Chapter 98: The Knave

(Chapter 98 The Knave)

The air grew thick with tension as the first drops of rain began to fall, creating a steady patter on the cobblestone path. Tirpitz stood firm, her claws crackling with a mix of Cryo and Electro energy, the faint glow reflecting off the wet ground beneath her. She watched Arlecchino, her body coiled like a spring, ready to strike the moment her enemy made a move.

Arlecchino, however, remained calm, her piercing gaze locked onto Tirpitz. The rain did little to mask the menace in her expression. She made no effort to retrieve her rapier, instead, she simply stood there, as if daring Tirpitz to come closer, her face expressionless as stone.

"Please!"

The noble whimpered, his voice breaking the silence between the two combatants. He stumbled forward, desperation written across his face.

"Save me from this madwoman! I'm a loyal supporter of Tempest Proudmoore! I've given him ships, minerals, and now, a goldmine for his birthday! You have to keep me alive! I... I'm the only one who can approve the transfer process!"

He practically begged, his voice trembling as he glanced between Tirpitz and Arlecchino, hoping his words would sway his protector to act swiftly. Rainwater dripped down his face, mixing with the sweat of fear that clung to his skin.

Arlecchino's gaze briefly flickered to the noble, an amused glint in her eyes.

"How quaint."

She said, her voice low and dangerous.

"Groveling like a worm. Did you think your little offerings would buy your life tonight?"

Tirpitz, still focused on Arlecchino, didn't waver. Her claws crackled more fiercely, the energy surging around them like a storm barely contained.

"Back away from him."

She warned.

"You'll get no further tonight."

The rain began to fall harder, creating a drumbeat that echoed the rising tension. Neither woman moved, but the air between them felt electric, as if the very atmosphere held its breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.

Arlecchino smirked, her voice cutting through the downpour like a blade.

"So."

She began, her tone dripping with mockery,

"Does your Duke support child trafficking now?"

She gestured casually to the large, motionless baggage lying beside the noble's fallen guards.

"Listen to that baggage for a moment, Ghost, and it just might change your perspective on why I'm doing this."

Tirpitz narrowed her eyes but didn't move, her senses now attuned to the faint, muffled sounds coming from the baggage. There was no mistaking it, inside was the terrified voice of a young girl, pleading to be freed. The weight of Arlecchino's words hung in the air, challenging everything Tirpitz stood for.

The noble stammered, attempting to explain himself, but his voice was drowned out by the intensifying storm. Arlecchino raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the spectacle of his unraveling.

"Still want to protect him?"

She taunted, her posture shifting slightly, readying herself for whatever came next.

Tirpitz remained silent, her mind racing. She had sworn loyalty to Tempest, but could she turn a blind eye to this?

"I won't let you insult the Duke, intruder."

Tirpitz growled, her voice steady but filled with warning.

"It's not my role to oversee what the nobles are doing. I'm a Ghost, a hunter, not a judge."

Her sharp eyes never left Arlecchino, but she slightly turned her head toward the trembling noble behind her.

"I'll bring you to the Duke later."

She added, her tone cold and unyielding. The implication was clear, there would be consequences, but not now, not until this fight was settled.

Arlecchino's smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

"A hunter, you say?"

She mused.

"Then you should know, Ghost, prey can be deceiving."

The tension between them thickened, as the rain drummed down harder.

"We'll see."

Tirpitz replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she activated her Ghost suit, rendering herself invisible in the dim light of the rainy night. The sound of raindrops fell rhythmically around them, creating a tense backdrop to the unfolding confrontation.

Without a moment's hesitation, Tirpitz pounced from her hidden position, her sharp claws aimed directly at the back of Arlecchino's neck. But to her surprise, Arlecchino remained perfectly still, a knowing smile curling at the edges of her lips as if she had anticipated the attack.

In a swift motion, Tirpitz lunged forward, her claws glinting menacingly as they sliced through the air, but Arlecchino sidestepped gracefully, her movements fluid and precise. With a flick of her wrist, she took out a dagger from her belt, its blade gleaming ominously even in the rain.

"You're fast, Ghost, but speed alone won't save you."

Arlecchino taunted, turning to face Tirpitz, her eyes alight with amusement and challenge.

Tirpitz, still cloaked in invisibility, circled around her adversary, her mind racing as she plotted her next move. She struck again, her claws aiming for Arlecchino's shoulder, but the woman dodged effortlessly, using the dagger to parry the strike with a sharp clang that echoed in the night.

Realizing she couldn't rely solely on her invisibility, Tirpitz opted for a different approach. She lunged forward, feinting to the left before spinning to the right, trying to catch Arlecchino off guard. But Arlecchino was prepared, her dagger slicing through the air with deadly precision as she countered with a series of rapid thrusts. Each strike was expertly calculated, and despite Tirpitz's attempts to evade, she felt the cold steel of the dagger nick her side.

