Chapter Text
She must hate me
That was the one thought going through Childe’s head as he sat in his carriage leaving Zapolarny palace. For there was no other reason Childe could think of for which his wise and almost omniscient Tsarista would make such a demand. Childe, as the 11th Harbinger, believed himself to be her majesty’s most faithful servant and yet even he balked at the request she had placed before him.
The Tsarista of Snezhnaya, in all of her wisdom and grace, had requested - read demanded - that her youngest harbinger get married. And to add insult to injury, she had already selected the bride. So now Childe was supposed to submit a proposal to the princess of one of their most contentious allies, Khaenriah.
He knew nothing about the princess and only slightly more about her kingdom’s customs. His one saving grace was that according to Khaenrian tradition, the princess’s hand in marriage was determined by a contest. A tournament of sorts where warriors from across Teyvat would come and compete to become the princess’s betrothed.
Childe could at least respect that. He was not about to bring roses and sing serenades to court a woman, especially when he didn’t even want to get married in the first place. So if he got to rough up some foreign dignitaries without the typical repercussions, while also making the Tsarista happy he could attempt to see the glass half full. Either way he had less than a week to throw his belongings into a chest and hightail it to the capital of Khaenriah just in time for the festivities to begin.
She must really hate me.
Childe could almost laugh at the sense of Deja Vu, unfortunately his current situation left little room for amusement. Not only had her majesty the Tsarista sent him off to Khaenriah to get married with little forewarning or time for preparation, she sent him in the company of his most exasperating coworker. Childe was currently seated in a carriage across from the fair lady herself, Signora.
While Childe attempted to dissociate from his body by staring out the window, Signora continued to prattle on about proper decorum. Pantalone would also be joining the party but had gone ahead to deal with some business matters. While Childe thought the head of Snezhnaya’s finances was rather droll, he figured an economics lesson would have been slightly less painful than an etiquette lecture. Alas, they were still a few hours from the capital and the rocky scenery offered little mental engagement.
“Childe remember we must make a proper introduction to the sovereign first and foremost.” Signora clicked as she eyed him with a poorly masked disdain. “We can’t have you gallivanting through the city and causing a national scandal before the tournament even begins.”
“Our full party is supposed to greet the sovereign tomorrow as part of the welcoming ceremonies,” Childe replied lazily, still glancing out the window. “Seems rather presumptuous to force an audience with the sovereign when I’m sure they have other things to prepare for.”
Childe could almost feel Signora's temper flare as he contradicted her. She was the chief diplomat of the Harbingers, and while Childe was sent abroad just as frequently as the fair lady, she probably didn’t take lightly to being corrected by someone she considered her junior.
“While that may be the case,” she replied coolly, narrowing her eyes. “We don’t need reports of a Harbinger starting fights in the capital.”
“Look Signora,” He replied, rolling his neck to finally look her in the eyes. “Once we arrive to the city and can finally be rid of each other’s company you won’t hear a peep out of me until tomorrow.”
She gave a loud humph at that but finally seemed to run out of minutia to pester him about. Childe wasn’t a typical diplomat, but he knew politics was a play and that he had a particular role in this act. So Tasrista help him, he prayed at least his time on stage would be interesting.
They arrived in the city with little fanfare. Pantalone had booked out an entire hotel in the city center for the Fatui party. Although the tournament champions would be invited to stay in the palace, the Fatui valued its privacy and often elected to establish a home base of sorts whenever on extended stays in foreign cities. The hotel was beautiful, with high arching ceilings and glittering chandeliers, but Childe had little interest in remaining in the building.
As soon as they arrived Signora had gone to work ordering around the hotel staff. Some of it was necessary, directions of how to store the Snezhnayan goods they had brought along, but most of it sounded like the fair lady venting her pent up frustrations on the poor staff. All of it probably could have been handled by lower ranking Fatui agents, but the commotion did lend itself to allow Childe to slip out of the hotel undetected.
After such a long journey, the 11th Harbinger was restless. On top of his general dislike of traveling in carriages, being the captive audience for Signora’s tirade was draining. At least now she had someone else to yell at and he a new city to explore. So after quickly slipping out of his formal regalia and into a plain Fatui uniform sans mask he was out the door before someone could stop him.
The capital city of Khaenriah was bustling, but not in the way Childe usually liked. The tournament officially began tomorrow and would commence with a grand opening ceremony that bled into a series of festivities. It would no doubt saite his need for entertainment. However, that was tomorrow.
