame of existence that is located not too far from where she was standing.
She then proceeded towards the location.
She moved like flash of light in the dappled shade of the riverside trees.
Soon she found a broken wooden bridge, and noticed a sort of small cavern hidden just beneath it, covered in piles of leaves and garbage, just small enough for an adult to pass through.
The entrance was partially obscured, a clever disguise that would have gone unnoticed by any normal person.
She, however, can sense that someone is inside it.
Carefully and gently, she approached the small hidden place.
When she was at the foot of the entrance, she gently called out with a soft, melodic voice.
"Hello? Is anybody there?"
Silence.
The only sound that can be heard was the gentle lapping of the nearby river against the banks, a rhythmic, soothing melody yet not one that remotely belongs to a human.
She called out yet again. She had to be patient and gentle in her approach.
"Is anybody there? I'm not here to hurt you, I promise. I just want to talk."
And then a voice answered, a small, hesitant voice that sounded like a fragile whisper that was barely audible.
"Go away."
The voice was that of a child, a young girl, and it was laced with a tone of fear and defiance that was both heartbreaking and admirable.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Artoria said, her voice was down to a warm and comforting murmur.
"I just want to make sure that you're alright."
"I'm okay," the child replied, her voice now a little firmer, a little more confident, as if she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince Artoria.
"I don't need your help…Now go away!"
Artoria's heart ached with a mixture of pity and admiration.
This child appears to be a fighter, a survivor of sorts. She must had experienced a lot of hardships for her to become what she is right now.
She's a little warrior in a world that was clearly a cruel and unforgiving place.
"My name is Artoria." she said in a gentle, motherly tone.
"What's your name little one?"
Silence again. Artoria could feel the child's hesitation, her fear, her mistrust.
She knew that she had to be patient and that she had to earn her trust.
"You can tell me your name." Artoria said in a soft reassuring voice.
"I won't hurt you. I promise."
There was a long pause, and then the child spoke again. Her voice was now but a soft, pitiful whisper.
"You can... you can come in. But….but you have to promise you won't hurt me okay?!"
"I promise." Artoria replied with a sincere, heartfelt vow.
"I would never hurt you. You have my word."
Artoria then entered the small cavern, her movements were slow and careful. The cavern was so small and cramped that she had to literally crawl from the entrance just to get inside it.
Once inside, Artoria noted that the place was littered with all sorts of garbage, wooden planks, and even some dirty, thrown-out pillows.
The air was thick with the smell of decay, a foul, unpleasant odor that was a testament to the child's harsh living conditions.
It was barely illuminated by the light that came from one candle stick. Its flame was flickering weakly against the darkness, casting long, dancing shadows on the damp, moldy walls.
And near the dim, flickering candlelight, she finally saw who she was looking for.
She was a small, scrawny girl, with long, unkempt dark brown hair that was matted with dirt and grime.
She was wearing what sort of look like a brown dirty rag made from mishmash pieces of clothing, which was tattered and torn in different places.
Her arms were covered in bandages, which were stained with a few bits of dried up blood and dirt.
She was shivering…the poor child was shivering.
She was holding a small, broken, rusted knife in her small, trembling hands.
Her expression clearly showed a mixture of fear and defiance.
Her eyes which possessed a beautiful shade of crimson, were now a pair of wary, cautious embers.
They hold a fire within them, a fire that was still burning, even in the darkest of times.
Artoria's own eyes now moistened as a wave of immense sorrow was now washing over her.
This child...She looked no older than her little Jean!
To her, no child should ever have to live a life like this!
No child should ever have to endure such hardship…such suffering!
Thankfully, the dimness of the cavern masked Artoria's distress from the gaze of the child.
Artoria then sat on the ground, not even minding the dirt and the grime that now stained her fancy Liyuen styled dress.
She tried to engage in small talk with the child, her voice still carried the gentle motherly tone she had initially portrayed.
"What's that you're holding little one?" she asked, gesturing towards the broken, rusted knife.
"It's my 'sword'." the child replied with a voice clealry proud and defiant.
"I use it to protect myself from bad people."
"You must be very brave," Artoria said with a sincere heartfelt praise that betrayed the inner turmoil she's currently experiencing in her heart.
The child's chest puffed out, a small, proud smile now plastered on her face.
"I am brave. I'm not scared of anything!"
"I'm sure you are."
Artoria smiled as her eyes continued to moisten at the sight of the child before her.
Her divine heart now ached with a mixture of admiration and overwhelming pity!
