The True Scourge

Why... did you tell me this story? How do you know about these things?! If you've heard of all this, who are you? And where is my brother?!

All very good questions, Traveler from afar, but their answers are not something I can say. I'm just a storyteller, that's my purpose, my only function.

Sir... why don't you tell me the truth? I'm tired of listening to lies! All I want... all I really want in this world is to find my brother and bring him back home! Is that too much to ask?

I understand your frustration, Traveler, but I don't have time to answer. I shouldn't even be present here, in front of you, in the middle of Liyue Harbor. If you want answers, find the Archons and ask them yourself, they won't be able to deny their crimes for long.

Strange mister... what are you saying?! I can't understand this story.

You'll soon understand everything, clear as pure watee... I know you will. Soon, your eyes will be able to... see the truth of this cruel world. - These were the last words of the man who was talking to Lumine, walking away from her with a little hasty steps to a nearby alley, only to disappear.

The Traveler was restless, confused, partially shocked and disbelieved. She couldn't understand how the ramifications of that tale could be real, nor how this person dressed in dark robes knew about something so secret and evil about the gods of Teyvat.

He disappeared... Paimon doesn't have a good feeling about this. There's something wrong going on here, Lumine... - Said the small flying creature that acted as a travel guide for Lumine, making clear her already obvious cowardice in the face of the unknown.

Oh Paimon, I know something's wrong, but... do I have any other choice? In the slightest chance that mister is right, maybe I... maybe I can find out more about my brother. I have to try. Besides... if it's a problem related to the Archons, sooner or later I'll have to solve it myself. Always like this... I'm told to do the dirty work, and nothing about my brother. - Commented the Traveler, already indignant with her situation.

The Celestials' frequent negligence ended up falling on her shoulders. The Stormterror crisis, Osial, Inazuma's civil war, she gave her blood and tears for battles that were never for her to fight, hoping to find the slightest information about her dear brother, but nothing came to fruition. She was yet to learn that, in all cases, gods are devious and demand something in favor of promises they never keep. In this case, it was not an Archon in person telling that story, but a mysterious figure of unknown origin, but he has very convincing in his speech. Since the Traveler was in Liyue, she already knew where to look.

Nights and more nights, nightmares and more nightmares. Even Beelzebub's eternal will was under attack on its integrity thanks to the visions she saw nightly. The same dream, the same man crying, the same child murdered in his arms. Barbatos also, in his nights, ended up remembering that vision, of how he could not prevent the Archons from performing such cruelty. But as for Morax… he had the worst of nightmares in store for him.

In addition to the scene, that beast appeared destroying everything and everyone Morax knew and loved, absolutely everyone. The Yakshas, Adepti, humans of Liyue Harbor, even witnessed Azhdaha, in his full sanity, be destroyed and tortured by the unholy claws of that cursed beast. Sleep was lost due to despair, a cycle that those former Celestials could no longer bear. Tired and visibly restless, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant was visited directly at his place of work. With no essential conversations or questions, the Traveler was in a foul mood too. Grabbing the man's hand, the blond girl pulled him to a more private place outside, having a conversation that more resembled an interrogation.

Zhongli, be honest in what you say.

Traveler, what are you doing? What's the reason for all this ru- He couldn't continue, as the blonde promptly asked.

Answer me. Are you having nightmares involving a man with a dead child in his arms?

For many, many years, Morax didn't know how to answer a question. He did knew the answer, but he just had more questions as to how the girl knew it. With a close of his eyes followed by a weary sigh, he decided to admit it.

Yes I am. It's becoming more frequent as the days go by. But... how do you know about something like that?

Lumine didn't seem to believe it was true. The tragic story she heard became even more terrifying for the young Traveler, who instinctively took a step back. Even little Paimon moved away, staying hidden behind the Traveler's head.

So... was it true? Is that story true?

Story? What story are you talking about, Lumine?

Don't make a fool of yourself, Zhongli! What did you do... you and the other Archons, in Khaenri'ah...