Today the city was bustling with the arrival of hundreds of visitors; Dignitaries sending in diplomatic envoys or champions for the tournament, traveling merchants and entertainers hoping to capitalize on the crowds, or regular citizens from near and far just happy to experience a tournament that took place once in a lifetime. All in all the crowd was buzzing with excitement, but most were just trying to make it to their lodgings and get a good night’s rest before the grand kickoff the next day. Even the market vendors closed up shop early. As Childe meandered through the streets most of the shops were decorated magnificently for the occasion, but had already dimmed their lights and closed their doors.
The harbinger tried his luck at smaller inns and pubs. Hoping to catch a performance from a traveling music group before taking over the stage himself. He would have even sufficed just to listen to a bard or a story teller. But it seemed everywhere he went was filled to the brim with the chaos of travelers just trying to secure a bed for the night. So while the lanes of the capital city swelled with its visitors, it seemed everyone was just trying to get where they were going and settle in.
It wasn’t as though Childe wanted to go looking for trouble, at least not on his first day in the city. That could wait until the tournament was well underway. The only reason Childe hadn’t hightailed it as far away from the prospect of an impending marriage, aside from his unyielding loyalty to the Tsaritsa, was the promise of the tournament.
From what little bit he absorbed from his aides regarding the tournament, nobles from all over Teyvat were sure to participate. And not just the uppity snobs who typically participated in aristocratic courtship. No, Khaenriah valued strength and ingenuity. The small nation had almost been destroyed some few centuries ago and since its resurrection it had forged itself from the strongest metal. Even its scholars were known to be fierce fighters. So if someone was hoping to win the hand of the princess they had better be ready to throw themselves into the fray.
Childe was giddy at the prospects. All of the nations of Teyvat would send a champion. Even small factions within a greater nation state would send a champion, if only for the hopes of aligning themselves with the might of Khaenriah’s monarchy. What’s more, Childe could never ask for a better opportunity to go head to head against some of Snezhnaya's allies. Typically, it would be frowned upon to incapacitate respected members of Snezhnaya’s allies. But, in the name of respecting Khaenriah’s time honored traditions, Childe would get a free pass for a no holds barred fight against Teyvat’s greatest warriors.
Well, he couldn’t kill anyone, but anyone who entered the ring should at least be able to handle a couple arena-sized hydro mimic narwhals. Otherwise this whole endeavor was going to be a huge disappointment. Childe didn’t like to lose, so if he was practically sealing his fate to matrimony by winning this competition he at least wanted to enjoy his last days as a bachelor reveling in the glory of mortal combat. Which all added up to not getting into trouble before the tournament even began. At least nothing too noticeable.
Childe had inadvertently made his way to a quieter part of the city. The streets here were almost entirely silent, perhaps a more residential neighborhood. Childe paused on a pedestrian bridge overlooking another walkway, and took a moment to assess his options. He was closer to the city’s edge now and could choose to wander off into the wilderness looking for something to fight. But it was an hour or two until sundown and who knew how far outside the city he’d need to go before finding something worth his while. Childe wasn’t necessarily opposed to spending the night outside the city walls, but the idea of showing up late tomorrow and being stuck in full regalia with a nagging Signora and Pantalone without a guarantee of a fight to make it worth the trouble was a tough sell.
Just as Childe was racking his memory for the monsters native to Khaenriah, a commotion on the lower street caught his attention. In an instant his boredom was solved, a girl dressed in all white came sprinting around the corner with a handful of armored men wearing the Khaenrian crest hot on her heels. Her small frame moved with a surprising strength and elegance, flying down the street with a fierce determination. She was just about to round the corner when a second group of men appeared, cutting off her planned escape route. Cornered, with the men shouting to come along quietly, she summoned a glorious blade. Her stance was perfect . Even from where Childe stood on the bridge above he could see the fierce determination set across her features.
He needed to fight her. Not a want but a need and he had never been one to deny himself.
“Hey girlie, hold still” He called out to her.
Without a moment more to let the opportunity escape him, Childe jumped down from the bridge, summoning his bow and firing off a quick succession of arrows at the men closest to her. He made sure to blunt the arrows with hydro so as to not pierce their armor, but the force of it connecting to the back of their helmets was sure to leave them dazed or incapacitated. He landed with grace and before the remaining men could figure out what was happening he summoned dual hydro blades and ripped through them in a few practiced arcs of his blades. He kept his blades dull, but the men fell all the same.