This child, this brave little warrior, had a spirit that was as fierce as a lion's. A spirit that refused to be broken.
But then, the child's stomach now let out a loud, embarrassing rumble, a sound that echoed through the small, cramped cavern.
The child's face immediately turned a bright shade of red, a look of embarrassment now washing over her grime-filled features.
She scrambled to get a small pouch from behind her wherein she took a small piece of what appeared to be an moldy bread.
Artoria then watched in horror as the little girl then began to chew on it, her small, delicate features now mask of stoic resolve.
Artoria could no longer stand to watch the sight before her. It slowly broke her heart to see this young girl, this little warrior, reduced to eating moldy bread!
Her dignity was now but a fragile shield against the harsh, cruel reality of her existence.
She had to do something. She had to help her!
So, while the child was distracted, Artoria conjured up a large tray of freshly cooked food consisting of platters of roasted meat, fish, bread and some noodles.
A silent, effortless act of magic and mercy.
The smell of fresh and hot delicious food became a tantalizing symphony of aromas that now filled the small, cramped cavern, overpowering the foul, unpleasant odor of decay that was present.
The smell of the food froze the child, who was halfway through finishing her bread.
She looked at the tray being held by the mysterious lady in front of her. Her young eyes now wide with a mixture of child-like shock and disbelief!
Artoria gave out a warm, gentle and reassuring smile, and gently placed the tray of food in between her and the child.
The child, without a moment's hesitation, scrambled forward to get her hands on the smorgasbord that was laid before her!
Her small, trembling hands became a blur of motion as she grabbed pieces of cooked meat and freshly baked bread.
She began to devour the feast laid before her. Her actions portrayed her as if she hadn't eaten in days!
Her hunger was now a ravenous, insatiable fire!
Artoria watched, with a sad and sorrowful expression on her face, as the scrawny little girl began to desperately shove food into her mouth.
The scene before her painted a clear picture of a life of hunger and desperation…a life that no child should ever have to endure.
She imagined her own children, her own precious little babies, hungry and alone with barely having anything to eat, and it pained her heart so much! The mere thought was enough to make her cry!
She then once again waved her hand, which conjured a small, glowing orb of golden light which nestled perfectly in her palm. Its soft and gentle glow further illuminated the small dimly lighted cavern.
A warm, comforting light that pushed back the shadows.
The child paused for a moment with her mouth now stuffed full of food. Her eyes widen with a mixture of wonder and awe.
She looked at the glowing golden orb with a look of pure and unadulterated amazement plastered on her face.
"What... what is that? It…it's so pretty." She asked, her voice still soft like a hesitant whisper.
"It's magic little one." Artoria replied as she gently played with the orb before presenting it infront of the child.
"Like....like a vision?" The child suddenly had a look of fear in her eyes.
The word Vision in Liyue was sometimes associated with the divine mandate of heaven, but for a child who had once cursed the divine for all the miserable things that had happened throughout her life, a Vision is a symbol of divine punishment…a divine punishment that might befell on her at any given moment!
Artoria gently shook her head.
"No my dear. Not that kind. It's a kind of magic that... helps people. A kind of magic that... brings forth light that shines away the darkness."
She then urged the child to continue eating.
"Don't worry, little one. The food is not going anywhere. You can take your time."
Artoria, through her magic, then brought forth a jar of apple juice for refreshment. Its sweet and tangy nectar was sure to quench the child's thirst.
She then just watch with a motherly smile as the hungry child continue to devour her meal, her small, delicate features now showed a face of pure, unadulterated bliss.
*****
After finishing the magical albeit impromptu feast, the child leaned back against the muddy wall of her lair with her small, round belly slightly bulging out.
She let out a small, satisfied burp that was both cute and endearing.
"Why?....Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice initially low and soft like a hesitant question.
"What do you mean, little one?"
"Why….why are you being so nice to me?" the child replied, her voice was now a little firmer, a little more confident than before.
"Grown-ups... they're not usually nice to me. They….they…." The little girl paused for a moment before continuing.
"They usually do bad things to me."
A single tear rolled down Artoria's cheek as a silent, sorrowful tribute for the child's pain.
She wanted nothing more at that moment than to just barge in and give the child a big warm hug, all the while telling her that things are going to be alright, but she restrained herself, for her actions might just scare off the little girl before her.
"I...." Artoria suddenly found herself unable to properly conveyed the words. Her eyes once again began to moisten as she tried to desperately tell the child the sorrow being churned inside her divine heart.
"I…. I'm just trying…to be nice to you….because I fell that you….deserve to be treated with kindness and respect."
