Archive of Our Own

She'd flat out refused (duh), which led to her next predicament. Brazen kidnapping. Mona wasn't sure what made her think they would be happy to talk things out with her, they'd made it very clear that there was only one answer that they would be settling for. So of course she ran when they laughed at her words of reason. High-tailed it out of there in a hydrosphere to the outskirts of Windrise where she was quickly tackled to the ground by a Fatui gunman. It took her a while amidst her struggle, to figure out that they had been lying in wait at her regular haunts around Mondstadt. She even overheard a Cicin mage calling out to another member to call off the rest of the troops because they'd 'secured the package'. Mona didn't have a chance to eavesdrop anymore because she was whammed over the head with the butt of a gun. 

When she finally came to, she was being carted around at the back of a hay-barrow with her wrists and legs fastened securely to a pole with the God-forsaken harbinger looming over her like a crazed doctor over an unfortunate patient. There was something unnerving in his eyes. He looked at her as if she possessed something he desperately wanted. As far as she knew, she didn't, which only made her more anxious. If there was anything the 6th was known for, was not being able to take no for an answer. 

He was quick to state what he wanted from her. The utilization of the Electro Archon's Gnosis to chart a path into Celestia in order to bargain with the Gods. Sounded simple enough on paper, but downright ludicrous to say out loud. She'd made her opinions known, of which he didn't take well to. A spark of electro to a bundle of hay and before long, the entire cart was up in flames. Mona also found out too late that the hay-barrow that the Balladeer had set alight was to be her sleeping and resting 'quarters' as they journeyed to Liyue. Why? Mona wagered it was to threaten an adepti of some sort. Again, simple enough on paper and laughable to say out loud. But who was she to say what was right and what was wrong? The psychotic harbinger seemed to be on a warpath. He'd disappear for days on end with his lieutenants, only to return with a particularly foul mood. Mona guessed whatever mission he'd set out to do had ultimately failed. 

And so that was how she ended up where she was now. Being nudged along a path she never wanted to be on in the first place. Mona fought to bite back the regret of pissing the Balladeer off the first day she met him, maybe then she would at least be wheeled around instead of twisting her ankles here and there trying to keep up with the lot of them. She did, however, manage to make a friend -or at least she hoped she had, in the form of a timid Electro Cicin mage who offered her extra pieces of bread during meals in return for her reading the mage's fortune. The mage's questions were all over the place, ranging from the success of their mission to the weather the next day. The most interesting and requested one was the mood of their Lord, which as curious as Mona had been of, she'd never had a clear reading on. His constellation, if he even had any, was shrouded in a dense fog that barely let anything through. On good days, she would be able to predict the time of day he would flare-up. On typical ones, it would be a blanket 'no-go' from her end. On bad ones, Mona sucked in a breath as she recalled the moment he had struck a geo-wielding mage down, shield and all because he failed to deliver a message to the Tsaritsa in time. Were nightmarish, to say the least. 

The power imbalance was very telling as well. Lower ranks such as the skirmishers and Cicin mages tend to fear the authority of their direct superiors, namely the Agents and the Mirror Maidens. Mona always wondered about the dynamic in the comings and goings of this certain class of troops. Rarely did they stay with the party, most times only dropping in to hand in reports before disappearing into the dead of night. This was no matter to the Astrologist, she was happy to be rid of them since almost all of them -especially the Mirror Maidens- made it a point to make her life a living hell every time they popped by, either by dousing her with man-made hydro saline that her natural vision couldn't wash off easily, or trapping her in water cages when it was freezing out at night. It wasn't like she could fight back either, the Balladeer made sure to keep her vision on him at all times, only returning it to her at mealtimes and at night when he required her to do readings for the next day. Which brought her to the next anomaly of her situation. 

The fact that she was doing readings for the Balladeer at all and that he was actually taking them seriously. 

His questions were as strange as his men's. Constantly asking her what lay in wait before him the next day and how close he was to attaining success. Her answers were as vague as his questions came. Only what is put before you will come to pass or, success is attained where reason is acknowledged. She'd tried explaining to him that if she knew the exact location of his constellation, she would have a clearer view of his fate. But each time she suggested it, he only looked irritated and annoyed. In fear of losing her life, she'd wisely stopped bringing it up. 

An interesting point to note, the Balladeer frequently asked for the whereabouts of a certain girl, not that it made her jealous, but it was just unusual for a person like him to inquire about something other than himself. It always happened when he'd return from one of his long missions away from the main squadron. Now, those were the readings that really counted. The girl's fate with relation to his was always misty, maybe not as dense as his, but cloudy. Her constellation was vast and they shone brightly behind the misty veil but no matter how clear the sky was, Mona was never able to view it clearly. The only thing she could tell the Balladeer was that the girl is powerful and constantly evades him. He'd snort and tell her that if she knew what he'd do to her, she'd run as well. Mona didn't want to know what he was going to do with her. 