Pain flared through her as she stumbled back, revealing her presence for just a moment. Arlecchino seized the opportunity, rushing forward with a combination of skill and speed that was almost mesmerizing. With a fluid motion, she slashed at Tirpitz, and though the Melusine managed to evade the worst of the attack, the dagger found its mark, carving a deep wound along her arm.

Blood mixed with rainwater, streaming down Tirpitz's skin as she fought to maintain her focus. She could feel her strength waning, but her resolve remained unbroken. Summoning all her energy, she unleashed a flurry of attacks, her claws striking out with fervor as she aimed to reclaim the upper hand.

Yet Arlecchino countered every blow with effortless grace, her dagger flashing like lightning as she deflected and dodged, her movements a deadly dance. Finally, with a swift, decisive motion, she delivered a brutal kick that sent Tirpitz crashing to the ground, the impact jarring her senses.

Tirpitz gasped as she struggled to rise, but Arlecchino stood over her, the dagger glinting in the moonlight.

"You fought valiantly, Ghost."

She said, her voice smooth and mocking.

"But this dance is over."

With a final flourish, she sheathed her dagger and turned away, leaving Tirpitz severely wounded but alive. The rain continued to fall, mingling with the blood that stained the ground, a grim reminder of the night's violent encounter.

As Arlecchino turned away, satisfied that the battle was won, Tirpitz's trembling hand reached into her suit's compartment, retrieving a syringe filled with a potent mix of adrenaline. Her Ghost suit flickered, her form momentarily visible in the downpour, rain cascading off her body as her strength ebbed. But she wasn't finished yet.

With a sharp intake of breath, Tirpitz injected the syringe into her neck, wincing as the powerful stimulant coursed through her veins. Her muscles tensed, her heart racing as the surge of adrenaline forced her battered body to respond. Her vision sharpened, and the pain in her arm and side dulled into the background. A guttural, defiant roar tore from her throat, echoing through the rain-soaked night, announcing that she wasn't down yet.

Arlecchino paused mid-step, turning her head slightly, eyes narrowing with interest.

"Impressive."

She muttered as she watched Tirpitz rise once more. Despite her small frame and wounded body, Tirpitz's eyes burned with a fierce determination, it was hard to believe that this was a Melusine, a being known for their peacefulness and welcoming nature. But this Melusine was different. Tirpitz was a predator, honed by trials of life, a relentless hunter.

Tirpitz charged forward with renewed fury, her claws sparking with Cryo and Electro energy as she aimed directly for Arlecchino's heart. This time, her movements were wilder, more primal. Her invisibility flickered in and out, disorienting her opponent as she darted in and out of view. She struck from the shadows, her claws slashing through the rain-soaked air, each attack carrying the weight of her desperation and rage.

Arlecchino parried and dodged, but Tirpitz's newfound ferocity made her attacks harder to predict. The dagger in Arlecchino's hand moved with incredible speed, deflecting most of the blows, but Tirpitz's claws managed to break through her defenses, leaving shallow gashes on Arlecchino's side and arm. A sharp hiss escaped the Harbinger's lips, but her expression remained calm, calculating.

Tirpitz attacked again, this time aiming for Arlecchino's face, but the dagger caught her claws mid-swing, locking them in place. For a brief moment, the two combatants were face to face, Tirpitz's enraged eyes meeting Arlecchino's cold, unflinching gaze.

"Enough."

Arlecchino said, her voice dripping with command. In one fluid motion, she disengaged from the clash, spun on her heel, and with a graceful arc, slashed Tirpitz across the chest. The force of the strike sent Tirpitz stumbling backward, gasping as her wounds deepened.

But still, Tirpitz refused to fall. Her breath ragged, her Ghost suit flickering erratically, she charged one last time, clawing through the air with everything she had left.

It was then that Arlecchino, with a sigh of exasperation, finally decided to end it. She reached into her cloak, pulling out a gleaming, crimson gem, a Pyro Delusion. The temperature around them spiked instantly as flames began to coil around Arlecchino's hand, casting an eerie glow in the darkness.

Tirpitz hesitated for only a moment before continuing her assault. But it was too late. Arlecchino unleashed a wave of searing heat, fire bursting from her hand in a wide arc. Tirpitz's instincts screamed at her to dodge, but she was too close and too drained to avoid the full brunt of the attack. The flames engulfed her, her suit offering little protection against the sheer intensity of the Pyro Delusion's power.

With a choked gasp, Tirpitz fell to her knees, her body smoldering as the rain hissed against the charred parts of her suit. Her vision blurred as she fought to stay conscious, the adrenaline no longer enough to keep her on her feet. She collapsed onto the ground, her claws digging weakly into the mud, the fight finally leaving her body.

