Genshin: Teyvat's Wandering Demon (Rewrite)

-9800 words-

Stepping out of the Grandmaster's office, Tayden felt a little lighter, glad to get out of that suffocating atmosphere. But now he was just confused, he was going to be staying in an abandoned barrack Could be worse, He thought. The air smelled different outside, much fresher than the inside of the knights headquarters. It was a mix of woodsmoke and something sweet, maybe flowers. Though it was hard to appreciate it all when he was once again covered in thick robes. 

Kaeya was walking ahead of him, he had to wonder what it was like to grow up in a place like Mondstadt. It seemed far healthier compared to his own city. "This way," Kaeya said without looking back. They walked in silence for a bit, with him mostly admiring Mondstadts architecture, then they finally walked past busier parts of Mondstadt. 

Finally, they turned a corner and stopped at a large wooden gate. He could see that it had chains over the handles, secured in place by a pretty small lock, he didn't know why but that made him chuckle. Kaeya seemed to be looking for someone, probably the one in charge of this gate. Then they saw a nearby knight that was posted in the area and called him over. The knight, seeing that their cavalry captain was suddenly calling to them, quickly ran over.

"Captain Kaeya! You're here earlier than expected. I assume this regards the matter with the refurbished barrack?". 

Refurbished? Tayden liked the sound of that, looks like he wasn't going to be sleeping in some abandoned, moldy, and probably haunted barrack after all. But he was curious how they fixed the place up so quickly if it was "abandoned", The knights sure work fast.

"Correct. I assume there were no changes to the location?" Kaeya asked as the knight brought out some papers from… wait where did he pull out those papers from? 

Kaeya took the files from the knight and looked them over. After reading the contents thoroughly, he nodded before handing them back to the knight who wasted no time and started to unlock the gate. 

He turned his gaze back at Tayden "Come one, we're almost there. I'm sure you must be dying from the heat with all those robes." Now Tayden would like to say that Kaeya was concerned for him, but he still had that teasing tone that he started to find really annoying.

-Click!-

The sudden noise startled him, he looked back and noticed that the knight had finished unlocking the gate and gave Kaeya a nod which he kindly returned. The knight quickly returned to his post and then he and Kaeya walked inside the gate. 

He expected something more grand when he went through, but it was still just some more street. After a couple more minutes of walking, he could finally make out the image of a set of old, grey barracks. 

It was a row of bland buildings side by side with the one in the middle being in far better condition than the others. Hopefully that's the one I'm going to be staying in, they looked kind of run-down, but not completely wrecked. The window covers were pulled down, and the paint was peeling in places, he could also notice some paint still drying, but it didn't look that bad if he had to be honest. "They fixed it up just for you," Kaeya said, a hint of amusement in his voice. But Tayden could see that he was looking at the barracks with what he assumed to be some nostalgia.

 "It was a rather rushed job but I'd say that it does the job." There was a hint of pride in Kaeya's voice as he said that. 

"I can tell. The place looks like a setup for a horror movie."

"What's a movie?"

"Nevermind…"

Kaeya shrugged at his response and walked past him towards the middle barrack, he stopped at the wooden door and opened it. He looked back at Tayden and motioned for him to come inside. When he finally walked inside the room, it was pretty bare– just a bed, a table, and a chair. But it was clean, and there was a small window that let in a bit of light which was absolutely perfect for him. 

"Not exactly what I would call a five-star hotel," Kaeya chuckled, running a hand along a dusty shelf. "But it's a house, and it's yours for now."

He pointed to a small door in the corner. "Storage room. They put some supplies in there. Food, mostly. Should last you a few days." He paused, looking around the room. "This place has seen a lot, you know. Used to be full of knights. I remember when I was in charge of a fresh batch of knights, good times." 

From his tone, Tayden could tell that he definitely tortured the youth out of those newbie knights.

Kaeya pulled at the window covers and looked out, letting out a hmm. "Sunset's a few hours away. I'll swing by then. Just… stay put. Try not to burn down the place, alright?" He winked -which was pretty weird when he only had one eye visible- then turned and left, leaving Tayden alone in the quiet barracks.

 He looked around the room again, taking in the details– the worn wood, the faint smell of old paint, the faint sound of busy Mondstadt from far away. It wasn't much, but it definitely beat the cave. 

He quickly took off the thick robes and jumped on his new bed, letting out a huge sigh.