"My Lord." A sultry voice drifted through the winds and the entire party stopped moving abruptly, all looking around nervously. From the front of the pack, the Balladeer sighed with irritation as he folded his arms, coming to a stop. Mona rolled her eyes. She was no stranger to what or who this was about. There was only one Fatui soldier that would announce herself like this, or should she say, a particular Mirror Maiden. She peaked out from the middle of the pack and sure enough, a hydro void split open on the Balladeer's right as a tall woman in ceremonial garbs stepped out. She did a little curtsy for the harbinger and Mona resisted the urge to scoff. After all, class only applied to those who understood it. In this case, neither possessed any. 

"What is it this time?" The Balladeer grunted, barely glanced in the direction of the mage, and already tapping his foot impatiently. The maiden giggled airily, producing a flimsy stack of papers from her sleeve. Unlike her peers, she didn't flinch when the harbinger snatched the documents from her fingers. "Is this all? You could have had it mailed to my quarters in Liyue." The maiden giggled again, to which Mona mimicked her and got roughly shoved in the back by a skirmisher. To her credit, she shoved him back. 

"The Tsaritsa is wondering where you have been, my Lord." she bowed respectfully at the mention of their Archon's name. "It has been a while since you've been back to Snezhnaya. Not to mention, it seems we are having some trouble with the Electro Archon's Gnosis and the Tsaritsa was wondering if you could... persuade her." There was a faint spark in the air that Mona nearly missed if she wasn't already trying her darndest to eavesdrop on their conversation. She knew this tension well, the Balladeer was pissed. But why? Wasn't a harbinger supposed to be happy to be called upon by his master?  

"Last I recall, I'd specifically let the Tsaritsa know I'd like to steer clear of any dealings in Inazuma. The issue with the factory has already been resolved and I've since departed." There was another spark as the harbinger bit his words out one by one. "As for why I have not been back to Snezhnaya, I trust I can leave it to you to keep her off my tail?"

"Very well, my Lord." She bowed again before looking around. "Now, where is that little pet you've been keeping?" Mona winced at the mention of her existence. She was not in the mood to be messed with, at least not so late into the day. Her feet were killing her and she was so hungry. She would wither away and die if she was to be put through any light bullying. 

"Leave her be." Mona sighed with relief at the tone of finality in his voice. As little as the harbinger would step in when his lieutenants were punishing her for no good reason, he'd always stopped them right where she was about to tap out. The astrologist wasn't sure if she should be thankful to him or not, seeing that it was him who got her into this mess in the first place but judging by the bleak outlook of her life she'd take whatever she could get. If she squinted, it was almost like he cared about her- "If you were to start anything, it'd put us behind schedule." Nevermind. 

"She is a mage as well, is she not?" The Mirror Maiden trotted after the Balladeer as he resumed his pace. "Do we need to make preparations with the Hexenzerkil? You know how protective they are over their mages now." Oh, that's right! There was the Order of Witches that she belonged to! Mona thought she had a eureka moment but wilted when another thought struck her. Ah right, she'd run away from her Elder and hence been disqualified from the order altogether. It was true that the Hexenzerkil was protective of their mages, but only of those that came under the higher ranks of the coven. Mona had been in the running to join their leagues but decided against it when- The astrologist shook her head. That was all in the past now, it didn't matter anymore. 

"Someone like her could never belong to such a high council that would warrant a search." He didn't have to say it like that! She pouted to herself, taking her frustrations out on a nearby peddle by kicking it into a ditch. The truth was that she was more than qualified to be within the high order of witches, it was just that she chose not to. At the point where she'd left, she was good enough to enter the council as a Secondary, only one tier below being an Elder! The only reason why she'd run away was because- no. It didn't matter. "If you're done, I suggest you start thinking of reasons why I cannot be back at the motherland." 

"Why would you want anything to do with a lowly mage then?" The entire party fell silent as the Balladeer's footsteps stilled, the maiden walking right into him. This time there was an audible pop in the air and the hydro skirmishers shivered, the high electro energy in the air scrambling their gear. "M-my apologies. It's just that you don't believe in the stars, my Lord. There is no point in hauling a faux psychic around for-" 

"Enough!" The Balladeer's voice boomed and puddles of water sparked and sizzled at the maiden and men's feet. A skirmisher was unlucky enough to trip up from the static and tumbled into a nearby pond. "Who do you think you are to question me like this, Witch?" From the corner of her eye, Mona watched the maiden cower back for the first time, or was she choking? She cocked her head to the side and her eyes widened. The Balladeer was strolling up to her almost leisurely with his hands behind his back as he regarded her writhing form. He had electro tendrils coiling around the mirror maiden's neck from the ground up, her hydro vision not doing her any favors. "Perhaps I should get rid of you now and let the Tsaritsa continue wondering where I am. Yet I do crave the sight of blood on my hands..." The maiden gasped, clawing desperately at tendrils that phased through her gloved fingers. 

"Please stop, my Lord!" Mona jumped when she saw her friendly Cicin mage jump out of formation as she ran up to the squirming mage. "Please have mercy!" Mona sensed the frequency leap into overdrive in the environment and started stumbling towards the electro mage herself. Something big was coming and if she wasn't fast enough, there wouldn't be anything left of the only tolerable friend she'd made during the time she'd had to spend with the bipolar bastard. All she had to do was get close enough to activate her vision in the Balladeer's pocket and- 

The was a swish followed by a loud explosion as the Balladeer lost his temper, nuking the exact spot and a large radius as to where the Cicin mage had once stood. As the dust cleared, a distinct crash zone where the lightning bolt had landed was clearly marked on the ground. It extended for meters where the bolt had originally hit, well into where the traveling party stood. Or at least once stood. 

