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It was dark. That wasn't unusual, it was the Abyss, it was always dark. It was just that today it was more annoying than usual.
The Lector huffed, resorting to using his own flames to illuminate the book he was trying to read, rather tricky to do without setting it alight. What little light there was available was currently being occupied by the other Lectors and Heralds as they squabbled over duties.
"Their Highness said I was taking the passage to the southern border."
"Well, their Highness said I was most qualified to put the team together."
"I was told quite clearly by their Highness, that I would lead the attack."
Bickering, arguing and one upping in an endless stream. The Lector known as Enjou had little time and less patience for such things. With a huff, he closed his book. No reading was going to get done with all this noise. He decided he might as well take a walk instead and see if anything interesting turned up.
They didn't even notice as he left, far too busy with their debate.
Enjou was aware that he wasn't exactly… the best Lector in the order. He lacked the drive and the desire to be their Highness's favourite. No, his interest lay rather more firmly in the resources and opportunities that came from being part of the Abyss Order. And as it turned out, there was so little competition for that, he had it almost to himself. Rather nice really.
He still had to perform various duties of course, but no one complained or even noticed when he didn't vie for the popular tasks. And they were more than happy to leave him to it when things involving research and reading came up. All in all, not a bad arrangement. Except when he wanted to read in peace.
Xxx
Outside of their base, it was even darker. Most of the old artificial light sources had long since ceased to function with no one to maintain them. Occasionally one or two flickered dimly in a wall, but it didn't do much to dispel the pitch blackness. Not that it was any cause for concern. As a pyro Lector, he was more than capable of creating enough light to see by. And he liked the darkness, it meant there was less chance of others stumbling upon things he'd prefer to keep for himself.
He'd already amassed quite the collection of relics and artifacts, all catalogued and labelled neatly in his office. Some he knew were quite valuable, but he wasn't telling anyone that. They'd never appreciate it anyway.
With a small huff, he turned down the old west path. If he was walking, he might as well go this way. He could float to go faster of course, but that was rather dramatic and unnecessary. It wasn't as though he was in a rush. Other creatures of the Abyss paid him no mind. He was, rather amusingly, at a higher rank than most of them, despite caring very little about it. Really, he'd only pushed himself to get access to the more restricted archives. And now that he had it, his rank was of little consequence. But it was useful for being left well alone.
Further out it was quieter, if more dangerous. The creatures that roamed here were unintelligent, with no understanding of rank or status. They'd attack him as easily as anything else. He hoped they didn't however. They made such awful noises as they burned.
He stayed alert, flames flickering from one hand, though he tried not to forget he was still carrying a book. To light up the wrong hand would be disastrous, not to mention embarrassing. There was always something going on in the Abyss, and it didn't surprise him at all when the sound of a fight reached him.
The howls and yelps very quickly informed him that rifthounds were the cause of this particular scuffle. That was fairly normal for the area, though there did seem to be more than usual if the volume was anything to go by.
Curious, he moved to see what was causing such commotion. Tucking his book under one arm, he let his flames light up the area.
As it turned out, there were six hounds, which was no more than usual. The extra volume came from the wounds they were taking as their prey fought back.
That in itself was rather remarkable. Anything caught by rifthounds often fell to their corrosive aura before they could even sink their teeth in. That something was putting up enough of a fight to cause damage, well, that he had to see. Dimming his flames so as not to draw attention to himself, he moved closer. The hounds were surrounding their prey so he levitated slightly, the extra height affording him the view he needed.
Taking in the scene, Enjou gasped. The last thing he'd ever expected to see was right there before him. A human, a young one no less, was fighting off the hounds with a ferocity that would have made any Herald proud. The corrosion was clearly affecting him and the blood on his clothes proved he was wounded, but he kept his efforts up, his pathetically small sword stabbing repeatedly at the hounds. He was clearly going to lose, any Hillichurl could see that, but he was going down fighting.
"How fascinating!" Enjou almost dropped his book in his delight. He'd come across the odd human in the course of his missions, but they'd all been fully grown. This one, if his analysis was correct, was a partly grown male and a fiesty one at that. He certainly wasn't a quitter. It would be a terrible shame if he died after doing so well, not to mention that he'd never learn anything about the boy.