"This isn't so bad"

I'm so bored, he laid on the bed, looking at the ceiling without any expression. The thin mattress he laid on was surprisingly comfortable. It wasn't Gerald's bed level of comfort, but he would take this any day instead of another night in a cave. 

He is never going to let his hate of caves go. 

It had only been 30 minutes after Kaeya left and he was already bored as hell. He thought that after such a hectic start to a morning, some alone time would be pretty nice. But it turns out he was as restless as ever. He figured he might as well take a quick nap, it wasn't like there was much else that he could do right now. 

He pulled the blanket over him, closing his eyes. It was still really bright out, even with the shutters mostly closed he could still see the sunlight seeping through. Kaeya would probably knock on his door and that would wake him up. He sighed, the sound muffled by the blanket. 'Just a little nap' he thought, 'then maybe I can finally get used to this place.'

He drifted off, the sounds of Mondstadt filtering in from outside- the distant clang of a blacksmith's hammer, the cheerful chatter of children, the occasional rumble of a wagon. 

Sleep is nice

…

…

…

-knock! knock! knock!-

He was halfway asleep when a sudden rapid succession of knocks at the door jolted him awake.

"Hello?! Anybody there?!" A childish voice sounded from behind the door.

He frowned, confused. 'It's still daytime isn't it?' Kaeya said he would come back at sunset. He looked at the windows still covered by shutters, sunlight was still peeking through its corners. 'Who would be visiting me?' The voice from outside the door definitely did not sound like Kaeya. 

He shrugged. Who knows, maybe Kaeya had some knights to come and check on him. He hastily grabbed his robe and put it on, he did not want to accidentally get blasted by sunlight the moment he opened the door.

After finishing, another series of knocks was heard. "Coming!". He quickly made his way to the door and grabbed the handle. 'I swear I've heard that voice before. Who could it be?' 

His question was answered the moment he opened the door and saw nobody there… Until he looked down and saw a familiar face smiling up at him. 

"Klee?"

Standing on his doorstep was Klee, a whirlwind of bright red and cheerful energy. Her wide grin stretched ear to ear as she pointed at him, eyes sparkling with excitement. He swore that her presence felt like the sunlight with how bright it was.

For a moment, he was left simply stunned. He hadn't seen her since their first meeting in the cave. Looks like her words about her being a knight might have held some truth to them. Other than that, he had to admit, seeing a "normal" person after a while was refreshing. 

"Mister Tayden!" Klee exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "I finally found you!"

Tayden managed a small smile, though it was hidden behind the cloth that covered his face. "Klee," he said softly, his voice a little groggy from nearly sleeping. "What a surprise. Didn't expect you of all people to visit me here."

Klee's smile faltered slightly. "I'm sorry I couldn't get to you sooner," she said, as her voice started softening. "I tried to convince the Knights to go to your cave, but they said it was too dangerous. Then I talked to Jean, and after some convincing she finally agreed! But by the time we got to the cave, you were already gone." She looked down at her feet, her voice getting quieter as she finished her sentence.

Tayden had to stop himself from patting her little head right there. He did feel bad about leaving the cave and making Klee sad, but he didn't regret his choice to leave that day. Tayden crouched down to her level and looked at her face. "Sorry about that Klee, I should have told you that I was going to leave somehow. " he said, his voice gentle. "But I'm safe now. Thank you for trying to help me." 

That seemed to do the trick as she quickly got back to being her usual chipper self. Klee looked up at him, her eyes shining. Then her expression changed and it looked like she just remembered something, taking off her backpack and putting it on the ground she started rummaging through it, "I brought you something!" she exclaimed, pulling a small, brightly wrapped package from inside her backpack. "It's a little something I have that I think you would like ."

Tayden took the package, his fingers brushing against hers. She was so small compared to him, she reminded him of his nephew. 'I wonder how everyone else is doing back home…' 

He shook his head to brush away the bad thoughts, he can think about that another day. He put his focus back on Klee's present, he carefully unwrapped the package, revealing a small, intricately carved wooden doll. It seemed to be a carving of a creature of some sort, though he had no idea what it was.

"It's a little Dodoco, and Dodoco is my best friend!" Klee explained, her eyes sparkling. "I hope you like it."