Mona wobbled on her feet a few yards away, nearly tripping into the trench left by the fearsome attack. Around her, hydro dissipated into the crisp air as her summoning circle slowly faded away under her and the traveling party's feet. The Balladeer had thankfully released the mirror maiden in shock. 

"By the Sevens, are you okay?" Mona rushed to the electro mage's side to check her for injuries. She noticed a ghastly electric burn up the mage's arm and cursed. She should have been quicker. Minding the burns, she shook the mage by her shoulders. "Are you stupid?! How could you do such a thing?!" The Cicin mage stared at her blankly, still reeling from the fact that she'd essentially just cheated death. It took her another moment to process what truly had happened, scanning her surroundings from the huge crater created by her master, to the mess of men standing in shocked silence at the very outskirts of its destruction before tearing up and bawling into Mona's arms. 

"Oh for Archon's sakes," Mona swore to herself as the electro mage threw herself at her, muttering incoherently about thank yous and whatnot. Peripherally, she spied the Balladeer making his way over to the group of them and her temper flared. "What the Sevens do you think you were doing? You could have taken all your men out!"

"How did you do that?" He ignored her complaints, stopping right in front of the huddled mages, the electro mage squeaking in fright when she caught sight of her master's sandals. "You don't have your vision on you." Mona bit her tongue to lash out at him. Yes, she was close enough to utilize her vision again, but she didn't have enough energy in her to do so. Not to mention, it wasn't as if she was going to let him in on her little secret that she was a specially trained mage that had been put through rigorous training in order to be able to use her vision even without having it on her person. It was a skill not many mages in the coven could master, something not even the Knights of Favonius' Lisa knew. 

"I-I was able to have a line of sight with my vision when you raised your sleeve." He'd hooked her vision right where a vision user would have, on his hip; or where he would have hung his if he had one. "I wasn't about to let you smite me for no good reason at all, can I?!" She could have sworn she saw a ghost of a smile past his lips but it was replaced by a frown as quickly as it came. "She's getting away by the way. Aren't you going to see to that?" Mona hastily pointed out the Mirror Maiden dragging herself into a void in the background, anything to keep the attention off herself. 

"No matter, she should be happy she even managed to escape with her life." He surprisingly held out a hand to her, beckoning her to take it. Mona eyed the hand suspiciously. He wasn't about to attempt to zap her when she least expected it, was he? "What are you waiting for?" His voice dipped an octave and Mona snatched his hand, not inclined to trigger another one of his famous tempers by leaving him hanging. He frowned when she used his arm as leverage to hoist the injured Cicin mage to her feet as well. "We leave at once. It seems we have left too much of an impression while passing through these roads." If he meant the massive crater that he'd punched a hole into, then yeah, it was quite the impression. 

She cleared her throat and the harbinger released her hand at once, freeing her up to better support the mage hanging on her shoulder. He gave them a distasteful glare before turning and walking away as if he hadn't almost accidentally killed his entire cohort of men in a blink of an eye. The rest of his men quietly followed, leaving Mona absolutely flabbergasted at how loyal his men still were to him despite nearly checking out of life that day. She was about to start hobbling forward when a hydro skirmisher caught them both by the shoulder. It was the same man who shoved her when she did her impersonation of the mirror maiden. 

"Let me take her off your hands, M-Miss." For a big guy, he still looked rather shaken from the entire ordeal. After all, he'd been standing right behind her, a good distance into the blasting zone. She stared at him for a while before nodding, transferring the hiccuping mage over by her good arm and telling him which parts to mind so he didn't hurt the woman further. "Y-you're a good person, Miss. Thanks for saving us all." Mona froze before turning to look at him with skeptical eyes. In what world did Fatui men say thank you? 

"Um..." She frowned, unsure of what she should say back. There wasn't exactly a book she had to study back in Fontaine on how to handle such awkward situations, mostly because such situations were mostly unheard of. "Thanks...?" She tried to sound enthusiastic but it might have come out sounding confused -that was because she was. The skirmisher smiled at her with his eyes from behind his mask and lumbered onward. 

"I'll see you at dinner!" He called out just loud enough to hear, waving as he caught up to another one of his comrades who looked equally as dazed from the day's events. To be honest, everyone looked like they were appreciating anything that came into their sights and senses. Mona figured that was what nearly dying did to you, if only they knew what she'd been put through to be so unfazed. Either way, it was lucky that no one caught on to her skewed conditioning, it was better to have lesser questions to answer. 

"We'll stop at Wangshu Inn for the night since I'm in a good mood." She heard the Balladeer call out from the front of the line, a statement met with cheers from his men, happy to be out of the elements even for a night. Mona, on the other hand, was appalled at his poor excuse for better lodging. If anything, it benefited him the most. Did he really think his men would simply forget he'd nearly killed them just minutes ago by bribing them with a night at a popular inn? She turned to regard a group of Cicin mages who were happily chatting about hitting up the hot springs in the prominent inn when they arrived and sighed. 

Apparently, they did. 