We've had this conversation before, Lumine... I made a confidentiality agreement. One I don't intend to break. - The Consultant seemed to get angry with that word, taking a step forward and trying to get close to Lumine to scold her.

The young woman backed away even further, keeping her gaze on Zhongli. The impression she had of him, from the story she had heard, was that this man was a real monster in pretty clothes and a youthful face.

L-Lumine... if we're going to do something, what will it be? - Asked Paimon, coming out of her hiding place between the adventurer's locks.

We... huh, we don't really have a choice. Listen well, Zhongli. If you want to end this nightmare agony, you need to answer me a question. Where did you seal him?

Lumine... who is he?

You fucking imbecile! The man you and your friends forced to kill his own wife and daughter! The one who turned into the monster you see in your nightmares!...

She raged too loudly, luckily no one seemed to be around. That speech seemed to push the Consultant away, who watched the girl with a momentarily fragile look, like a sedimented rock. Even Paimon was scared, she had never seen the Traveler so angry about something before. Composing his posture, Zhongli dared to speak again.

Well, since it's something you know, I don't need to keep this incident confidential. He was sealed to the East, on a desert island in the middle of the ocean. A place where he couldn't harm anyone, a perfect home for the monstrosity he'd become.

Do you know exactly where this island is? - Lumine questioned him, seeming to be less scared, but remaining serious and with her cold gaze.

The Ley Lines that flow through the bedrock know where it is, they flow in a messy, intricate order, but I can feel the flow that leads to the island. In the middle of the sea, it must be stabilized. - He answered, with no room for questions thanks to his precision.

Excellent. You will come with us to this island, I know someone who can take us there.

Even though the atmosphere between the three of them was tense and uncomfortable, Lumine knew well what to do. Before those nightmares turned into something even worse, she was going to reap it from the roots. She would need all the help she could gather, but this being a subject that could not be made public, the Traveler thought it would be best to just contact people related to Celestia. Lucky for her, she knew two more, and it was exactly these two who would be the next to be visited. After a long walk, following the path to the stone portal and heading north, Lumine, Paimon and Zhongli arrived at the official limits of Mondstadt, whose Archon would not be so easily found. The two walked around Mondstadt City for some time, looking for news about the bard Venti, but no one had heard from him in days. They noticed a commotion in the vicinity of the Cathedral, and soon went to investigate. A congregation of civilians surrounded the Barbatos Statue, looking distressed and terrified. The knights and nuns of the Church of Favonius tried to calm the crowd, assuring them that there was nothing to be feared.

Hmm...why does everyone look scared? - Asked the little guide.

Lumine didn't understand either, but as soon as she noticed Zhongli looking up, everything became clear. The statue of Barbatos, with black tears streaming from his closed eyes. A rather unusual scene, considered even an omen by most. Paimon was startled when she had that weird vision, cringing a little and talking shakily.

L-Lumine, Paimon doesn't like this at all! Paimon is scared!...

Lumine just replied with a cold look in Zhongli's direction, silently blaming him for this mess. She decided not to say anything at all, just let out a sigh and turned around, heading for the stairs that led down to the center of town.

Where are you going? - Asked Zhongli.

Where our next tormented ally is. I have an intuition.

Another silent walk, with only the light wind around. Mondstadt's spirit was troubled, as was his respective Archon. The Windrise was the destination of the Traveler's footsteps, in the same place where Vanessa ascended to Celestia. She paused and wondered for a moment whether this Ascension was indeed a punishment for the worthy soul of Mondstadt's foremost knight, but that thought would have to wait for later. There was the bard, leaning against the big tree and with three bottles of wine by his side. The most interesting fact: none of them were open.

Venti... - The word came out of Lumine's mouth, visibly worried.

The bard was awake but deeply dejected, the complete opposite of the Venti that the Traveler knew and minimally respected. The Archon's green eyes looked droopy, lifeless, despondent. He was in such agony that not even wine was pleasant or inspiring to him. The fresh and constant breeze was no longer present, there was only the silence of that cursed lull.

Traveler... sorry I'm not... fine these days. I must have caught a cold or something, I don't know... hehe... - He was really in no condition to lie, it was more than obvious.