He glanced down at the small wooden carving she had given him. A Dodoco. It was oddly heartwarming. He ran his thumb over its carved edges before carefully slipping the doll into a pocket for safekeeping. For the first time in days, he felt something close to comfort. With a small smile hidden behind his cloth covering, he knelt down to be at eye level with Klee.

"This is really nice, Klee. Thank you."

Klee beamed. "Mhm! Dodoco is my bestest friend! And now you have one too! So that means…" She tilted her head, then grinned wider. "You're my friend too!"

Tayden blinked. "That's how that works?"

Klee nodded enthusiastically. "Yup!"

Something about her complete lack of hesitation made Tayden chuckle. "Alright, then. I guess that makes us friends."

Klee practically bounced with excitement. "Yay! Oh! Oh! Also, Jean said I shouldn't wander too far, but I wanted to see you, so I snuck out!" Her voice dropped to a loud whisper, like she was letting him in on a big secret. "But don't tell Master Jean, okay?"

Tayden raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that… not a good idea? I mean, wouldn't she worry about you?" He didn't expect Klee to be the rebellious type, but in hindsight he should have predicted it with how she behaved.

Klee pouted, rocking back and forth on her heels. "Mmm… Maybe a little, but I'll be back before she notices! Besides, I had to make sure you were okay. You were super scary when we met in the cave, but now you're not scary at all!"

Tayden paused. That last bit hit differently. He did notice how most people reacted to his presence, it probably had something to do with his powers but he didn't know why. He could see that people seemed to always avoid him for some reason. He would never admit it, but it did hurt his feelings a little. But now, seeing this bundle of joy not showing even an ounce of fear or hesitation in talking to him. He didn't realize it until now, but it was something that he needed.

He exhaled, shaking his head. "You're a strange kid, Klee."

Klee giggled. "Nooo, you're the strange one, mister! Oh! Do you wanna come play? I know a secret spot where I can make things go boom!"

Tayden froze. "Make things go boom?"

Klee nodded enthusiastically, reaching for her backpack. "Yup! With my Jumpty Dumpties! I used them to go fishing and all the fishies floated up to the surface!", putting her hands on her hips as she finished her sentence, beaming with smug pride.

Ok that is not normal. Who the hell is giving children C4's? He didn't know how true her words were about having literal bombs. But his instincts -something that he has started to trust more and more- is telling him that she is telling the truth.

 "Uh, as fun as that sounds, I, uh… I don't think the knights would be happy if I left right now. I was told to stay here.", Deciding to just change the subject so that she wouldn't start blowing up his new home.

Klee tilted her head, tapping a finger against her cheek as she thought. Then her face lit up. "Oh! Then can I play inside your house?" She gave him a pleading look, her bright red eyes shining with pure innocence.

Tayden's immediate thought was hell no, a child should not go to a stranger's house. She was all alone and from his view, too naive. But as he thought it over again, Klee did say that she was a knight, and his instinct was telling him that she was much much stronger than she appeared. Well I guess spending time with Klee would be better than just waiting for Kaeya to get back. Probably not the best idea. But then she clasped her hands together and pouted ever so slightly, her big eyes practically glittering under the bright sunlight.

He sighed. I can't resist the cuteness.

"Fine. Just… no Jumpty Dumpties, alright?"

"Yay! I promise!" Klee cheered as she rushed past him into the barracks, her small boots thudding excitedly against the wooden floorboards.

Tayden followed her inside, shaking his head. "Klee, you really shouldn't be too trusting of people you just met, you don't know if they have good intentions or not.", Klee turned back to look at him with a confused expression.

"But you are a nice person aren't you Mister Tayden?"

"Well yes but other people might not-"

But she swiftly cut him off, "Then everything is alright! If there are bad people then Klee will blow them away!" She had said that so casually with a big smile that he didn't know whether to be gushing over her adorableness or afraid at the prospect of her blowing people to bits. Wouldn't be the weirdest thing I've experienced in this world.

Klee turned her attention back to his room. The barracks weren't exactly exciting, bare walls, a single wooden table, a bed, and some storage compartments. But that didn't seem to bother Klee. She spun in place, taking in the room like it was a brand new playground.

"Wow! Your place is kinda empty, mister! Where are all your toys?" she asked, completely serious.

Tayden let out an amused laugh. "Uh… I don't have any."

Klee gasped as if he had just revealed a tragic secret. "No toys?! Not even one?!"

"Not even one."