"Miss Mona! Have another golden shrimp roll!" Another roll was deposited onto her overflowing serving plate by a cryo skirmisher who'd come by to -as her electro-wielding friend would call it- pay his respects. She smiled graciously, not minding the extra food, but at this point, it seemed like she was the one who had died and this party was a sick excuse to hold her funeral. At least, that's how she thought Fatui troops held funerals for people they respected. Like a bunch of hooligans, making sure to break every sacred rule there was of another being passing. Mona didn't want to bring up what they did with the others who perished with... less significant ranks sewn to their sleeves. 

"I know I said I was hungry, but there's no way I can finish so much food. Help me out here." She whispered hurriedly into the electro Cicin mage's ear as she bit into a piece of crystal shrimp. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself for someone who had no idea where they were heading. Then again, Mona figured that was the only thing she could do for someone who nearly had her entire platoon annihilated. "Hello? Earth to whatever your name is?" Mona bowed and accepted a piece of Tianshu meat in her bowl -because she'd run out of space on her plates. 

"Mika." The electro mage piped up between bites as she stuffed her face with food. If Mona hadn't spent so much time with her, she'd thought the girl hasn't eaten in days. 

"What?" 

"That's my name. I'm Mika Dupont." She turned to watch Mona with starry eyes as she looked from the golden shrimp roll on her serving plate back at the mage. Mona immediately transferred it into her bowl. "Thanks. I'm 18 by the way, thanks again for saving me out there." 

"Dupont?" Mona blinked, bowing again as someone refilled her glass. She made a mental note not to finish her drinks too quickly. "As in 'of the bridge'? You're from Fontaine? And if you're so young, what the hell are you doing meddling with the Fatui!" Mona's heart seized in her chest. First, she finds out from Katheryne that there are Inazuma commissions out there made out specifically to loot trespassers and now she finds out the youth of Fontaine are out joining random suicide squads for other nations? 

"It's not like I wanted to," Mika grumbled as she chewed on the shrimp roll Mona gave her. "Things in Fontaine have been extremely erratic of late, with the Archon raising the walls to prevent the Fatui from entering. Even so, harbingers have been in and out of the city as they preferred and the high council hasn't much say about it. People are uneasy, and as such many people are defecting, fearing it would turn into another Inazuma." 

"Why is this the first time I'm hearing of this?" Mona offered a rice bun to keep the girl talking. "I-I've read news about Fontaine before I was well... taken against my will. I never heard of something this drastic happening." Mika gladly accepted the bun and bit into it. 

"That's because the Grand Elder doesn't want anyone outside the city bounds finding out." Mona felt sick at the mention of the Old Hag. "But I think everyone sort of knows. They say her Heir has gone missing, just when the Archons are under attack too! It's caused great discomfort among the people, seeing that there wouldn't be a new overseer if the Grand Elder were to fall to the hands of a Harbinger while defending the Archon." 

"But isn't the Grand Elder all-knowing and powerful?" Mona involuntarily raised her voice, attracting the attention of the Balladeer nearby. He gave her a frown as if she was disturbing his meal before turning away. She breathe a sigh of relief before turning back to whisper at Mika. "Even as a regular mage, I know the Grand Elder of Fontaine is the oldest living, breathing seer in Teyvat. She's known to see the future of anyone by just looking at them! It's impossible for anyone to get past her." She'd tried and almost always failed. Then again, the keyword was almost. 

"Only if the person has a constellation to look into." Mika supplied constructively, helping herself to the mage's food on her plate, not noticing Mona tense up at her statement. "Word on the street is that in desperation to find her Heir, she'd looked into her own fate and foresaw the coming of a being neither of mortal nor celestial descent instead. And you know what they say about seers looking into their own fate..." 

"They court their own death." Mika nodded while Mona paled, unable to trust the words she was hearing. Why would her master do something as foolish as that? How desperate did she have to be? The last she had seen the Old Hag, she was happily training a new Heir in their very courtyard! "Impossible. A seer with her experience would never do such a thing, not with the entirety of a nation riding on her. Perhaps it was a Secondary that prophesied such a fate?" Mika shook her head confidently. 

"There hasn't been a Secondary recruited under the Grand Elder for years, or at least since the crowning of her Heir." Mona winced as the Cicin mage spread her arms out to show how long a period it had been. "Everyone was so happy when she'd announce her stewardship of an Heir. As a fellow mage, I'm sure you know the Grand Elder is infamous for being picky with her students. They say those who are picked have had their futures looked into years in advance of when they start their training, so as to ensure the quickest and smoothest ascension into the council ranks. Their fates were determined the moment they are recruited! Written in the stars. How wonderful is that?" Mika cocked her head to the side when she saw that Mona didn't quite share her enthusiasm. 

"Maybe I'm boring you, but I can't help myself. There isn't anyone else who knows the workings of the Hexenzerkil as well as you would, seeing that you're so skilled. Are you thinking of joining the Hexenzerkil if given the chance?" She popped a piece of almond tofu into her mouth and groaned in delight while Mona felt sick in the stomach. "Do you think it's true that only specific types of mages are picked as Heirs? It's impossible to tell one apart from the other, which is why the Grand Elder is always present at each coronation. They say she has the power to look straight into the soul." Mona swallowed the bile that was rising in her throat. 