Tucking his book firmly under his arm, he called his weapon to his hands. The circles of flame rose up around him, announcing his presence to both the boy and the rifthounds. Almost instinctively he shifted his voice to a much deeper tone.
"You boy! Hold still!" The last thing he wanted to do was cremate the human by accident. Luckily he seemed so stunned at the rescue - which is what it was for now - that he froze on the spot.
"Good…" the flames shot down, incinerating the hounds. Two tried to escape, lunging at him, but their corrosion didn't affect him and they let out an ear splitting shriek as they crumbled. Bits of fur and claws fell into the darkness of the floor, the thud as they landed the last sound before silence took over.
What had been a crowd a moment ago was now just the two of them.
He stared at the boy, who stared back. Thin, bloodied, frightened, but still defiant. It was quite a sight. Red hair fell into his eyes but he didn't move, not even to wipe away the blood running from a cut in his forehead.
Enjou broke the silence. "My, my! I have to say I'm most impressed! Not many could withstand the rifthounds attacks as well as you did! And you're still standing too! Remarkable!" He floated over, his weapon off to one side, half forgotten. "I have never seen a human quite like you before." He loomed over the boy in a manner that was, in retrospect, quite threatening. "I should like to know what else you are capable of."
The boy stabbed him.
"Oh… oh that hurt… what did you do that for? I just saved you!" Enjou looked at the boy in betrayal. "I know I just asked what you were capable of, but a description would have sufficed you know." Carefully, he removed the blade. It hadn't actually gone that deep, his armour taking most of the damage and his body healed quickly enough, but it was the principle of the thing.
"You're an Abyss creature," the boy whispered. "I don't trust you."
"That's a very good idea, you probably shouldn't," Enjou agreed. "But it seems that right now you have little choice. I do not actually intend you any harm, I am merely curious. "What is your name?"
The boy hesitated, but seeing his weapon now in the Lector's hand, quickly relented. "Ajax."
"What an interesting name. You may call me Enjou. What is a human, a human child no less, doing in the Abyss?"
"I'm not a child, I'm fourteen!" Ajax's expression shifted to one of outrage. "That's nearly a man!"
"How terribly pedantic. Well then, what is a nearly but not quite grown human doing in the Abyss? Your age is nothing to be offended by incidentally, if anything it makes your survival all the more remarkable."
That momentarily silenced Ajax, who blinked in surprise before finding his voice again. "I… I fell. I was being chased so I ran deeper into the woods. I didn't see that there was a hole and I fell in. And then I was here."
"I see. And how long ago was that?" Ah if only he had a notebook on him to write down all the information he could get from this.
"I don't know. But my food ran out ages ago. Days maybe." The boy was still staring at him, despite the fact that his neck must be aching from all the looking up.
Enjou considered his options. His actual duty as a Lector said he should kill him on the spot. But the rules were never of much interest to him and it would be a huge waste of an opportunity. And ugh, he was clearly going soft because he didn't fancy the idea of killing a young one at all. "Here is what we'll do. You walk with me. I will ask questions and you will answer them. In return, I will keep you safe."
Ajax narrowed his eyes. "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere you'll have a slightly better chance of staying alive. So, do we have a deal? Come on. I'm not that bad. Any other Lector would have let the hounds keep going."
"I guess. I still don't trust you though." Ajax's eyes narrowed. "You could still stab me in the back."
"You're a very sensible human." Enjou ruffled Ajax's hair, though immediately regretted it as the boy lunged for him. "Hey! Look I promise, if I stab you, I'll stab you in the front, just like you did to me. To keep it fair."
There was a pause, before Ajax's shoulders slumped in resignation. "Fine."
"Excellent!" Enjou waved his hand in the direction he wanted them to go and smiled in satisfaction when his new companion began to follow. "Now, here is my first question…"
Xxx
It was a long walk to their destination. Enjou didn't mind, it gave him more time to ask questions and try to memorise the answers. Where the boy was from, what part of Teyvat that was and all sorts of interesting bits of information about human culture. Some he already knew from his books, but it was so much more satisfying to hear it from someone who'd actually experienced it.
