"It must be fate," Childe smirks as he holds Y/n's unconscious body tightly. He lifts her over his shoulder like a sack of wheat before looking at Madame Ping.
"I warn you to not go too far with her. You might have to suffer the wrath of the rock if you do." The old lady chuckles dangerously and continues to enjoy Liyue's scenery.
Childe narrows his eyes at the old lady's warning but ignores it anyway. He came here knowing that he might get caught red-handed. However, the girl in his hands is simply one not to look over. She is needed in his mundane life.
"Wake up soon and remember your powers... dear Y/n." He sings, feeling elated and thrilled about the battle that was going to come someday.
"Hand her over." A man steps out from an alleyway, his gleaming amber eyes were recognizable anywhere under the shadows. Zhongli glares at Childe with such ferocity that he shivered. It only proved how precious the woman was to him.
"Hmph. Fine." He sighs, not wanting to fight the god that had once reaped carnage in the Archon War. Not only that, but he was also in a bad mood because of his premeditated abduction. Childe did not want to die young.
Except he was simply too prideful to state that.
"I will fetch her someday." He smiles cheerfully before placing the Adeptus down on the ground.
"I won't let you."
- FLASHBACK -
"Your final wish...is to protect her?" Rex Lapis lays his burning eyes on the teenage girl who was sprawled on the dirty ground, crying profusely. The man grits his teeth, annoyed. He didn't dislike children, but he didn't like them either.
Adding onto that, the child was also the cause of her own father's demise, a talented scholar who spent his time creating wonderful poems that the Geo Archon enjoyed. He was no doubt in a foul mood.
"Please... she was my sole motivation to write poems. Protect... her..." The last breath was taken and young Y/n's cries only grew louder.
"I'm...sorry, hic! Father... please, come back!" Her sobs only made the scene dreary and Rex Lapis lets out a small sigh, holding out his hand.
"Come." The simple order was given and the girl complied, taking his hand. Y/n was scared, for the man carried not only a stern face but also the stench of bloody corpses. He reeked of war.
"No need to fear. I promised to protect you and I will not break that vow." He states before pulling her onto his chest. She melts in his embrace and sniffles ever so often.
"But given that I cannot look after you forever, I will grant you a vision, as well as the authority to become an Adeptus. Y/n L/n, you must vow to serve me, both heart and soul." Rex Lapis brushes his hand over her forehead.
"Yes, I vow to serve my lord and future master with all of my heart and soul." Y/n was enthralled by the sight of the handsome god after calming down. A bright golden light shined on the gruesome battlefield and for the first time, an Adeptus was assigned without taking the test.
"Adepti, heed my call. This girl will join you all. Make sure she passes the test after thorough training." Rex Lapis gazed at the young girl with warm eyes. The Adepti stared in awe at the normally cold man who brought carnage at his wake.
Who knew that the stone heart of his could be cracked too?
"I must go now. There are more of those monsters nearby." The god furrows his brows and disappears in a shimmer of light.
Y/n reached out to the dimming light, dumbfounded. The warmth was gone and she felt lonely again.
"Poor girl... she lost her father and path in life."
"Who's training her? I ain't it."
"Not it."
"You guys..."
The mystical beings around her chattered and Y/n could only stand there, confused as to what was happening.
"I'll train her." A thin build steps out and everyone looked at him. His green hair and golden eyes stuck out with his frustrated expression. "We are only wasting time, dragging this out. Let's go." He nods to the newly appointed Adeptus.
Y/n followed him and the other Adepti disappeared without a trace.
"Thank you..." She mumbled.
The man did not respond and abruptly stopped before taking her hand. "We are heading to the Pyro Regisvine. Let's test out how good you are in combat."
Y/n nods in excitement and they teleported to the Pyro Regisvine's lair.
"Um... What do I call you?"
"Xiao."
The quick response gave Y/n some confidence and she gulped before exclaiming, "I'm Y/n!"
"... I know."
"Oh. Xiao? I don't have a weapon..." The girl stops in her tracks when she saw the humongous flower burning on the ground. The lair was hot and steamy, already producing beads of sweat on her skin.
"Hmm, use my polearm." He tosses her a halberd and she fumbled with it for a while before holding it tightly.
"I-I'm scared..." She faced the giant flower and gulped again. "It's too big!"
"Hahaha!" Xiao laughs at her cowardly side before pushing her forward. "Ahem. Once you kill it the first time, you gradually get used to it. Do not worry, just use the polearm as if it's part of you. Fight however you want, there are no boundaries when it comes to fighting."
His advice made Y/n determined and she decided to risk it and charged forward.
She needed to grow stronger- not only for her Master but for herself as well.
YOU ARE READING
Contract | Zhongli
Fanfiction「 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑, 𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐀 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄! 」 She was once revered as Rex Lapis's most devoted Adeptus. No one would have expected her to break a contract with her own master. However, the moment she finally opened her mouth, everything went so...