'Child, you finally reveal yourself to me. My stray soul, my double haloed Heir.'

Mona could still remember the words of her master when she'd picked her up from the streets of Fontaine after her house had mysteriously gone up in flames, killing her entire family. Perhaps she could consider it the very first time in her life that she'd been abducted so there wasn't anything special of what the Balladeer had already done. Mona'd barely managed to make it out in time. Just as she'd stumbled out of the burning building there the Old Hag was -waiting for her. She knew there would be no saving her parents. She knew of her parents' fates before the fire even came to pass. She'd let it happen. Mona clenched her fists at her sides to keep herself from angry crying. The next day the city had held a grand celebration to celebrate her adoption. She even never got to formally see her parents off. All she got was a simple 'it's been taken care of' from strangers she barely recognized. 

The Old Hag had attempted to make it up to her by showering her with only the best of the best during her training under her, although that included endless hours of spell-drills and nonsensical etiquette classes. Mona had quickly gotten used to the endless unreasonable tasks her master would put her up to, believing that it was all for the better of her raising into the ranks of the Hexenzerkil. It had always been a dream of hers, and in a way, she counted herself lucky to have been picked by the Elder. At least she tried to think of it that way. It wasn't until she'd chanced upon a leather-bound book lying innocently on her master's desk one day between tasks. It was a new one, by that she meant she'd never seen it before even though it was worn and tattered.  

The book had her master's quill pen lying next to it, uncharacteristic dribbles of ink dotted the edge of its pages. It had been recently written in. How peculiar, she had thought, that her master would be worried about anything, seeing that she was always one step ahead of the next person. Naturally, as any opportunistic mage in training would do, she read through the still drying pages of the journal. Oh, how she wished she didn't. 

'Today I saw the looming shadow of a monster neither beast nor human that I, try as I might, was unable to see the fate of. He comes to me begging for a soul that I keep in my possession and even as I relent, I see Fontaine on fire. Ley Line roots unearthed from their spiraling depths. It was then that I knew, I had no choice. When the time comes, I will offer him a daughter of mine, a soul to keep my most precious. A sacrifice that must be made for the greater good.'

 The next day, the book had vanished from its place on the table. That morning, Mona witnessed her master instructing the housemaids to prepare for another coming of an Heir. That afternoon, she caught a glimpse of the new successor, training in the courtyard, her master earnestly guiding her. It then dawned upon her that she was being replaced. In order to keep her dear Fontaine in one piece, her master was willing to give her up as a sacrifice to Archons know what. She'd been shoved about her entire life, she wasn't about to allow this to happen to her, would allow it. So in the dead of the night, she'd run. Ran from the only city she knew how to call home. 

"Are you oka-" Mika touched her shoulder to shake her from her thoughts when the mage jumped, instinctively conjured a spinning sphere of hydro in her hands, ready to hurl it at the person who had touched her out of fright. She'd barely registered what she was about to do when her wrist was caught mid fling by a large hand. Both mages looked up to see the Balladeer frowning down at them, one hand grasping the Astrologist's arms while the other had a crab leg cinched between a pair of chopsticks. 

"Don't provoke people you don't know well." He growled at Mika who quickly retracted her hand from the mage's shoulder. "And do I not feed you enough that you need to use your own tears for your cheap tricks?" Mona choked on the tears she didn't realize were running, the ball of hydro dissipating into mist from the palm of her hands while the tension in the room dropped just marginally. "You shouldn't drink so much if you can't handle it, Witch." The astrologist pursed her lips childishly at his remark, tears still streaming down her face. He let loose an awkward cough, looking from his table of companions to hers before setting the crab leg in an empty spot on her plate. "Crab leg?" He offered and Mona groaned, attempting to wrestle her arm free from his clutches but only succeeding in having both of them punch a nearby waiter who had come to check on the commotion.  

"Archons, I'm so sorry!" She cried even harder when she saw blood dripping from the poor man's nose. Mika had the sense to hand the waiter a towel to cover the stains up while the harbinger rolled his eyes, already tired of the situation. He shoved the waiter out of the way with a jab of his shoulder, nodding at Mika to do something about it quickly. The Cicin mage quickly got up albeit swaying a bit, to lead the man away. He then looked down at the mage who was now sulking into her bowl of half-finished rice.

"I'll be borrowing her for a bit." He barked at the full hall of troops, instantly earning greetings to be careful and to take care. He turned to regard the mage with annoyance, still not letting go of her arm as she slumped further into her chair. "Didn't you hear me? We're going." 

"Going where?" She whimpered, still dabbing at her eyes with a towel that Mika had also passed to her. 

"I need you to tell me the weather for tomorrow, what time we need to set out and what to expect. Haven't you learned anything since the time you've been here? Don't think you're off the hook just because you've made some friends." He started dragging her out of her seat and up the stairs to the balcony of the Wangshu Inn, murmurs growing steadily behind them as the troops whispered among themselves. Most of them were just whispering about how bad they felt for her, still having to work after going through such a traumatic day -with the boss of all people. 