Klee tapped her chin in thought, then nodded to herself. "Okay! That means you need more friends! When I see Master Jean, I'll tell her to bring you some!" She spun back toward the middle of the room, then plopped onto the floor cross-legged. "Since I'm here, we should play!"

Tayden hesitated. "Play… what, exactly?"

"I dunno! What do you usually play?"

Tayden rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh… I never really played much, even before I got here."

Klee gasped again, even more dramatically than before. "You're even worse off than I thought! No toys and no games?! We have to fix that!" Then she started to rummage through her backpack once more, throwing things all over the place with zero worries. This is going to be interesting…

Unbeknownst to the two of them. Outside, perched on the edge of a rooftop, a lone figure observed the exchange in silence. The bright rays of sunlight caught strands of her long, dark crimson hair, casting faint highlights against her otherwise pale form. Her piercing gaze locked onto the barracks, expression unreadable, except for the the faintest hint of suspicion as Klee entered Tayden's barracks..

She exhaled through her nose, crossing her arms as she continued watching.

"What are you up to now, Klee?" she murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible above the whisper of the wind.

Then, as swiftly as she had appeared, she vanished from the rooftops. Her silent footsteps carried her closer to Tayden's temporary abode, her presence unnoticed even in the midday light.

The sun had already begun its descent, casting warm hues of orange and red over Mondstadt as Kaeya made his way toward Tayden's barracks once more. The shadows stretched long across the cobbled streets, a cool breeze sweeping through, carrying with it the scent of evening dew and the faint traces of dinner fires being lit across the city. The rhythmic clatter of hooves against stone and the distant laughter of townsfolk enjoying the evening only served as a stark contrast to the thoughts weighing on Kaeya's mind.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, letting his thoughts drift back to his earlier conversation with Grandmaster Varka.

"That boy... He unsettles me," Varka had said, his voice even, yet firm. "I don't know what it is, but there's something about him. I can feel it when he's near, like a presence that doesn't belong."

Kaeya had raised a brow at that, leaning casually against the Grandmaster's desk. "You're not usually one to be so vague, Grandmaster. If think the boy is a threat, why not just—"

"Because I know I could destroy him without much effort. That much I am certain" Varka's words held no demeaning tone, just certainty at his own abilities. "And yet, he unsettles me. When I first stared at him, a small part of me suddenly wanted to run. This anomaly is enough to make me cautious. I need you to keep a close eye on him and assess his abilities"

That was the part that gnawed at Kaeya. Varka, of all people, had been unnerved by Tayden. The Grandmaster was a warrior of legendary status, a man who had faced monstrous beings, cut down threats to Mondstadt without hesitation, and led the Knights with absolute authority. If he was cautious, that was saying something.

Kaeya exhaled through his nose, shaking his head at the memory. Assess his abilities, huh? As if he didn't already have enough work on his plate with preparing for the Grandmaster's grand expedition. 

Babysitting a mysterious traveler with a presense that put even seasoned warriors on edge? What a hassle. 

At least Rosaria was keeping watch. He had asked her to observe Tayden's barracks from the rooftops, just in case he tried anything funny. Rosaria wasn't one to mince words, if something went wrong, she'd have informed him by now. No reports meant no problems. Probably. Still, he made a mental note to check in with her later.

As the barracks finally came into view, Kaeya dusted off his coat and adjusted his gloves, readying himself. Whatever weirdness surrounded Tayden, he'd deal with it now. Straightening his posture, he made his way to the door and rapped his knuckles against the wood.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he prepared his usual demeanor. Might as well have some fun with this.

"I have returned! Did you miss me—"

The words died in his throat as the door swung open, revealing not Tayden, but—

Klee.

Kaeya blinked. Once. Twice. What.

His eye flickered past her, scanning the interior of the room, and what he saw made his expression freeze halfway between amusement and utter disbelief.

Tayden sat inside, dressed up with ribbons and bows, a tiny pink one even stuck in his hair. In one hand, he held a delicate teacup, his fingers barely managing to grip the dainty handle. He looked at Kaeya, eyes wide, lips pressing into a nervous line before he gave the smallest, most awkward shrug.

Kaeya could only stare.

Klee beamed up at him, completely oblivious to his reaction. "Oh! Hi, Kaeya! We're having a tea party! Do you wanna join?"

Kaeya let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. What. A. Hassle.

"I… see." He stepped forward slightly, leaning against the doorframe. "Should I even ask?"

