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In her nightmares, her knowledge of the world was as vast as it could be. The space in between those who lived and those who died was a singular line that she tread upon with the precision of a tightrope walker. Shenhe knew there was no going back on her promises. The red ropes were her lines, and she found herself among the principles she upheld. This shall be her eternal death, as it was her eternal pledge. Shenhe would protect, as she would destroy.
Cloud Retainer helped her in her missions when she was a lot younger. Now, with the wind whipping her hair in her face as she watched upon the tops of Jueyun Karst, she was alone. The moon hid itself behind the clouds, obscuring her view. It was the only source of light, after all. Shenhe always had the night watch, because her eyes never dimmed, even when they were not filled with bloodlust. Her tight grip on her polearm never loosened, nor did her vigil during seemingly quiet nights like these.
Shenhe knew it was never truly quiet, not for long. Even after they were ousted from these lands long ago, foolish humans would coalesce near the tree of Azhdaha, on their way to pray to the Adepti. Thankfully, the Adepti lost interest in strictly prohibiting mortals anymore. So most of them simply come, and subsequently leave. Just like the water that flowed in the rivers of Liyue.
Sadly, this was not the case tonight. Shenhe's eyes narrowed in concentration, as they gazed upon three figures in the dark. Fatui agents meeting up for nefarious means, surely. Fatui were never good news. After simply observing their movements for a bit longer, she discerned that none of them were that dangerous. All three had delusions that sparkled in the night, dulled out colours due to the darkness. She understood the danger they posed. Trespassers like that needed to be eliminated swiftly. She prepared herself to jump from her vantage point, using her polearm as a lever to launch herself forward. The height she jumped off would've meant suicide for anyone without special training like hers. Her graceful flight went undetected by the agents, as she landed soundlessly in the shrubbery behind them.
Although their expressions were hidden with the masks they wore, it was clear that they were nervous to be here. Such a small scouting party was not safe in Jueyun Karst. They knew this very well, and yet, they still dared to come here.
"Foolish enemies."
Their frantic attempt to turn their heads around was amusing. The two of them could barely stifle their screams as they watched the head of their companion fall off of its holder.
"Come not in Daylight."
The legs of the second fell off, as the third finally managed to fumble for their gun. With a single kick, that gun disappeared into the water.
"Come not in Darkness."
Her polearm tore through the multiple layers of protection they wore, straight into the chest of the enemy. She watched as the body fell limp on top of its former comrade, that was busy crawling away. Shenhe was quick to pull her polearm out and pierce it back into the hands of the last survivor. Even without the moonlight, that has finally decided to show itself, she could see the trembling of cowardice in the agent.
"Your thread of fate shall now be severed, for your bounds to this earth are no more."
She couldn't imagine what she looked like to the agent at that moment. Her clothing was stained with the blood of their allies, her polearm bearing the most of it. The metal glistened and shone in the seconds before she cracked their skull. Perhaps her snow-white hair made her look like an angel, delivering divine punishment.
It need not matter, regardless. The moon was her only accomplice, and the earth the only witness. That was good enough for the maiden whose bloodlust was withheld in her soulless eyes; their colours putting even prisms to shame.
Such was her nightmare. Thus was her duty.