Artoria finally said it. Her voice, though still warm and comforting, was now slightly trembling due to the large amount of emotions she's trying to held back.
"You are a good and…and…brave child…and you deserve to be at least….loved and caredfor."
The child was taken aback, a look of disbelief washed over her dirty features.
She had heard those words before, but they were usually laced with mockery…with contempt…with deceit…for the cruel and twisted amusement of so many.
But this….this lady's words felt different. It felt sincere…it felt real. It felt….genuine.
"I... I'm not good…I…I don't even think I'm that brave…" the child replied with a low voice that sounded like a broken whisper.
"I'm a monster. People... they always call me a monster."
Pained by the sudden bout of self condemnation that came from the child, Artoria asked.
"Why…why would they call you a monster?"
"Because... because I bring bad luck to them…. Everywhere I go, I always bring bad luck to…to those around me!"
The little girl then began to cry.
"Curse, curse, curse! BECAUSE I'M A CURSE!"
'Cursed spawn! Demon Child!'
'Get out of our village! You are not welcome here!'
'You bring nothing but misery and despair!'
The memories of her past began flooding her young mind like a torrent of pain and suffering.
A relentless and cruel assault that threatened to overwhelm her fragile spirit.
"Bad things... bad things happen to people who are around me!" the child continued with tears now flowing freely from her eyes.
"Mama and Papa... they died because of me!"
"My grampa... he died because of me!"
"The villagers...THEY WOULD THROW ROCKS AT ME!"
"It's... it's all my fault! MY FAULT! MY FAULT!"
The little girl, in a moment of profound sadness clenched her fists and then began hitting her own head.
Her small tiny fists began a desperate and self-destructive attempt of self punishment for the sins that she truly believed she had committed.
"MONSTER! MONSTER!...CURSE! CURSE! BAD LUCK CHARM!"
Without hesitation, Artoria rushed in and enveloped the child in a desperate, warm and motherly embrace.
She threw her arms around the now sobbing child pulling her into her bossoms in an act of love and protection, trying to shield the small broken soul from the cruel reality of her existence!
She had enough!
Those words of self- condemnation and self-deprecation coming from such a young and small girl coupled with her own acts of self-mortification towards her own being was already too much for her to bear!
"NO! YOU ARE NOT A MONSTER!" Artoria roared as tears flowed down her eyes beautiful green eyes. The expression of profound sadness and pity plastered all over her face.
"YOU ARE NOT A MONSTER! YOU WERE NEVER A CURSE! YOU WERE NEVER A BAD LUCK CHARM!"
She held the child as tightly as she could.
Her embrace was now a promise of love, a vow of protection, a declaration of war against the world that had inflicted so much pain and suffering on this innocent, beautiful soul.
In her moment of intense sorrow and compassion for the young girl, Artoria, after a long considerable period of time, had once again allowed the true divine powers of her eyes to peer through the truth once more. To see what so many others had failed to see.
To see the past through the eyes of the child.
…..
What she saw made her blood boil in divine anger.
How could they?....HOW COULD THEY?!!!
To do such horrid and insane acts cruelty upon this innocent child! To this small, helpless child!
As a god, NO, AS A MOTHER HERSELF, SHE COULD NOT BEAR IT!
The injustice of it all was a poison that now coursed through her veins, a righteous fury that burned with the intensity of a thousand suns!
…..
"The real monsters... the real curses... were the ones who slandered you! The ones who had hurt you! The ones who had abandoned you!"
"THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE TRULY CURSED!"
The child, was surprised by the sudden, unexpected embrace, much more so with the passionate replied that she received.
She had expected rejection, condemnation, maybe even a beating. But she had never expected... this.
For the third time in her life, the little girl cried hard.
Her sobs became louder, pouring out all the grief and pain she had experience towards the mysterious lady who had opened up her heart for her.
She cried hard for the first time when her mother died in her arms, her small, trembling hands covered in her mother's blood. Her screams were a chorus of grief and despair.
She cried hard the second time when her Grampa Yuze died, and she was chased out of the village. Her small, fragile body became a target for the villagers' hatred and superstitious fear.
And now she cried hard for the third time, when this mysterious lady embraced her and told her that she was not a monster.
When this mysterious lady….this stranger, showed her more kindness and compassion in a few short moments than she had ever known in her entire life.
The two desperately clung to one another all the while crying, their tears were now a shared river of grief and healing, a cleansing rain that was trying to wash away the pain, the sorrow, and the despair.