Then he was left standing before the girl in white. She was obviously surprised by his entrance, yet she hadn't dropped her guard, a fact that made Childe’s blood race. And while he was sure she’d put up a marvelous fight right that second, he also supposed this side street surrounded by fallen guards may not be the best stage for formal introductions. So with a flick of his wrist he dispersed his weapons and turned to her if only to convince her to a change of scenery.
“You planning to just stand there girlie” Childe quibbed, “or shall we make ourselves scarce?”
She narrowed her eyes at him, but the guards at her feet had begun to moan. Huffing, she dispersed her sword and jerked her chin back indicating for him to follow her. She took off down the street without another glance back. All Childe could do was smile brightly to himself before running after her.
They twisted through the city streets clearly staying away from the crowds that Childe encountered earlier and eventually made it out of the city and into a semi-secluded wooded area.
Even after running through the streets the girl was barely winded. As she eyed him suspiciously, Childe took the opportunity to take her in. First off she was tiny, even from a distance he could tell she would just reach his chest. But she stood firm and proud, and by the way she moved earlier, Childe knew she had more strength in her little body than her appearance otherwise suggested. Even still she was the picture of innocence, her white dress flowed gently in the summer breeze as did her silken golden hair cut short except for the longer stands framing her face. She even had flowers pinned in her hair. If not for the fact that her big golden eyes were currently glaring daggers at him he would have thought he came across a forest spirit with the way the summer light seemed to embrace her.
“Why did you step in?” The girl said, her voice even but brow still furrowed in a glare.
“Straight to the point I see,” Childe chuckled. “But I have a question for you then, why were palace guards chasing you?”
“That’s none of your business,” she replied a tad flustered, “And it’s rude to answer a question with a question” she huffed.
“Hmm I suppose, but so is not thanking your savior, can I at least get a name?” Childe grinned back with a Cheshire cat smile.
The girl bristled and Childe had to hold back another chuckle. This girl and his inadvertent heroism might just be the cure for his boredom.
“That's also none of your business,” she practically pouted. “And I would have been just fine had you not jumped in out of nowhere, who even does that!? Were you trying to break your legs!?”
Childe outright laughed at that. “Alright then I guess I’ll be the gentleman and not push the lady too hard, but I do have one question that I hope you’ll actually answer.”
The girl simply raised an eyebrow at him but made no other reply.
“Can you actually use that sword?” Childe couldn't hide the excitement in his voice.
“Why do you want to know?” She replied, suspicion dripping from her voice.
“Well girlie, this place is dreadfully boring.” Childe sighed dramatically. “Everyone is gearing up for the festivities but nothing is actually happening yet and after a long journey I’d like to stretch my legs a bit. Preferably a spar if you can actually use that sword you summoned earlier.”
“And why should I trust you not to kill me.”
“Oh come on girlie I clearly used non lethal force on those guards I know a little bit about showing restraint.”
While the blonde across from him tried to maintain her aloof demeanor, Childe could tell his proposition had enticed her. There was a glint in her eye. So even with her crossed arms and downturned mouth, Childe knew she was itching to test his metal.
“Then how do I know you are even worth my time,” she sassed.
“Well there’s only one way to find out,” Childe couldn’t help the smirk that split his face. He summoned his dual swords in an instant. “And here to better entice you, if you can beat me I’ll leave you alone and you can go about your merry way.”
“And if you win?”
Her sword was already summoned, reflecting the evening sun gracefully. Childe was already getting what he wanted, but why not make it a little sweeter.
“I get a name.”
She rolled her eyes at him, but dropped into the same stance he saw earlier. “Any rules?” she hummed almost as an afterthought.
“Get your opponent to yield without killing or seriously maiming them,” Childe shrugged. “I have an appointment tomorrow that I’m supposed to look pretty for.”
In truth, Childe lived for the surprises of the battlefield. Why ruin it with superfluous rules? If his opponent wasn't strong enough to handle his blades he’d figure that out soon enough.
The clearing they stopped in was not too far from the city, but they were away from prying eyes and it was big enough that they could move freely. The pair began to circle one another, but Childe was never one to hesitate, so he went in for the kill.
His hydro blades collided with her glistening sword and the song of the battlefield began. She took the impact of his strike and held against his blades, locking their swords and leaving them face to face. It seemed she was testing him the same way he was testing her. The glint in her eyes was exhilarating. She pushed back hard against his blades and they broke apart only to crash back together.