Tayden sighed, setting the teacup down on the tiny wooden table that was now covered with an assortment of stuffed animals, an overturned helmet, and what suspiciously looked like a map with scribbles of crayon on it.

"She wanted to play inside," Tayden muttered. "I… gave in."

Kaeya's lips twitched. Well, this was unexpected.

Klee nodded enthusiastically. "Mister Tayden was very nice! He let me decorate him! And Dodoco said he looks super pretty now!"

Kaeya didn't even attempt to suppress his smirk this time. "Oh, I'm sure he does."

Tayden groaned, rubbing his temples. "Listen, I—"

"—Have embraced your inner elegance? Oh, no need to explain, I understand." Kaeya waved a hand dramatically, clearly enjoying himself. "You should keep the look, honestly."

Tayden scowled. "You are enjoying this too much."

Kaeya chuckled, stepping further inside. "You have no idea." He leaned over, inspecting the array of items Klee had spread out. "So, what exactly have you two been up to?"

Klee eagerly pointed at the table. "We were discussing important knight matters! Like, uh… where to find the best fish to explode! And Dodoco said that if we find a really big fish, we should catch it together!"

Kaeya laughed, crossing his arms. "Well, I'm glad to see you're making friends, Tayden."

Tayden simply sighed, slouching back in his chair. "At this point, I've just accepted my fate."

Klee clapped her hands together. "Oh! Oh! We should have a real tea party next time! With snacks and everything!"

Tayden groaned. Kaeya grinned.

Kaeya chuckled, shaking his head. "As tempting as that sounds, Klee, it's getting late. I think Master Jean would prefer you tucked in bed rather than planning another tea party."

Klee pouted for a brief moment, then nodded. "Okay! But next time, promise?"

Kaeya gave her a small, playful salute. "Of course. I promise."

Satisfied, Klee grabbed her things and skipped toward the door. She waved enthusiastically at Tayden. "Bye-bye, Mister Tayden! Thanks for playing with me!"

Tayden waved back, still adjusting to the idea of what had just transpired. "Yeah… anytime."

As soon as Klee was gone, Kaeya turned his attention back to Tayden and smirked. "Well, that was quite the sight. But now that your tea party duties are over, I actually came here for something else."

Tayden groaned. "Why do I feel like this isn't going to be fun?"

Kaeya leaned against the doorway. "Depends. I have some assignments for you, if you're interested, of course. Think of it as… a way to keep yourself busy while you're stuck here."

Tayden's mind finally remembered the words back at the meeting with Varka. "I also get paid right? Because I have literally zero money to my name right now."

Kaeya grinned. "Not the response I expected, but yes. You will be compensated fairly for your contributions."

He didn't need to hear more. Quickly standing up and facing Kaeya with renewed vigor. "Alright let's go!"

"Are you going to go outside covered in makeup and children's toys?"

…

"Oh yeah, forgot about that."

The streets of Mondstadt had changed with the setting sun. What had been a lively city full of merchants, travelers, and knights was now quieter. Lanterns flickered in the cold night breeze, casting long shadows over the cobbled streets. The sound of hooves clattering against stone still echoed faintly, but the people who remained were far less than it was in the day. 

Tayden, walking beside Kaeya, took it all in. The atmosphere was different. Even without fully understanding the city's customs, he could tell this was not the Mondstadt of daylight. But even with that, seeing the city in its full glory, while not being covered by robes. It was definitely breathtaking, even at night.

"So…" Tayden finally said, breaking the silence. "Where exactly are we going?"

Kaeya, strolling ahead with his usual relaxed demeanor, only smirked. "To the heart of Mondstadt's economy- well, at least the more discreet part of it."

Tayden raised an eyebrow. "Just to remind you, I don't know the first thing about Mondstadt's businesses. Or… how anything really works here, for that matter." 

Kaeya slowed his pace slightly, tilting his head as if considering something. Then, with a teasing glint in his eye, he said, "Ah, I forgot that you're a true outsider. I need to remember that common things for us aren't exactly common for you."

Tayden sighed. "Are you going to explain, or should I just continue nodding like I understand?"

Kaeya chuckled. "Alright, listen up. Mondstadt is a free city, no monarchy, no single ruler calling the shots. Instead, power is split between the Knights of Favonius, the Church, and the Guilds. The Adventurers' Guild is one of, if not the largest institution in all of Teyvat, handling commissions from everyday folk to high-paying 'nobles'." 