Artoria hummed a soft and gentle lullaby as she continued to embrace the girl, gently rocking her back and forth. It was a melody that she had sung to her own children countless times, a song of love, of comfort, and of hope.
The little girl in turn snuggled deeper into her, her once trembling body now relaxing in the warmth and security of her embrace.
For the child, this lady gave her the same warmth and safety...that her mama and papa once had.
After a while, in a short span of time that seemed to felt like hours, Artoria gently broke her embrace.
She tore a piece of her fancy Liyuen clothing, a small, clean strip of silk, and used it to wipe the tears off the child's eyes, never minding her very own tear stains. Her movements were as gentle and careful as any mother would do in her position.
The little girl for the first time, fully saw Artoria's beautiful emerald eyes, still moistened with tears though as she continued to delicately wipe the tears that had stained her small, dirty face.
'Now look at you, you're all dirty! What did I tell you about playing in the mud? Now come here my little star, let mama wipe that stain off your face.'
The sweet, gentle and loving memory of her departed mother flooded her mind, as Artoria continued to wipe her tears away. It was a beautiful, fleeting moment in a sea of pain and suffering.
Unexpectedly, the child, in a soft and renewed voice, uttered the word that Artoria had carefully asked earlier.
"Beidou."
The name, a simple, unassuming word, now echoed all throughout the small cavern like a faint, fragile whisper filled with a mixture of hope and fear.
"Beidou." Artoria froze after she herself repeated that name.
Her wiping cloth paused in the child's left cheek as memories of her past self began flooding her mind.
That name rang in her memories during her time when she was coping with the death of her daughter back in Wales.
It was a name that was synonymous with strength, courage and leadership.
It was the name of the fearsome mercenary Captain of the dread but respected Crux Fleet of Liyue.
The woman who was both feared and adored all throughout the land of Geo.
The woman who had defied the laws of her nation and of gods…
Who sailed the uncharted seas…
Who slew the great sea serpent Haishan with one swift stroke of her blade!
The four star character who served as her main DPS and had carried her entire team right until Natlan!
This small, utterly pitiful child is Beidou?!
The Beidou?!
The 'Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean'!
Was the hand fate or the universe for that matter conspiring against her today? Was it her turn to be thrown into another loop once more?!
What are the chances for her to meet one of her most favorite in-game characters in real life, let alone as a child?!
As Artoria was having another miniature bout of existentialcrisis, Beidou looked at the beautiful lady's shocked face, and began to tear out once more.
She knew it, her name really meant bad luck, a name for monsters and the lady's still expression only proves that!
But to her surprise, Artoria's eyes moistened once again, this time however, the new tears were not of sadness but of something else.
She could see it, as the lady showed a genuine smile once again that radiated no traces of malice!
It was the same expression she saw from her late mother when she was still small.
Artoria reached out and lovingly ruffled Beidou's messy hair, her touch was a gentle, affectionate caress.
"Beidou," she said warmly.
"You have a very wonderful name."
She then looked into the child's eyes, her own emerald orbs now a pool of warmth and maternal affection.
"Do you know what it means?"
Beidou, with her tear-stained face, shook her head.
Of course she knew, her parents and grampa would always call her affectionately with the meaning of her name. Yet now, after having just experienced a rollercoaster ride of emotions courtesy of this mysterious lady before her, little Beidou could only shook her head.
She too wanted to know if this lady also knew the meaning behind the name that was bestowed upon her affectionately by her parents.
"It means 'the Northern Star'," Artoria answered with a genuine inquisitive look on her face.
"A star that guides those who sail out at sea. A light that shines in the darkest of nights, serving as a beacon of hope for the lost and the weary."
"And yet, at the same time, that name also represented strength, courage and resilience. It is a name of worthy of someone who had been through so much yet still never once completely gave up."
Beidou's eyes widen in wonder as a warm feeling began to spread across her chest for the first time in years. A feeling that was as warm and fuzzy as it was comforting. Like a ray of sunlight on a cold winter's day.
In her eyes, this lady knew the meaning behind her name and also told her another one that was just as brilliant and captivating as the last one!
No one had ever explained that part of her name before.
The villagers, with their cruelty and their ignorance, had twisted its meaning, turning a name of beauty and hope into a symbol of fear and despair.
But this lady, this kind, beautiful lady, had shown her the truth once more.
She had given her back the meaning of her name. A meaning that was never heard for over two years and had breath new life to it!
Little Beidou began to experience a sense of pride towardsnthe name that she had once cursed, that so many had actively avoided.