"It's going to be cloudy tomorrow." She sniffed prettily, ignoring the harbinger's latter questions and only answering the former ones. "The sun will set earlier so it's best to set off at daybreak..." She was just about to turn the dials on her circle again when he roughly grabbed her wrist, breaking her concentration and the astrolabe in general. "What do you think you're doing?! Don't you want me to work?"

"I didn't bring you here for you to tell me such mundane things!" He hissed back at her, mindful of his group of men nearby. Mona waited for the static to pop in the background. It was only a matter of time before his emotions got out of control. Not that she particularly cared, she'd been having a pretty shitty time thanks to him and was raring to go. She counted the seconds in her head, mentally predicting when he'd snap and lash out at her. Whatever he would throw at her, she could take. She was well-fed, angry, and had her vision on her. If he thought she was going to be a pushover, he was gravely mistaken. 

Yet the telltale fizzing in the air never came. 

"What's wrong, Harbinger? Lost your touch?" Why was she taunting him? A foolish move for someone who had witnessed his wrath just hours ago. He had enough energy in him to send this entire structure crumbling to the ground if he so much as willed it. Instead, he watched her with arms crossed, his short temper nowhere in sight. Mona had to admit, it was rather unnerving. 

"You're angry." He stated plainly to which she shot a jet of hydro straight at his face. He moved out of the way as easily as tilting his head to the side with a sigh. His calm demeanor only made her angrier. Why was she the one out of control? It should be him losing his shit, not her. She was supposed to be the calm and composed one! "Normally I wouldn't care, but I guess I have to since you're taking it out on my men." 

"Me? You're the one who nearly vaporized your squad this evening!" Her temper rose another notch and water vapor condensed straight from the air. She wasn't sure what she was angry at. At herself for lashing out at Mika? Or for running away and leaving her master for a doomed fate. Her reason for leaving was justified! What did the past think it was coming back to haunt her? The Balladeer raised a brow at the suspended droplets of water floating like diamonds in the air around him. He poked at one, seeming to marvel at how it bounced away from his finger. "You don't have the right to lecture me on venting my frustrations on people."

"Alright, so maybe I don't." He held up his hands in surrender, wisely stepping out of the mass of droplets that was rapidly forming around his being, probably figuring out that it would hurt if she decided to blast it at him like bullets all in one go. She frowned at his reply. It wasn't like him to admit he was wrong. "I just never thought I'd see you so... hateful and wanted to know what caused it." The vibrations of the water droplets stilled just as her body did at his observation. How could he have possibly known? 

"I'm sensitive to those kinds of emotions." He answered her as if reading her mind. "Rage normally means the lack of control while cowardice indicates a weak mind. Statistically speaking, you are neither. If you possessed any of those qualities, your very existence would irk me." He watched her carefully through her veil of shimmering droplets, taking his time to draw out his point. "Your actions are decisive and my men's taunts slip off your shoulder like water on a duck's back. I've seen you angry -sensed it- but the control you have over your vision never faltered. You're the epitome of control, someone trained to function a certain way. Yet today you act out of character, diving in to save someone you barely know before," He cocked his head to the side to laugh. "Attacking her at a dinner table with all her comrades present." 

"What's your point, Balladeer?" Mona took a tentative step back from her veil to take up a defensive stance. This conversation wasn't turning out how she expected it would. "So I'm human, I make mistakes and lash out. Don't leave out the fact that I'm here against my will, I have every right to be mad every waking hour of the day. As for the taunting by your lieutenants, don't even get me started on the amount of bull-" 

"You're hiding something." She stopped mid-sentence, words refusing to leave her lips as he smirked at her. "That I know, but the question is what and why, isn't it?" He took small steps around her, testing the extent of the defensive barrier she'd set up between them. "Don't think I didn't notice. Moving an entire contingent of men with a wave of a hand? A powerful mage like you could have joined the ranks of the Hexenzerkil long ago, yet you choose to forsake the safe sanctuary of the coven to transact as a lowly fortune teller." She opened her mouth to say something but he cut her off. "Of course the coven was the first place I checked for information on you. Shall I remind you of the very first time you'd given yourself away? When you managed to figure out my identity mere seconds from meeting me. You've had my attention ever since." 

"So I've had some training." She brushed it off as nonchalantly as possible. "I-it's only normal for a mage who fends for herself to have at least that, wouldn't you have done the same?" She didn't understand why she was reasoning with him. He didn't need to know anything about her, in fact, the lesser he did the better! "As for the transportation of your men, I'd only meant to move Mika from her position. It was pure luck that the circle extended more than it should have. I've had my mana stored up with nowhere to go for too long periods of time, it's only natural that my casting goes wayward when I finally get to use it." For once Mona was thankful that between the two, only she could tell for certain who was lying because right now, that person was her. 

She'd confidently cast that summoning circle to stretch well past the last man on the road. As the Balladeer had rightfully pointed out, it took a boatload of mana to even supplement a rune circle that big, let alone do it in mere seconds. The only reason why she could do it so easily was that the Old Hag had put her through outrageous amounts of training from the time she was adopted to deepen her mana pool. She had only been 8 then, training in her master's ethereal plain every day. By the time she hit her teens, her mana depth was comparable to a full-blown mage's while she had the mental capacity to go from zero to a hundred in a matter of seconds. In short, she'd become a glass cannon by the age of 12. 