He ended up having his gaze turned to Zhongli, who appeared to be worried, even with the relationship between the two Archons not being the best of all. With difficulty, the bard steadied his feet and lifted his body, still using the tree trunk for support.

What is he doing here?... has something bad happened?

Look, Venti... I know about the nightmares, you don't have to pretend that everything is fine. I heard a story, about the... you know who I'm talking about. - Said Lumine.

Ah, so you know?... I don't think it was Morax who told you, so it must have been someone else.

Well... it doesn't really matter, we can't change what's been done.

The Traveler disagrees, tone-deaf bard! - Said Paimon, seeming to want to cheer up the boy in green clothes, advancing only a little, as it aroused his curiosity.

Huh? What's the great idea this time, Lumine?

I've already talked to Zhongli, and maybe we'll only have one alternative. Go to the seal island and investigate what happened.

Venti seemed to be startled, eventually slipping his hand on its support, but not falling.

W-What?!! Go to that place?! Do you know what that thing did to us five hundred years ago?! I almost lost an arm that day...

I... it might sound crazy, I know, but maybe he's weakened after being in prison for so long, don't you think? Maybe it's just a matter of ending his suffering. - Commented the Traveler, trying to be positive about the mission.

Ahm... I don't have a good feeling about this, Lumine...

Come on, Venti, we need to try it. When it's over, I'll make sure to bring you the best sake in Inazuma!

It was exactly the encouragement the bard needed, it even made him crack a smile, preceded by a laugh.

All right, all right, you convinced me. Do you think only the three of us can handle it?

What do you mean "three", tone-deaf bard?... - Paimon said.

No. So I still have one more person to recruit... it's going to be a long journey.

Inazuma

Exactly a full day by ship until they arrived in the archipelago ruled by the Raiden Shogun, but there were the protagonists of this story, on a pirate ship. Since the captain had said she owed the Traveler a debt, the blond girl used it to her advantage. The first stop would be in Inazuma, the second, in the seal island. Arriving in Ritou and identifying herself was simple, even too much. Some soldiers sent by the Tenryou Commission were looking for the Traveler, at the request of the Shogun herself. Talk goes, talk comes, same problem in Inazuma. The statue in front of Tenshukaku, shedding black tears, added to the fact that it was showing cracks.

The passage to the interior of that palace was liberated without any problem for the Traveler, thanks to the circumstances in which they found themselves. What she expected to find was a little far from reality. Sitting on the large mat inside, the Shogun resided in meditation, her face turned to the Electro symbol on the wall. Lumine didn't even need to say anything, the ruler soon said.

Traveller, it was good that you came. There's something important I need to tell you. - The Shogun rose from its rest, turning to Lumine and approaching.

You're having nightmares about a man with a dead child in his arms… yeah, I know, you weren't the only one.

H-how... did you by any chance read my mind? And what do you mean "I wasn't the only one"? - Despite being visibly tired, Ei still had her typical Archon innocence, mixed with a little stupidity.

Noo. And I found two more people going through the same thing, I believe you know them too. - Lumine commented, signaling with her hand for her to be followed as she turned towards the exit.

Where are you going?

Introduce you to new allies. I imagine you'll want to put an end to these nightmares, so you'll need to come with us.

Can I... at least listen to your plan first? - She said, soon following Lumine.

It was not the first time that the people of Inazuma had seen the Almighty Shogun walking through the market streets or the outskirts of the city, since Ei confronted her puppet and took full control. But in Ritou, the situation was a little different. She seemed to be the center of attention wherever she walked, various types of gazes surrounded the Shogun's figure, who seemed not to notice any of them. As stated earlier, stupidity and innocence.

Oh, Lumine, you're back! Who's your a- Oh... - Venti said, spotting the Traveler a little far away and going excitedly to her, only to catch himself when he noticed who the girl was with.

Venti... I think we'd better discuss this in a private place, don't you?

You're right... I know where! - The bard replied, and Ei couldn't be more confused at the moment.