Now, she can 'claim' her name once more, not with the disdain of being labeled as a curse but rather with a sense of pride!
The two would then go on to spend the rest of the afternoon talking with one another.
Bediou, began addressing Artoria as Auntie Ria instead of just 'lady' or 'mysterious lady', much to the latter's surpise!
She began sharing her stories with her Auntie Ria.
The child spoke with a passion that was both inspiring and heartbreaking. Her words painted a vibrant tapestry of hopes and aspirations even in the midst of seclusion.
She spoke about the ocean, the vast, boundless expanse of blue that her parents once sailed into, a world of wonder that awaits anyone who ventures forth into it.
Artoria in turn began telling stories about the sea as well in a manner that was quite similar to how she would tell her own children bedtime stories.
The Lioness spoke of the ships, the majestic, sailing vessels that came in different shapes and sizes from all across the seven nation.
She told the little girl how so many of them would danced on the surface of the waves with their white sails furled high and open carrying the wind.
She spoke of the stars, the distant, glittering jewels that guided the sailors through the darkest of nights.
Beidou also spoke about her dream, a dream that had sustained her throughout the darkest of times. A dream that kept on burning in her young heart even when the world turned its back on her.
The child dreamt of becoming a sailor, of being the captain of her own ship, of her own fleet.
She dreamt of going into wonderful adventures, finding treasures and even fighting terrifying sea monsters!
Beidou even jumped once while telling the tale, swishing her tiny hands as if she's holding a sword. Pretending to fight a group of evil pirates.
Through it all, Artoria listened intently, and saw the image of the hero and the legend that this child will one day become!
She was proud of the child's spirit, of her sheer resilience and of her unwavering determination to never give up.
But at the same time she was also sorrowful for the hardships and mistreatment Beidou had to endure while growing up.
In her eyes, this child had already suffered so much.
And yet, their is a spark of greatness in this child, a potential that was as vast as the ocean that she so loved.
Artoria believed that Beidou will one day become that great mercenary that she had once adored so much during her past life as a gamer.
And even though she knew that somethings might had already been altered due to her very presence alone disrupting the original timeline of this world, Artoria knew that she had to do everything in her power to help this child achieve her dream.
To help her become the person that she was meant to be!
*****
When the sun finally began to set, painting the sky with a brilliant array of colors, and creating a breathtaking masterpiece of orange, pink, and purple, Artoria gently offered Beidou to come with her, to leave this place.
"Beidou," she said with a soft welcoming voice.
"Come with me. Come with me to Liyue Harbor. You don't have to stay here anymore little one. You don't have to live like this anymore."
Artoria then added, with a warm, reassuring smile.
"You can come with me on my journey. I myself will also be going to Liyue Harbor for an important visit. I can help you find a ship over there, find a trustworthy crew that well take you and give you a chance to live out your dream."
Beidou's eyes widen with a look of hope and longing washing over her face.
This was it, she thought to herself.
This was the chance that she had been waiting for, the opportunity that she had been dreaming of ever since her parents were still alive.
Beidou was about to take the offer….
But then, a small sliver of doubt born from years of mistrust and harship, was able to worm its way into the little girl's heart.
The years of hardship, pain, suffering and loneliness had unfortunately left a near indelible mark on her soul, a mark that would take more than just a newfound trust and friendship to completely wipe off.
Beidou began to doubt once more, wary even towards the kindness and generosity.l shown by her 'Auntie Ria'.
She had been hurt before…
She was betrayed before…
She was abandoned before…
And even with her 'Auntie Ria's' kindness, Beidou was still afraid that maybe….at the very end….everything…all of this would just turned out to be another one of those cruel and twisted tricks played to her by fate itself.
She hesitated for a moment. Her small hands began trembling once more, clenching into tight, nervous fists.
Beidou looked at the one who had her brought so much kindness and love after so many years, and Artoria in turn saw hope and fear battling against one another behind those young crimson eyes.
"I... I don't know," she stammered, doubt somewhat clear in her voice.
"I... I want to...I want to come with you Auntie Ria but… but... I'm scared. I'm still scared."
Artoria's heart ached once more with pity and understanding.
Seeing that look on the poor child's face, she knew that she had to be patient.
She had just shared a moment with this lonely heartbroken child but it was clearly not enough to fully pull her out of her shell, a shell born from years of mistrust and loneliness.
She had to further earn the child's trust. She had to show her more that she was different from the rest, that she was someone she could rely on anytime…
..Someone whom she could fully trust with all of her heart.