The dance continued. She striked and he deflected. He lunged and she parried. Her movements were fluid, reminiscent of a hydro user, but with a different force and acceleration than the element he was so used to wielding. Once again their blades met, and the force of her strike seemed to collide with his whole body. As they split apart the summer breeze seemed to dance around her.
She was an anemo user.
Childe hadn’t seen a vision on her, but the discovery left him buzzing. And all the more eager to see her truly wield her element. Now he could tell she used her element to blunt some of his strikes, dodge his wider swings, and push back with more force. It left his appetite for battle voracious. He pushed harder. Swung harder. Chased harder.
She was struggling to keep up. Not because she couldn't. No, Childe could tell she was restraining herself. But where was the fun in that? He was determined to push her past her self imposed limits.
Finally he broke her guard. He knocked her sword aside with his first strike, but just as he was coming down on her with his second, he was met with fierce resistance. Her empty hand had come up to stop his blade, which he first took to be a poor attempt to block. But there his blade stood suspended, struggling to finish its arc. Then he saw it, a vortex in the palm of her hand pushing back against his sword. They struggled against each other, but ultimately the collision exploded pushing them apart.
“Finally this is getting interesting,” Childe chuckled while wiping his brow. “I knew you were holding out on me girlie.”
“I didn’t want the fight to end instantly,” She huffed and rolled her eyes at him, but was already getting back into position.
It seemed they were both eager to kick this fight up a notch. A wicked grin split across Childe’s face, who knew today would turn out to be so fun. He threw himself back into the fray. Slashing at his opponent he sent forward wicked torrents of hydro. Up until this point, he had not relied on his vision aside from crafting his signature blades. He had wanted this to be a close range fight, but now he was eager to watch her adapt. And she certainly did not disappoint.
A gale of anemo cut cleanly through his arc of hydro, splitting the water around her as if it didn’t dare to touch her. He rushed in behind his initial attack and she met him head on. The clash surged with energy, exponentially more intense than the earlier clashes of their blades.
Unexpectedly, she pushed back from their clash and used the momentum, added with her anemo, to jump over and behind him. In an instant, she summoned an entire tornado to swallow him. Childe cackled with glee. Before the tornado could make contact he summoned hydro at his feet, riding the wave and surfing in an arc around her.
Their dance continued to build. He arched around her, she flew above him. His torrents met her gales and they would burst, glittering in the falling light. They crashed together in a collision more akin to a hurricane. It seemed they were equally matched, but Childe always liked to dominate.
Summoning a wall of hydro, Childe rushed in once more. He blocked her escape with the wall and forced the clash. She pushed back with her palm vortex, but his hydro wall swirled around them in a cyclone and he bore down on her hard. He felt her starting to falter. He pushed harder and forced the cyclone to close in. Their eyes locked and her determination was vicious.
But her legs trembled.
Childe was certain his victory was assured, but in a flash everything shifted. He saw it unfold, yet in the split second there was little he could do but brace for impact. The moment her knee hit the ground a ring of crystallized geo exploded out around her launching him back and square into a tree.
To say he was dazed was a bit of an understatement. He had not had the wind knocked out of him that hard in a long time. He groaned as he sat up against the tree, maybe he had been a little foolhardy putting all his strength into breaking through her guard without thinking she had another trick up her sleeve. He huffed in amusement and looked out across the clearing.
She appeared to be just as shocked as he was, golden eyes blown wide, still on her knees, and hand outstretched. However, locking eyes with her seemed to shake her out of her shock. Panic took over her features. She frantically took in her surroundings pushing back her bangs in distress.
Her demeanor perplexed him. The impact left him a bit groggy, but he was more than willing to continue their spar. If anything her ability to wield two elements tempted him to use his delusion. Childe was just starting to stand when her fretting stopped and she looked back over at him. One moment she was sending him an apologetic gaze and the next she was sprinting off into the tree line. Childe was baffled. Too dazed to chase after her he simply slid back down the tree behind him and sat down.
His head was finally starting to clear and all he could do was laugh. He had gone looking for a fight and boy oh boy had he gotten one. Never had he imagined it would end like that. Any other time an opponent had run from him it was screaming in terror, not after planting him solidly on his ass. What a shame, Childe would have really liked to continue their spar. He could just imagine how she would have pushed him past his limits. It would have been glorious.
He was peeved that he didn’t even get her name.