After securing a long hooded coat, they were able to escort the Shogun to the Alcor without much issue, taking her to the ship's basement, where Zhongli was. Sitting at the table with four wooden seats arranged, plus freshly made cups of tea. Lumine refused to drink, and so did Ei, but Venti and Zhongli took a sip, even Paimon took the traveler's cup and drank from it.

It's been a long time, Beelzebub. - Said Morax.

That voice and hair style... Morax. Faking your own death was quite a trick to evade responsibilities. - Ei commented, seeming to make a very direct criticism.

I left my people in competent hands, unlike a puppet that was easily swayed by the Fatui. - Zhongli was straight with his answer too, solid in his candor.

That could lead to a lengthy argument, so Lumine intervened right away, slamming his fist on the table and voicing his anger.

You two, now is not the time for pointless fights. You are here for a common reason, to end the nightmares. Zhongli, Venti, you sealed that monster, so they say. What's he like? What are his weaknesses?

A dead silence was all Lumine received, even Ei seemed to be annoyed by that kind of answer. Sighing, Morax decided to take the initiative and speak on their behalf.

He was like any ordinary human, but he had the blood given by the Celestials. When Khaenri'ah's curse fell on him, something unholy happened. His flesh was defiled and his spirit stained. He ceased to be a man, and what was left was just a beast.

What are you talking about?... Curse of Khaenri'ah? Blood of the Celestials? - Hey, I was really intrigued by the subject, and she had every right.

It's a long story, Ei... but to sum up this tragic and unfinished poetry, we created a spy to act in Khaenri'ah, he ended up falling in love and having a family, the Cataclysm came, and then... most of the Archons agreed to have him kill his own family. - Venti said the last part looking at Zhongli without hiding his eyes of judgment.

It was the contract established. No one should leave that place alive. - He reinforced.

Ei chose to keep quiet, now understanding the reason for the nightmares she received, even though she had her questions. Lumine took the lead again, announcing the next steps in the plan.

If we're going to proceed, this will be the plan: We're going to take a trip with the Alcor to the island, find the source of these nightmares, whether it's a living being or not, solve the problem and get back to our lives. Sounds good to you three?

Yeah! - Barbatos said.

Yes. - Said Morax.

Certainly. - Said Beelzebub.

Having already left Inazuma in the competent hands of the Tenryou Commission in association with the Great Narukami Shrine, Ei set out together with Zhongli, Venti, Lumine and Paimon towards the next destination: the seal island. The captain of the ship, Beidou, occasionally appeared to talk to the members, not recognizing the Shogun because she was always hidden by her coat and recluse in a corner, thoughtful with all the information she needed to process.

East sea

It was days of navigation as soon as they left Inazuma, the bluish ground around the ship was increasingly part of the group's routine. The Crux Fleet had its ways of not getting bored, such as recreational activities involving painting, poetry, singing along with instruments, even some board games for the most interested. Beidou dared to challenge the mysterious Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant to a game of chess, while Ei decided to step out of her corner to take a closer look at her surroundings. Something was bothering her, a presence she felt a little strange about. She heard a meow, and soon after, a boy with light hair and traditional Inazuman robes coming out of the captain's cabin, holding a cat in his arms. Just one glance and things got weird, to the point where they didn't look at each other for the rest of the trip.

More and more days of pure blue immensity, it was already a total of a week and five days of travel. Paimon was bored, lying on top of Lumine's head, while the Archons seemed to be in a good mood. Away from the mainland, alone at sea, the nightmares didn't seem to affect them all that much. Of course, the vision still appeared, but the attack causing the scare was no longer present in their dreams. The days seemed calm, and the wind favorable, until something genuinely reckless appeared. A dark cloud that covered the entire horizon, in the exact direction they needed to go. It was the harbinger of a storm, but they even seemed too calm. Thinking that such a storm would be controlled by the Shogun, Lumine faced that scenario with a smile on her lips. Poor Traveler. That storm was not mere thunder, but something that would be even worse.

The rain came, and with it, the violent sea.