However the longer they walked, the shorter and more clipped Ajax's answers became. Glancing over, Enjou could see that every step was an effort and how he was fighting himself to stay awake. He wondered if it was his young age or, more probably, the effects of the Abyss and the fighting, not to mention the rifthounds corrosion. Most likely the boy had just reached his limit.
When his final question yielded no more than a one word answer, he gave up. He had a lot of information already, it would have to do. And it wasn't far now anyway. "Do you see those ruins? That's where we're headed."
Pulling his head up, Ajax squinted into the darkness. "Not really."
"Well they are there. And it isn't far. Your stamina is quite impressive, I half expected you to pass out by now."
"I'm not weak." Ajax scowled. "And I'm only going to get stronger."
Enjou was delighted. Even exhausted, the boy's fire remained. "Yes, I'm quite sure you are. Come along then."
The ruins in question looked just like the many others they'd passed on the way, just another remnant of Khaenri'ah, but it did in fact have some unique traits. It was a little more solid than many of the others, a little more sheltered and, most crucially, a little more defensible. Somehow the disasters and the years had been kinder to this particular building.
Enjou floated in, going through the main arch which was remarkably still intact. There was another entryway across the room, but before he could get there, a cold steel pressed against his neck.
Truly, she was quite predictable.
"You're getting better," he complimented. "That's a full step less than last time."
"And you're getting noisier. What's that you have there?"
He pulled the tome from under his arm. "This? It's called a book. You read them. You really should try it sometime."
The blade pressed a little harder. "Don't play dumb. Who's that with you?"
"Ah you are no fun." Enjou floated backwards and pushed the blade away. Reaching Ajax, he grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. "But since you ask, it's a human! Isn't he fascinating?"
Ajax bit him.
"Hey! What is wrong with you?" Pulling his hand away, he glared. "Just a few hours together and you've stabbed and bitten me."
The following laugh revealed the knife wielder as a woman, who stepped into the dim light with a grin. "I like him already."
"Who are you?" Ajax pushed his hair from his eyes and stared at the mountain of a woman. She was tall, taller than any woman he'd ever met. Taller even than his eldest sister who was so often teased for her height. Archons, she was only marginally shorter than Enjou, who was adding to his height by floating. She seemed as solid as a mountain too, with a physique that spoke of years of training in harsh environments. Blonde hair was bound in a single tight braid that fell down her back.
"My, how rude of me! This is Skirk. A… former college in the Abyss Order. Quite the fighter, far better than me. However she decided to… go it alone, as it were. Actually we never met before she left, I stumbled upon her here one day. And we came to an agreement."
Ajax took a hesitant step closer to the woman. "What kind of agreement?"
"A very simple one. I don't tell the Abyss Order where she is. In return, she doesn't kill me slowly and painfully."
"That seems fair," Ajax said quietly. He looked at her with wide eyes. "But what did she do that scared an Abyss monster so much?"
A sigh left the suffering Enjou. "I am not a monster, I am a Lector. A little respect please? And I am not sure you want to know."
Something lit up in Ajax's eyes. Something that made even the Lector nervous. Ajax smiled. "Oh but I do!"
A flame flickered and Enjou floated slightly away. "Well that is unfortunate because I do not want to tell you."
"Boring." The boy's curiosity seemed to chase away his fear. Enjou wasn't sure he liked it.
"Well, annoy her enough and you might learn first hand. However, weren't you in need of a meal?"
In response, Ajax's stomach rumbled loudly, the sound echoing embarrassingly off the walls. "Heh... yeah…"
Skirk frowned, casting a withering gaze at the two. "Stealing my food now? And let me guess, one of you needs medical attention?" Despite her complaints, she moved out of the room, into one that held a few solid chests, with one surrounded by a few wisps of what looked like cryo.
"I thought we were down a few cryo mages," Enjou shook his head. "Please leave some alive, their loss increases everyone's workload."
