Prologue 2: The abyss mage's attack

Opening my eyes to a familiar ceiling, I wondered how I got here but a little recalling cleared that confusion.

"I passed out"

"Yes, you did" The cold voice of my mother instantly made my whole body covered in cold sweat.

Rarely does my mother get angry but once she does, hell ensues.

Slowly turning to my side, the figure of my mother who was holding her arm with a displeased face revealed to me.

"M-mom, I-"

"You-"

--

After an hour of getting my ears pulled and yelled at, I was freed at last.

"Shit, fuck that hurts" I held my red ears as if they were the aftermath of that incident, though my mother was considering banning me from using the katana anymore, my father calmed her down and manage to only reduce it to me only using it for a couple of hours a day.

An image of my father's figure accompanied by holy light appeared inside my mind, a savior indeed.

Closing the door behind me, I was tasked with buying some ingredients for my mom, reaching the road I was about to depart but a voice interrupted me.

"Akaal, out for the usual groceries?" A slightly toned-skinned woman greeted me

"Yeah, I need to grab some fruits as well at Mondstadt"

"Be careful, I heard the activity of the surrounding Hilichurls is becoming more daring, and now they are blocking the streets"

"Will do, if I ever encounter them, I have this on me" I pat the sword sheathed on my hip.

I managed to convince my mother to bring it with me for self-defense. But she highly advised me to run away for the first choice and only use it if I'm cornered, which I took to heart.

Continuing on my journey it took a couple of minutes to reach Mondstadt, crossing the bridge I saw a little kid accompanied by a grown man feeding some pigeons, and as I passed the birds scattered.

"Don't worry kiddo, they'll come back tomorrow" The grown man patted the kid's head in reassurance and his then broken-hearted face changed to excitement waiting for the pigeon to come back.

"Halt! State your business" Passing through the gates the voice of one of Favonius's knights stopped me by my track.

"I didn't know Mondstadt was trying to copy Inazuma's security" I turned to see a familiar face.

"Haha sorry, but I wanted to try that at least once" Lawrence approached me and noticed the sword on my hip.

"Oh? Have you finally decided to join the Favonius Knights"

"No, this is a gift from my father, I'm just carrying it for self-defense"

"Tch, you have a talent for swordsmanship yet decided to waste it lounging around and becoming a delivery boy" He folded his arm.

"Hey, nothing wrong with living the easy life" I punched his shoulder in response.

"You even have the attention of grand master Varka, that's how great your talent is!"

"If you're asking for a spar, we can do it later, I have an errand to run" Waving to Lawrence and saying goodbye I turned to the market that is located near the entrance gate.

-

"Let me see, Fruits and vegetables from the uncle, meats from the good hunter, and some seasonings" I checked everything I had bought, and after checklisting everything I closed my bag and went back to the entrance gate but a rumble stopped me from my track.

"It's the abyss order! everyone take cover" One of the Favonius knights from the front gate alarmed everyone.

Everyone who heard instantly went inside their home and every Favonius knight near instantly went to the front gate to protect it.

My eyes sharpened and I dropped my bag and rushed to the frontline where I saw a horde of Hilichurls with several abyss mages accompanying them.

One of the Favonius knights saw me standing right beside them and warned me.

"Citizens should stay inside"

"I'm an adventurer don't worry" I unsheathed the sword on my hip.

"Then could you show me your card" The Favonius knight was doubtful of my identity.

"You think this is the right time to do that?" I pointed at the incoming horde, seemingly agreeing with me, he turned his attention to the horde instead.

After the horde stepped on the bridge all of the Favonius knights charged as well, as both sides clashed.

"Grrya" One Hilichurl raised its club at me but parrying the strike and following up with a counter-attack, the Hilichurl quickly died.

Pushing the body from my sword I quickly charged at another Hilichurl who was clashing with one of the Favonius knights and quickly cut down the unsuspecting Hilichurl.

"Thank you"

"Save your thanks later" I turned back to the battlefield, and one of the abyss mages noticed my threat and commanded several Hilichurls to charge at me.

"Tch" Unconsciously clicking my tongue I retreated a little before engaging the nearest Hilichurls.

Holding my sword with both my hands I raised the hilt to the side of my head and thrust it to the Hilichurls head, piercing its mask and ending its life.

But while occupied with the Hilichurl, 1 abyss mage appeared beside me.

"Shit" Not ready for the incoming my body unconsciously sheathed the sword as my left leg took a step back and my free left hand hold the sheath.

*Click* As fast as the eye could see, I drew my blade and instantly cut through the elemental shield before retrieving the sword back to my sheath.

"What?" I muttered unconsciously as I tried to recall what I had done.

"How... Did I do that" A sudden clink was heard right beside me breaking my train of thought.

"Now it's not the time to daydream Akaal!" Lawrence kicked the Hilichurl away and followed through with a stab to the heart.

"Sorry, I blanked out for a moment"

"After showing off that move? understandable" He moved more to the frontline, trying to defeat as many Hilichurls as possible.

"Yga yga" The three abyss mages were communicating with each other, though their language was incomprehensible to our ears.

"Well, I heard some abyss mages had some nerve of steel trying to attack this place" A voice boomed at the gate, all of the Favonius knights knew such a voice and turned to it instantly.

"Grand Master Varka!" All of them cried out to the extremely tall man.

"Favonius knights, I thank you for holding them back and safely defending the gates of Monstadt, I'll take it from here" Cracking his neck and knuckles he dashed straight towards the abyss mages in an instant.

Before they could teleport away Varka already punched one of them, even with their shield, his fist instantly broke through, killing one of them.

Leaving no room to respond, he grabbed both remaining abyss mages, not letting them escape.

"The abyss order will not touch a single part of Mondstadt" After saying so, he tightens both of his grips crushing both heads.

With their leaders destroyed, all the remaining Hilichurls were left in a state of panic and fled the battlefield.