"Perhaps." She squinted to check if he was lying or not, sighing with relief when she detected no traces of doubt. The reflection in his indigo eyes danced blithely as it reflected off the moonlight and her veil. "Should I maybe return your vision to you? Would I be able to catch you slipping up more often then?" He playfully prodded at the crystal veil that had gradually formed over time and it rippled against his touch, small sparks being set off as he presumably tested his element on the shield. "Or will you run away like all the other times I've tried to keep you with me?" Mona scoffed at his threat, remembering how he'd originally chained her to his wrist to wrist to keep her in his sights. This was of course, after the first 5 escape attempts. A good number of dislocated wrists between them later, he resolved to confiscate her vision and assign men to watch her at all times.

"I'm not sure if you're stupid or if trust me too much, harbinger." Mona sneered still pissed over the fact that he'd noticed the level of her skill. Perhaps she was the foolish one thinking he of all people would miss such a glaring error on her part. Then again, did he really think she'd just stand there and let it happen? "You do not need me to tell you how much I loathe being here with the likes of you. Would a field rat run for shelter the moment it is set loose in a granary? Surely you know the answer to that."  

"Except you aren't a typical rat who merely desires the spoils of unrefined grain." 

"Maybe I am." 

"There will be no lies between us when we speak, Witch." The harbinger's eyes flashed dangerously beyond her veil and she snapped her lips shut. There was a faint pop followed by a crackle in the air as his sparks made contact with her watery veil. She watched in astonishment as the Balladeer took deep breaths to soothe his temper. It made her wonder why he was going through so much to put up with her. Keeping his temper under wraps obviously wasn't one of his best suits. "I have been nothing but truthful from the time we've met. I understand that there may be things you are not willing to tell me, but I would appreciate it if I was not blatantly lied to." 

"You have been nothing but vague at best." She challenged, unconsciously adding additional layers of hydro to her barrier, preparing for him to clash with her very soon. She'd be able to take him no problem. "And why is there a need for me to be truthful with you, my woeful captor? Think as you may, all you have given me all this time has been nothing but grief. You should be thankful I even chart the fates of your men accurately." 

"You act like can't be bothered with my well-being, when the truth is you have no idea of my fate, do you?" The astrologist narrowed her eyes as the harbinger smirked back at her. His constellation was shrouded in mystery, or at least a thick dense fog that swirled around a space that -if Mona focused hard enough- shone brightly on its own. The harbinger was able to hide his fate from her, but how? "How about we come to an agreement? Think about it as equivalent exchange." She perked up, snapping out of her thoughts to meet the Balladeer's piercing gaze. "If you can unravel my fate within the time it takes for me to achieve my goals, I will set you free with the knowledge that you know exactly what a harbinger of the Fatui plans on doing and will go." 

"What's the catch?" She straightened her back and took a step to the side to avoid the harbinger who circled her; like a predator to prey. Mona couldn't understand why she felt like she was on the losing end. His goals were unreachable. Who in their right minds would attempt to reason with Gods?  

"If I can figure out what you're hiding before then, I get to keep you for as long as I like." The astrologist stilled, feeling a shiver run down her spine. He wouldn't be able to tell, would he? The only people who truly knew were the high council of the Hexenzerkil and the Old Hag herself. All of whom were highly protected by themselves and the council. The Fatui would have to utilize an entire army to even scrape past their defenses. "That being said, I am at as big a disadvantage as you are, seeing that you are purposefully withholding yourself from me. But unlike you, I do not plan to shy away from such a challenge. Every day I observe you, the closer I will get to truly unraveling you and when that happens, there will be no running from me." 

"And how would I know if I have succeeded in my part of our deal?" 

"When that time comes, you will know exactly what to do to evade me, will you not?" He cocked his head to the side arrogantly and Mona bit the insides of her cheeks. It was a tempting offer and this time she'd been given a choice to take it or not. "So what will it be, Witch? I rarely make offers, neither am I a patient man." Mona was very aware of that. 

"I have my conditions." She sniffed, trying her best to regain control of the conversation. Since they were negotiating, she might as well try her luck to increase her chances of winning. A smile ghosted across the harbinger's lips and he nodded, egging her to go on. "You will allow me attempts to read your fate every night in order to get a clearer picture of what I'm looking at." He nodded along with her as if that was a given. "You will not allow your minions to play childish pranks on me for the sake of their entertainment." He gave her a look of surprise. What? Did he think she enjoyed being toyed with? He nodded again, foot tapping impatiently on the ground. "And I want my vision on me at all times." The tapping of his foot stopped abruptly and he looked up to give her an incredulous look. 

"Didn't you say you'd run?" Mona bit her lip. He had a point, but she wasn't about to leave herself defenseless when he was out to test her skills. 

"Naturally, but I am a mage of her word and the stars will be my witness." She cleared her throat, internally slapping herself for repeating one of the sacred codes of the Hexenzerkil. She prayed he didn't catch that. "Besides, it's not as if you wouldn't be able to catch me if I did. Sure, I wouldn't make it easy for you but-" She sighed, not sure whether she should divulge more information to the cunning man. "I'm simply being as efficient with our time as possible." He chuckled at her insistent blabbing, the astrologist hoping it was just the blabbing he was laughing it at and not because he'd figured out her deep links to the Council of Witches. 