Arlecchino stood over her, watching as the flames dissipated.

"You're strong, little Ghost. But not strong enough."

She didn't bother finishing her off, Tirpitz was no longer a threat and more importantly, she wouldn't dare declare war on, Tempest.

The Harbinger turned her attention back to the noble, who was frozen in terror.

"Now, where were we?"

She said, her voice calm, almost bored, as if the intense battle had been nothing more than a brief distraction.

Tirpitz, barely conscious, could do nothing but watch as the world faded to black around her, her final thoughts consumed by her failure to protect the Duke's interests... and the sting of failing her first mission.

"Please! Spare me! I'll give you anything, money, ships! I can make you rich beyond imagination! Just, just don't kill me!"

The noble fell to his knees at Arlecchino's feet, trembling, his voice cracking in desperation.

Arlecchino looked down at him with a calm, detached expression, the very picture of unbothered cruelty. Her rapier, still lost to the darkness, was no longer needed for what she intended to do next.

"Anything?"

She asked, her voice barely above a whisper, yet it cut through the noble's frantic pleas like a knife. She paused for a moment, as if deep in thought.

"Yes! Yes! Anything you want!"

The noble clung to that moment of hope, his eyes wide and pleading, grasping for any chance to save his life.

"What do you want? Gold? Power? I can give it all to you, just say the word!"

Arlecchino leaned closer, her gaze cold and unwavering, her lips curling into a sinister smile.

"Then give me..."

The noble's heart pounded in his chest, hope surging within him for a brief second.

"Yes? What is it?! Tell me, I'll give you anything!"

Arlecchino's eyes darkened as she finished her sentence.

"Your life."

Without hesitation, she moved with the lethal precision of a trained killer. In one swift motion, her dagger flashed across the noble's throat, the blade slicing through flesh and arteries with chilling ease. Blood sprayed out, warm and crimson, staining the rain-soaked ground as the noble's life drained away in an instant.

He crumpled to the ground, his hands reflexively clutching at his neck, but it was too late. The light in his eyes faded as his final breath left him.

Arlecchino stood over his lifeless body, wiping the blade of her dagger against her cloak.

She cast a final glance at the fallen noble before turning her back on him passing.

Arlecchino strode toward the baggage where Lynnette was confined, her footsteps echoing ominously in the stillness of the night. The rain fell in a steady rhythm, a haunting melody accompanying the silence that enveloped the scene.

"Stop hiding."

"The one who wished to harm you is dead."

She called out, her voice sharp and commanding, slicing through the shadows.

With a flick of her wrist, she leaned closer to the baggage.

"Please don't hurt me..."

Lynnette whimpered as she crawled out of the baggage, her ears drooping and her tail curling in fear. The vulnerability in her posture betrayed her trepidation.

You have good ears, learn to use them."

Arlecchino kneaded Lynnette's ears, that touch was not gentle.

Shortly after, the knights of the Golden Hand arrived at the scene, and a chilling sight greeted them, the brutal aftermath of a violent confrontation. Two lifeless bodies lay sprawled on the ground, the guards of the noble, their faces frozen in expressions of shock and terror. Just a few feet away, the noble himself lay dead, his throat gruesomely slit, a pool of crimson seeping into the earth beneath him.

Amidst this chaos, Tirpitz lay on the dirt, barely clinging to life. Her form was battered and bloodied, evidence of a fierce battle that had taken its toll. The knights rushed to her side, their hearts pounding with urgency as they assessed the situation.

However, their search for answers led only to further confusion. Arlecchino and Lynnette had vanished without a trace, slipping into the shadows as if they had never been there at all.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Thank you, for dancing with me, Your Grace."

Robin said, her voice soft yet filled with excitement. Her heart raced as she finally had the opportunity to dance with the Duke, a moment she had long anticipated.

"And thank you, for attending my birthday, mademoiselle."

Tempest replied, a forced smile gracing his lips. Despite his earlier intentions to only dance with Furina throughout the night, he felt a twinge of discomfort at the sight of Robin sitting alone in a corner. She was one of the most celebrated opera singers in Fontaine, her talent renowned across the nation, yet here she was, relegated to the sidelines while the festivities unfolded around her.

"Enjoy the night, Robin."

Tempest said warmly, his voice laced with sincerity as he turned away to continue mingling with his guests.

Robin's heart fluttered at the sound of her name.

"H-He called me by my name!"

She exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. The world around her seemed to fade as the realization sank in, this was no ordinary encounter.

With a beaming smile spreading across her face, she whispered to herself.

"One step closer..."

The warmth of his words wrapped around her like a comforting embrace, igniting a spark of hope within her. She couldn't help but feel that this night was a turning point, a moment that would lead her closer to the connection she had longed for with the Duke.

"Master Crepus."