"They shouldn't have come here then. Besides, I need the cryo." Skirk opened the cooled chest, pulling out a meagre supply of fresh food. Hard bread came from one of the others and water was pulled from a covered barrel. "Eat and then I'll tend to your wounds. They don't seem so serious that they can't wait."
Ajax's mother had raised him to know the importance of good table manners and being a good guest. But here, in the dark of the Abyss after days of an empty stomach he tore into it like the hounds had tried to tear into him.
Covering his eyes, Enjou groaned. "How embarrassing."
Skirk however, watched intently. "That hungry, huh? I know that feeling. Tell me, clerk of the Abyss Order, what are you planning to do with him now? We feed him and patch him up but then what?"
"Hmmm." The Lector paused. "Well, you know, I thought I might find him a space in my room… there's a corner I've not been using… who knows, maybe he'll decide to join us. Why, I could have my own assistant, wouldn't that be nice! As long as he stops the biting and stabbing."
"Don't be ridiculous. You know you can't keep a human. Sooner or later they'll discover him and he'll be killed - and you will be labelled a traitor. And we know how that ends." She looked back to Ajax, who was still eating everything he could get his hands on. "Besides, he doesn't look like the paperwork type."
"True. He certainly seemed happier stabbing me than anything else. But what do you suggest I do with him? I can hardly kill him now after all this effort."
Ajax turned, watching them both as he chewed on the food. "If you try I'll stab you again."
Leaning back, Enjou narrowly avoided the crumbs that sprayed from Ajax's mouth. "Firstly, do not threaten people with your mouth full. Secondly, I still have your sword, so you'd be hard pressed to stab me at all."
"I'll bite you then."
Skirk laughed. "He really does have fire." She paused, coming to a decision. "Leave him with me."
"Excuse me?" Enjou blinked. "You are, in your own words, 'a loner with no need for anyone else.' You said that to me the first time you held a blade to my throat. And now you want to… keep him?"
She shrugged. "He's interesting. He's got what it takes to survive down here, he just needs teaching. And I could use a change. It won't be forever anyway." Golden eyes glinted in the dark. "Taught correctly, he could cause absolute havoc both here and in Teyvat."
That was the difference between them, Enjou mused. He was content to get by, to live within the Order as a background figure. Skirk, on the other hand, lived for causing chaos. And the boy certainly seemed willing to contribute to that.
"I suppose it does solve the problem. And I don't think he was going to give me any further information anyway. So be in then." He moved over to where Ajax was devouring the last of the food. There was dried blood on his face and he was moving stiffly from the other injuries he had sustained, but Skirk would see to those soon enough.
"Well, it seems we must part ways. Skirk has decided that you are better off here and I must say I agree. She can teach you to survive, I do not have to smuggle a human into the Order and you live to see another day." He patted Ajax on the head, quickly withdrawing his hand to avoid being bitten again. "Try to stay away from rifthounds, at least for now."
Ajax stood, grinning at the Lector. "Yeah… I'll wait until I'm stronger! Hey wait, you still have my sword!"
"So I do. Now, no more stabbing people who don't deserve it." Taking the small blade from where he'd stashed it, he handed it back over. "Only cause chaos in places that need it."
"Okay. Will I see you again? Maybe when I'm stronger and better we can have a fight!" Already Ajax's grip on the sword was tight.
Enjou sighed. Skirk was going to unleash absolute hell with this one. Still, it would be very interesting. Who knew how far the boy would be able to go. "Well let's not rush into that. I must be leaving!"
"Thanks for the gift." Skirk loomed over Ajax as Enjou made to depart.
"Oh, you're most welcome. I only hope none of us end up regretting it. Still, I do look forward to finding out how this little plan of yours goes." He waved a long, clawed hand as he left, casting the odd glance back until the darkness covered where he'd been.
"Well, this has been quite the day," he said into the void. The book he'd left to read was still untouched, he could no longer even remember where he'd left off. Still, an encounter with a young human was more than worth the lost reading time. Humans were fascinating; he really did need to learn more about them. After all, they had been humans once, long ago. Who knew what he could learn. Enjou smiled. Maybe it was time to diversify his research.
***End***