Strong storm winds, rough waves to the point of rocking the ship, thunder that absolutely did not lighten the dark sky, appearing only in noises and explosions in the water. It was a literal seaman's hell, all the sailors were at their wit's end. Everyone, absolutely everyone, tried hard to keep the ship operating and safe, but the situation was becoming simply unfeasible, to the point that one of those unholy thunders hit the ship's hull, causing a repulsion that threw the Traveler across the deck, until hang by hand on the side. Paimon tried in vain to pull the girl until someone arrived to help. Zhongli tried to lift her, with Ei and Venti close at hand, but his effort was cut short when another thunder slammed towards his back, throwing all four of them overboard, being Paimon the only one who wasn't knocked out of the ship, because of her flying abilities.

Lumine! - Beidou and Paimon exclaimed, before their screams were drowned out by the strong wind and thunder.

Lumine! Lumine!... - A voice called her, becoming weaker and weaker. A familiar voice, gentle but muffled.

The Traveler felt at the bottom of the sea, trapped, without her full consciousness, until she saw something. A hand through the darkness, searching for her, getting closer and closer. Just as her fingers are about to touch her skin, the girl wakes up, coughing water out of her mouth. With blurred vision, the Traveler could only see a figure close to her, calling her and holding her hands.

Lumine... Lumine. Lumine! Lumine, are you okay?!

Aaaaah! - The Traveler shouted, getting up in the middle of a cough and eventually realizing that it was just Venti.

Aaaaah! You gave me a fright!...

I... sorry, I... doesn't matter all that much.

Commented the girl, looking down and noticing that she was on the sand of a beach. Looking to the sea, she couldn't see much more than a distant mist, forming some kind of wall around the island.

Venti, where are we- The girl coughed, being soon helped by the Archon. - ah... where did we end up?

When we fell off the ship, it seems that a strange flow carried us across the ocean until we reached this beach... and we landed right where we wanted to be, Lumine...

The Nightmare Island

A mass of sand and earth, shrouded in a curtain of mist from all sides of the horizon, blocking out any lights that weren't directly above the island. The beach was visibly ugly, with broken and misshapen rocks carved by wind and salt. The trees on that island looked terrible: some without their leaves, others with huge claw marks on their trunks, others practically split in half. There was a mound in the center, partly open on the sides, as if meteors had blasted those holes in the rock. The grass on the shore looked stunted, bordering on gray, and the same could be said for the sand on that beach, a blanket of dead algae and even bones. Not just any bones, but specifically some bone masks. This made the Traveler widen her eyes and turn around, seeing Zhongli and Raiden approaching across the sandy beach. The girl screamed, visibly enraged.

Were there Hilichurls on this island?! You said it was abandoned, Zhongli!

The man said nothing, just crossed his arms and was silent, letting his eyes be closed and a sigh being exhaled. Lumine was angry, she felt like cursing Zhongli and all his relatives. However, she decided to save her anger for later, massaging her temples with her thumbs and then returning to her apparent calm.

Where is Paimon? - Lumine asked.

Since we arrived on this island, we haven't found your friend... it looks like she must have stayed in the Alcor. - Ei commented.

In due course, the group reconvenes and agrees to rest for a while before proceeding with the exploration. Only a few hours, until the sun began to set through the barrier of fog that surrounded that island. With everyone ready, the expedition continued uninterrupted, starting to direct a path through the sand until arriving in the twisted forest in the interior part of the island. There were no birds around, no squirrels, let alone wild boars. There was only dirt, cursed plants, twisted trees, and… Hilichurls. Lumine thought about not even getting close to that group, but they were noticed by them anyway. However, instead of attacking like the simple race they are, those Hillichurls seemed to run away. They continued running in the opposite direction of the group with screams of terror. Some of them had stayed, with no hope of escape, dropping to their knees and muttered in their very unique dialect, as if begging for mercy.

It was possible to notice that, among those who stayed, most had some physical problem. Absence of an arm, a leg or a part of the torso. Their weapons were also horribly damaged, as if something absolutely monstrous had faced them and defeated them. Even a wooden shield mitachurl was on its knees, crying and begging, as its shield was terribly broken.