"Very well." Mona frowned at how at ease he looked, completely different to how he was with his men. "Then I have my own set of conditions as well." Mona sucked in a breath. Here came the unreasonable demands. "One, you will walk alongside me at all times as we travel together." Understandable. She nodded, holding a finger up to show that he only had two more conditions he could list. There was an irritated twitch in his eye. "Two, you will only conduct readings in my presence and inform me of what they mean immediately." Mona felt electricity spark in the air as she rolled her eyes, lifting another finger. "And last-" He paused, seeming to ponder his last demand. "You will have all your meals with me from now on." 

"Do you need me to sleep in the same tent as you too?" She snapped sarcastically at the Balladeer who grinned at her offer. 

"I wouldn't say no if you're offering." 

"What?!"

"In any case," He cleared his throat, a plastic smile spreading across his face. "Those are the conditions whether you like it or not." She took a step back as he approached her. "So what's it going to be, Witch? Of course, sleeping in my tent was entirely your idea. A gentleman wouldn't say no to that." She shivered as she felt herself back up against the cool wooden stilts of the inn. The astrologist could hear the loud chatter of Fatui soldiers in the background as she stared into Balladeer's indigo orbs. Somewhere along the lines of their conversation, something had changed. A switch had been flipped. She could see it written clearly on the harbinger's expression, she just didn't know what. "I'm waiting, Witch." He whispered, fingers grazing over the reflection of her veil. It quivered daintily under his fingertips. 

"Fine." She found herself whispering back. Why? She had to ask herself. This was a deal made between two enemies with complimenting goals. Why did it suddenly feel so intimate? "Pleased to be of acquaintance, Harbinger." He leaned in closer to her face, eyes tracking the ripples of her veil as it melded around the contours of his face. She could see every pore on his flawless face; every eyelash that curled upward to frame his doll-like eyes. He was beautiful, perfect in every way, he was -too close. 

Mona scarcely perceived him draw an arm back. There were no telltale sparks in the air that she could count before disaster struck, no twitch in his fingers before he shot out to grab her neck through her shield. Or at least he tried to. In a blink of an eye, she steeled her veil against him, meeting the impact of his blow head-on. There was a gust of wind accompanied by a refreshing mist of ionized water as the dust settled around them. The veil was still up, having successfully deflected his fist to the side of her face. Behind them, a messy clutter of wooden tables and chairs lay in their wake. Neither party moved, neither having flinched from the thunderous superconduct of hydro and electro elements.

"What awesome reflexes you possess, Witch." The Balladeer grinned from ear to ear as he removed his hand from beside her face. The mage stared him down contentiously as he daringly leaned into her veil again. "I wonder what else you will show me during our travels together?" Mona frowned, the veil of water wavering as she struggled to control her rising temper. Deep breaths, Mona, he's just trying to get under your skin; never allow him to. She bitterly repeated the words of her master in her head time and time again before exhaling, the veil going calm again. The harbinger watched the ripples steady themselves with newfound curiosity.      

"There may not be many surprises left if you continue to make attempts on my life like this." 

"So there is more that you can show me." He smirked, brushing a lock of hair back into place on her face. Another test to see how sensitive she was to danger? Mona inwardly cursed when she forgot to flinch. "You certainly are a gift that keeps on giving, aren't you? My little star witch." 

"You speak as if you've already won when our game has barely begun." She brazenly pushed him an arm's length away. He was getting too close, any closer and she would get the wrong idea. "Do not forget that I will also be chasing my own goals while on this journey with you, and I intend to reach it far earlier than you can imagine." The harbinger had the gall to relax his stance around her, transferring his weight from one foot to another. He watched her thoughtfully before shrugging as nothing had even transpired between them. 

"Since I've already tested you once today, shall we start the readings on my fate?" He caught her hand in his to bring it up to his lips. Now she was really getting funny ideas in her head. She snatched it away, a blush creeping up her cheeks. Was she really blushing for this lunatic? "You're so skittish. Has no man shown appreciation for you before? Surely this form of greeting would be common practice to you." She would sooner believe he was about to bite her hand off than kiss it if this scene was to replay again. 

"Even so, that's none of your concern and none of your business, Fatui." She folded her hands tightly into each other as if he would snatch them from her again. This time, it really looked like he would bite her. She layered her veil a little more just in case. "If you're quite done, I would like to retire for the night." She took a step forward and was relieved when he took a step back. "If the Lord accepts, I will take my leave now." Of course, she'd pushed her luck around him with a sarcastic dig at his subordinates, still riding the high of having her vision back in her possession. She braced herself for another blow but only a chuckle reverberated from his chest. 

"Of course you may, my Star." What did he just call her? The astrologist swiveled around to glare at the harbinger who smiled cockily back at her. The scum was still trying to get a rise out of her. Taking deep breaths, she somehow managed to smile back at him, swiftly turning away to roll her eyes. She heard him laugh again as she descended the steps and cursed under her breath, not sure how long she would be able to tolerate the jerk. Something told her they would end up killing each other or something much worst if this carried on.