Tempest called out as he approached the esteemed figure, who stood proudly beside his son, Diluc, and his adoptive son, Kaeya.

"Ah, Tempest."

Crepus replied, a warm smile lighting up his face.

"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your presence tonight. We have prepared a room for you and your sons to stay in for the night, ensuring you have a comfortable place to rest after the festivities. And I must thank you once again for generously sponsoring my birthday celebration with your exquisite wine. It truly adds a special touch to this occasion."

Tempest's words flowed with genuine appreciation, his respect for the Ragnvindr family evident in his tone. The atmosphere between them felt warm and welcoming, a reflection of the bonds forged through shared experiences and mutual respect.

"It's no problem at all, Tempest."

Crepus replied, waving a hand dismissively.

"I happened to have some business in Fontaine, and your birthday perfectly aligned with my schedule. It was serendipitous, really. Diluc, Kaeya, come here and introduce yourselves to the esteemed Duke of Stormwind."

As he gestured for his sons to approach, the pride in Crepus's voice was palpable. He clearly held both of them in high regard and wanted to showcase their talents and personalities to Tempest. Diluc stepped forward first, his demeanor serious yet respectful, while Kaeya followed closely behind, his playful smirk hinting at the mischievous charm that often accompanied him. The moment felt significant, as the two families intertwined in this joyous celebration.

"It's great to meet you, uh, Your Grace! I can't believe I'm actually standing in front of Ra's champion!"

Diluc exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement and admiration.

Tempest chuckled warmly at the enthusiastic introduction.

"Ah, it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Diluc. And there's really no need to call me 'Your Grace.' I understand that Mondstadt has had its fair share of complicated relationships with nobles, but I appreciate your respect."

He smiled, his demeanor friendly and approachable.

"Just Tempest is fine. And I may not look it, but I'm probably around the same age as you."

Tempest said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Really?! Isn't that a bit unusual? And wow, you have two Visions?!"

Diluc exclaimed, his eyes widening as he stared at the Hydro Vision and the Pyro Delusion hanging from Tempest's uniform. He mistook the Pyro Delusion for a Vision, clearly impressed.

"Well, I didn't always look like this."

Tempest replied with a chuckle.

"And these two? It's a long story. I promise to share it with you when I eventually visit Mondstadt one day."

He offered a reassuring smile, sensing Diluc's curiosity and excitement.

"And you must be Kaeya, correct?"

Tempest said as he turned his attention to the blue-haired man standing beside Diluc.

"That's me."

Kaeya replied with a charming smile, his tone playful. He extended a hand towards Tempest in greeting, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"I've heard quite a bit about you, Tempest. It's a pleasure to finally meet Ra's champion in person."

Tempest returned the handshake, noting the warmth in Kaeya's demeanor.

"The pleasure is all mine, Kae-"

Tempest began, but his words were abruptly cut off as Rohan leaned in closer, urgency etched across his face.

"Your Grace, we're under attack. Tirpitz is down."

Tempest's eyes widened in alarm, but he quickly masked his concern with a calm demeanor for the sake of his guests.

"Tempest?"

Crepus asked, his voice tinged with worry, noticing the sudden shift in Tempest's expression.

My apologies, gentlemen, but it seems some urgent matters have arisen."

Tempest replied, his tone steady despite the turmoil brewing within him.

"Please excuse me."

With that, he swiftly made his way past the crowd, following Rohan's lead.

Outside, the rain poured heavily, soaking the ground and creating a somber atmosphere. As Tempest arrived at the scene, he was met with a flurry of activity; the knights were diligently working to clean up the blood and place the lifeless bodies into bags to prevent a wave of panic from sweeping through the celebration. His gaze quickly landed on Tirpitz, who was being carried away on a stretcher.

Tempest rushed forward, raising a hand to gesture for the knights to slow down, his heart racing with concern. Tirpitz's body was burnt, and the remnants of her Ghost suit were almost entirely destroyed, leaving her bloodied and battered. Thankfully, the rain had prevented her from being completely charred, but the sight was still alarming.

"I failed... Your Grace, I'm sorry..."

Tirpitz managed to utter weakly, her voice barely a whisper amid the chaos.

Tempest knelt beside her, feeling a surge of desperation to reassure her.

"You did everything you could, Tirpitz. This isn't your fault."

He replied, his voice steady despite the storm brewing within him.

"Just hold on; we'll get you the help you need."

"Who did this to you?"

Tempest asked concern etched across his face.

"White-haired woman... Strange eyes... had a Pyro Vision or Delusion..."

Tirpitz replied weakly, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

Tempest's expression hardened, his heart racing as recognition washed over him. He gritted his teeth in anger, feeling a surge of rage course through him. His eyes began to glow with a golden hue, reflecting the intensity of his emotions.

"Peruere... the fucking Fatui again..."