How... who did this to those Hillichurls? - Venti asked.

Even the simplest of minds... are controlled by something they fear. - Zhongli replied.

Lumine was feeling terrible seeing this unprecedented atrocity, wishing it was all just a bad dream, that Teyvat was a nightmare, so she could wake up in another world with her brother… but no, this was the real world. The true reality of this world.

I don't... I don't know if I want this anymore, I feel horrible seeing these things...

To... where now? - Ei asked.

Right there... - Morax replied, pointing to the base of the mountain next to them, indicating a gigantic cave entrance.

It looked like it had been handcrafted, a passage carved into the rock, but so poorly finished and poorly polished that it looked like miners with broken pickaxes had done it. It seemed to be the only option for them to proceed at the moment, so Ei created some light with her Electro powers, taking care of the group's lighting as they all passed through the cave entrance. A simple tunnel system, but one that extended a long way inside the mountain. Curve after curve, Lumine was wary, not liking how that series of caves was with something so fearsome trapped inside. The Traveler soon notices water at her feet, pooled inside the cavern.

Strange... there's no spring sprouting around here. - Said Zhongli, with confidence.

Where did this water come from then?

Deeper and deeper they go on, discovering something amazing. An open stone gate, and beyond it, a large room, with the ground waterlogged. It looked silent, but there was some light coming into the place, most likely thanks to the gaps at the top of the mountain. Venti decided to go ahead, until he instantly stopped when he heard a noise. A human sound, a familiar sound, a tormenting sound. The cry. That damn cry from his nightmares. The anguished melody of a father who lost his two most precious treasures in a single blow, by his own hands. A hoarse cry, tired, but still mourning his daughter. There didn't seem to be anyone inside, according to the group's position, but that sound made them a little scared.

We... are we going in? - Ei asked.

Can't we just... go away? I want this nightmare to end. I can't take it anymore... - Venti grumbled.

We have to go on or there will never be peace in our nights again. - Zhongli said.

As for Lumine, she listened and decided to take the first step, heading through the stone gate and soon being followed by the Archons. At the entrance of that great hall inside the mountain, it was possible to see little, only what the light of the stars that were above the opening in the ceiling allowed. The floor completely flooded could barely reflect anything, the walls of that room were pure stones, marked by gigantic cracks and claw marks in several parts. Looking up, it was possible to see the entrances of light, and also what appeared to be a scythe, held by the blade in the ceiling of that great hall of stone and water. Another sound emerges, but this time, it wasn't from a human. Sounds that spread across the water, drawing the group's attention, until the source became clear. A Hilichurl, crawling to the exit, missing both legs. They grunted and vocalized in a disorderly way, scrambling as best they could to get away from the daekness of that cave. The group had very different reactions. Zhongli didn't even move, Raiden widened her eyes, Venti felt like throwing up and Lumine gaped, almost screaming, putting her hands over her mouth and feeling tears well up in her eyes.

The weeping erupts once more, and now the Archons take up their weapons, including the Traveler. The figure appears with its back to them, and thanks to the starlight, it was possible to see a little of that being. The upper right side of his body showed through the shadow of the environment, revealing his long whitish hair. He was kneeling, weeping with anguish, to the point that, in the course of these five hundred years, he managed to flood the cave tunnels with his tears of pain.

This is...

Yes, Ei... it's him. The first homunculus created by the gods. One of our biggest sins... - Zhongli commented.

That being, seeming to have heard the voices, stopped his crying and slowly turned his head, revealing the left half of his body taken by the curse. A dark crust that seemed to form an armor, but on its face, fangs and jaws of a monster, as well as orange eyes, the color of the curse imposed to the homunculus forged by Celestia. The tormenting memories were even worse for Barbatos and Morax, that being had degraded even further. He turned his body, facing the Archons and the Traveler, standing on his hands and feet, which now looked like claws. It growled furiously, salivating from its deformed mouth. Even the human part was not whole, as its mouth and jaw became the prey of an unholy monster. It wasn't a human, it was just a beast thirsting for the taste of death.

And this corrupted beast had been hungry since five hundred years ago.