"I understand," Artoria replied. Her voice filled with understanding and patience.
"You don't need to decide right now. You can take all the time you need to come up with your own decision. After all, its your choice that will matter at the end."
She then ruffled the child's hair once more, all the while giggling to the childish reaction Beidou performed while doing so.
"How about this? I'll come back and visit you once again tomorrow. I'll bring lots and lots of yummy food. We can talk some more, and then finally you can give me your answer. What do you say little one?"
Beidou's face became lighter as a small, hesitant smile appeared on her lips.
The promise of more food, of more kindness, of more companionship coming from Auntie Ria was a tempting offer!
"Okay…but only after we make a promise!"
Beidou then looked at her Auntie Ria with a gaze filled with determination and hope.
She then held up her small pinky finger in front of her in delicate gesture that was a symbol of promise.
"A friend of mine... a dear friend of mine once told me that a pinky promise is forever binding." Beidou's voice became firm and resolute.
"You have to promise me that you'll come back and visit me tomorrow. And…and…and that you'll bring some more delicious food! I'll even share some with you okay?!"
Beidou somewhat stumbled on the last part.
Artoria's heart melted at the sight of the child's small, pinky finger being held up towards her.
For Artoria, it was a symbol of the burgeoning trust this child had for her.
A trust that now connects the two of them.
Artoria smiled warmly, and with a swift and gentle act, she wrapped around her own pinky around Beidou's smaller one.
"I promise."
"I promise that I'll come back and visit you tomorrow once more. And I promise I'll bring lots and lots of yummy food."
She then looked into the child's eyes, her own green colored eyes now filled warmth and maternal affection, as she added one more promise, much to the surprise and delight of the child.
"And I promise you, my dear little star. I promise that no one will ever hurt you again."
Tears once again began to pull across Beidou's eyes as the little girl launched herself towards her Auntie Ria.
Artoria, who was initially surprised by the sudden act of affection, gently embraced the little girl once more, shielding her from the world itself
For Beidou, her Auntie Ria had become her beacon of light in a span of a few short hours.
As she snuggled herself further into her Auntie's warm embrace, a small childish thought began to appear on her mind.
Beidou might be called the little star, but for the little girl, her Auntie Ria had become her wishing star. The star who guided her out of her darkness.
Maybe she can give her a surprise tomorrow! Xiling once showed her how Glaze Lilies would make wonderful presents!
She remembered how her friend once told her that those flowers were symbols of undying friendship and remembrance
That's it! She'll pick up some Glaze Lilies tomorrow and give it to Auntie Ria!
She was sure that her auntie will be thrilled especially after seeing them bloom during the evening!
Luckily, she once came across a small well-hidden patch of land in the Dihua Marsh not far from her small home where a bunch of those flowers grow.
Yes! Her Auntie will surely love her big surprise! But first she must convince her to visit her during the evening when the flowers will bloom beautifully!
"Auntie Ria?" Beidou quietly asked while still being held in a warm embrace by Artoria.
"Hmm? Yes, what is it Little Star?"
"Could you…could you visit me tomorrow during the evening instead of the morning or afternoon?"
Artoria just gave her a slightly confused look, perplexed as to why the child would ask such very time specific request.
But Beidou never answered, she instead just buried herself further into her Auntie Ria's warm and comforting embrace.
At the end, Artoria just sigh.
Whatever the little girl was planning, it will surely be something special so she might as well comply with the request.
Artoria held little Beidou for a few more moments before she hesitantly broke the embrace as evening draws closer.
Before she left, Artoria performed one last series of spells that delighted her newest 'niece'.
She conjured up another two sets of trays filled to the brim with a variety food and a large jar filled with apple juice, enough to last the child for a day or two.
She casted a spell that somewhat cleaned the mess inside the small cavern, removing all traces of garbage and banishing the smell of decay.
Artoria also conjured a small, sturdy chest, a place where Beidou could store any of her treasures or priceless possessions she had kept hidden within her lair.
Finally, she gave the glowing golden orb of light she created earlier to Beidou, to serve as her means of illumination in this small cramped lair.
"I'll see you tomorrow evening, little star." she said, giving the little girl one final ruffle on her head.
Beidou bid her farewell with a small voice now filled with renewed hope.
"Okay. I'll... I'll see you tomorrow. Don't be late!"
Artoria then turned and left the small lonely cavern hidden underneath a broken bridge.
She was about a few meters away when she turned back her gaze towards the cavern.
It looked well hidden yet it now sits upon a land that hid an insidious threat, one that can get through any sort of crack, liar…or even cavern.
With a final flicker of her hand, she casted a small yet sturdy bounded field of protection over a small area surrounding Beidou's little home.
It was a small act of kindness, a token of her maternal love and a promise of her protection.
With the spell finally set, Artoria then journeyed back towards Wangshu Inn with a calm renewed heart.
.....
She would soon, however, regret her decision of casting protection around the area instead of the child herself…
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(Somewhere deep within the vast 'Dark Shadow' of Teyvat)
The Abyss.
Also known as the void realm or the corrupting shadow of the world, is a mysterious realm of endless darkness located both beyond and beneath Teyvat.
It is a place filled with twisted and malevolent horrors corrupted by a strange dark energy that was all to consuming.
It is a place of suffering and despair, a place where the lost and the damned are casted out by fate itself into the depths of oblivion.
Within this otherworldly bleak realm stood a massive citadel unlike no other, erected from the darkest stone and carved using an architectural style of a long forgotten kingdom.
It was a monument to the hubris and folly of mankind.
The denizens of this miserable place were monsters, former mortals who were once citizens of the human realm.
Proud and noble souls who were unjustly cursed by the machinations of the Usurper from Beyond the skies.
Cursed to suffer immortality and countless mutations for the rest of eternity, these poor, misguided souls sought to one day rebel against the tyrannical Overlord who rules the world along with its four servants.
Their name is whispered in fear far and wide across the seven nations.
They are the Abyss Order.
The legion of the damned and army of the forsaken.
Deep within the dark citadel's halls, stood a gaunt, inhumane figure riddled with abyssal corruption.
He is an Iniquitous Baptist, and was once a well known and revered sword instructor who taught several notable Khaenri'ahn knights.
He stood over an indoor balcony overlooking a near bottomless pit filled with dark abyssal energy, a gaping wound in the fabric of reality.
At the very center of the pit hovers a large mass of swirling dark abyssal matter, a vortex of pure, unadulterated malice.
Grotesque faces belonging to both human and beasts appeared on the surface of the dark mass, their expressions showed a chorus of constant agony and despair.
Their screams were a symphony of suffering, a testament to the cruelty of the fate that had befallen to them.
'Everything is going smoothly according to plan', he thought.
A cruel, twisted smile would have appeared on his lips if he has any in the first place, yet the curse imposed upon him by the Usurper took that away along with so many other things.
He could still feel the phantom sensation of a smile, a ghost of a past life that was now but a distant, fading memory.
He looked at the large abomination before him and he could feel the collective agony of the captured souls within its oozing body.
It was a sweet, intoxicating melody of suffering that fills the halls of the citidel and delights the hearts of those who love in it such as himself.
It was the sound of progress, the sound of victory, the sound of a dream that was now slowly inching into reality!
As the Baptist continued to indulge himself with his twisted obsession, a small lowly Abyssal mage slowly approached him from behind bearing a message.
Its small, trembling form was a stark contrast to the imposing, menacing figure of the monster before him.
The small figure shivered at the Baptist's presence, the sheer aura of power and malice that radiated from this malevolent creature was enough to make even the most hardened of Abyssal peon tremble in fear!
"My... my lord," the Abyssal mage stammered with a weak and pathetic voice.
"His 'Highness'... he wishes to be informed about the current status of the 'project'."
The Iniquitous Baptist slowly turned towards the trembling Abyss Mage.
Its movements were slow and deliberate like a serial killer about to perform a dance of death.
It looked down and faced the now shivering Abyssal mage, its lone glowing, malevolent eye now looked like a burning coal that seemed to pierce through the very soul of the small twisted peon of the Order.
"Tell his Highness that the plan is almost complete." The Iniquitous Baptist said, its voice sounded like a cold, emotionless monotone, a chilling whisper that was laced with a hint of reverence.
"We only need one more soul, preferably from someone powerful... like an adepti in order to fully awaken our perverted divine creation."
It then gestured theatrically towards the gigantic mass of misshapen bodies floating at the center of the pit surrounded by a swirling vortex of abyssal energy.
The creatures movements were as graceful as any swordmaster, yet inquisitive like a scholar.
"This vessel... this abomination... it yearns for a powerful soul to complete its transformation. A soul that is strong enough to withstand the corruption, and act as the catalyst that will funnel the power of severaldivine fragments within it."
"Soon…very soon, it will become the instrument that will herald our salvation!"
The Iniquitous Baptist's lone eye now glowed with an insane fervor that was almost borderline religious!
It was a zealot's devotion to a cause that was both noble and abhorrent.
"Soon, we shall have our champion! Soon, we shall have our avenger!Soon, we shall have our own... god!"
The Abyssal mage could only nod frantically in understanding as the sole audience to the Iniquitous Baptist's grand vision.
"I will set out once again by tomorrow." the Iniquitous Baptist continued, his now now laced with cold and calculating tone.
"I plan to capture a 'little bird' who I deemed would be the perfect last piece for our grand experiment."
"A bird who is as powerful as he is vulnerable…"
"A bird who is as revered as he is feared…"
"A bird who is apparently the last of his ilk, a lone warrior who likes to pretend that he has what it takes to stands against the coming tide of the abyss."
He then dismissed the mage with a wave of his hand, a gesture that was both casual and commanding.
"Go, inform our beloved Prince. Tell him that the final sacrifice will soon be made. Tell him that our new world is almost at hand."
"As you command, Lord Haden."
The Abyssal mage replied as it scurried away from his commanding officer. The little creature's desire to escape the suffocating presence of the Wyrdsword of Heaven's End was overwhelming.
Haden, the Iniquitous Baptist, Commander of one of the Order's numerous legions, the one who bears the title of Wyrdsword of Heaven's End, once again stood over the balcony as he gaze once more to the grotesque creature he had created.
He was once a man, a proud and noble Khaenri'an soul who has dedicated his life to the art of the sword.
He was a teacher and a mentor to so many, and was the most esteemed one among his peers to have guided an entire generation of Khaenri'ahn knights who proudly served the Eclipse Dynasty!
He had taught them the ways of the blade, the path of honor and the code of the warrior.
But that was before the curse…
Before the betrayal of some of his peers…
Before the fall…
Before the Usurper and his Four Shades had descended from Celestia and condemned his entire nation into the depths of oblivion!
Before the world had turned its back on them, and left them to a life of eternal suffering…
Now, he was a monster, a twisted, malevolent creature who was a shadow of his former self.
And yet, the Abyss had opened up his eyes to the truth! He might have lost his humanity but he gained power and understanding far greater than anything he could ever dream of!
Through his Highness' prophetic works and vision, he and the rest of his damned brethren had seen salvation!
To make sure that it would come to pass, he became a leader, a visionary, a savior to a lost and forgotten people….
…And he would stop at nothing to achieve his goal...
"Chi, Baqui, Houjiao, Shui You and so many more," Haven uttered those names as if they were but a twisted lament from a bygone era.
"Those were the names of beings long forgotten by the world…noble and powerful gods who once ruled alongside that fool Morax with sheer might and fear….."
"...yet unfortunately shackled by the rules set upon by 'He who sits on the Heavenly Throne!'..."
"AN UTTERLY PATHETIC EXISTENCE FOR SO MANY WHO HAD ONCE HELD POWER!"
He then looked towards the screaming mass of abomination in front of him.
"But soon I'll force them all to remember."
"The human realm, Celestia…I will bring back those whom they had wrongly condemned into the very depths of oblivion!"
"The Usurper thinks that the Fate of this World is his alone to govern and dictate?"
"He and his ilk would soon find out that Fate is nothing more but a thread that can easily be woven by a Loom made by Human hands!"
"And our Prince, our dearly beloved Prince shall be the one who will hold the shears! The one who will snip the very thread that binds this world to its false salvation!"
(End of Chapter)
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(Artoria's Personal Skills)
A). Mana Burst (A+ Rank)
B). Charisma (A+ Rank)
C). Magic Resistance (EX Rank)
D). Clairvoyance (EX Rank):
- Eyesight of extremely good quality. Apprehension of long distance target and elevation of kinetic vision. When the rank is high enough, even x-ray vision or future prediction becomes possible.
- Originating from her Goddess Rhongomyniad aspect whose inate Clairvoyance originally only allows her to understand both the ideals and purposes of her target, this skill was further refined and elevated after the amalgamation of all her forms and her subsequent ascension into the realm of true divinity. Now, Artoria's clairvoyance gives her unobstructed view of both the past and possible futures, comparable to that of Solomon.
- The potency of this skill is so great that it can essentially be considered near omniscience, yet for all of its power and might, Artoria herself is hesitant and rarely uses this powerful, fate-altering skill for fear of potential consequences.
- She prefers to not to see the possible futures that lay before her for she fears that it might eventually blind her to the present.
E). Draconic Sovereign of the Wind (EX Rank)
F). ???
G). ???
H). ???
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