Tayden definitely picked up on that change of tone when he said nobles. After thinking it over, he came to the conclusion that Mondstadt must have had their own revolution or something similar to his world's French Revolution. Thank you history class.

But one thing caught his attention the most. Kaeya had said 'Teyvat'. So that's the name of this world. Teyvat… It definitely sounded cooler than Earth.

Tayden nodded, absorbing the information. "So, basically, the Guild organizes work and people sign up for tasks?" If this was anything like the novels and mangas he used to read back home, then the Adventurers Guild shouldn't be too far from what he thinks it is.

"More or less," Kaeya said. "They handle anything from lost cats to monster exterminations. Most of its mundane. But…" He turned a corner, motioning for Tayden to follow. "That's during the day. At night, things get a little more… flexible."

Tayden did not like the sound of that. "Define flexible."

Kaeya smirked but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he led them through a narrow side alley, where the streets became even darker. Here, the sounds of Mondstadt's nightlife -drunken laughter, whispered conversations, distant music- felt closer, almost woven into the shadows. So this is like Mondstadt's nightlife, it's… pretty interesting.

They stopped in front of an old wooden board nailed against the side of a building. Unlike the well-maintained Adventurers' Guild commission board, this one looked worn down, its parchment tattered at the edges. A lantern flickered dimly above it, barely illuminating the area. There was no receptionist, no formal process, just a few figures lingering nearby, scanning the board in silence.

Tayden frowned. "This… doesn't look official."

Kaeya chuckled. "That's the point. The Adventurers' Guild handles what's publicly acceptable. The Knights manage what they have to. But some problems require… a different kind of discretion."

Tayden's eyes flickered to the people around them. Some wore hooded cloaks, others had the weathered look of seasoned mercenaries. A few posted commissions had warnings about avoiding knights, bypassing patrols, or dealing with 'difficult individuals'. This man just brought me to the black market… Yup he's going to kill me here. 

"So this is the under-the-table commission board," Tayden mused.

Kaeya grinned. "See? You are catching on."

Tayden scanned the posted commissions. Some were simple—private deliveries, escort jobs—but others stood out:

"Bounty: High Profile target—do not alert authorities.""Urgent: Need discreet personnel for package retrieval. No questions asked.""Bodyguard needed for client. Conflict likely."

Before Tayden could decide, Kaeya plucked a parchment from the board and handed it to him.

"Here. This one's yours."

Tayden frowned, unfolding the paper.

Commission: 'The Wild Hunt'

A small trade route through Whispering Woods has been disturbed by an unidentified predator.Merchants report that supplies are being ripped apart, but there are no survivors or bodies left behind—only deep claw marks in the carts.Several adventurers went to investigate. No results, some did not return.Objective: Track the beast. Eliminate if possible. Bring back merchant goods.Reward: 50000 Mora

Tayden looked up, unimpressed. "A hunting job?" He also noted how weird the commission name was. Who the hell calls a commission 'The Wild Hunt'? Sounds like a knockoff Hunger Games.

Kaeya leaned against the board, watching him with amusement. "Tracking and fighting. I assume it's something that shouldn't be too difficult for you, considering your strength."

Tayden narrowed his eyes. "I assume I don't get a say in this?"

Kaeya laughed. "Of course you do. You can always walk away."

Tayden considered that for a moment. Then, sighing, he folded the parchment and tucked it into his pocket. "Fine. But if I die, I'm haunting you."

Kaeya grinned. "Noted. Now, off you go. Try not to get eaten."

Tayden turned to leave but stopped just before stepping away. He exhaled slowly and looked at Kaeya again. "You're testing me, aren't you?"

Kaeya's smirk didn't waver. "What gave it away?"

The fuck you mean what gave it away, you were being super obvious about it… Asshole.

Tayden scoffed. "The fact that you handed me this before I could pick? Or the part where this feels less like an opportunity and more like a setup?"

Kaeya tapped his chin playfully. "Sharp. But it wasn't like I was really trying to hide it. If I did, you wouldn't be able to tell. Let's just say… this is a favor to both of us. You get to prove your worth, and I get to report back to Varka with a few answers."

Tayden rolled his eyes. "Alright. But remember, Im may be strong but I have no clue how to fight right. There better be a contingency plan if I get into trouble!."

Kaeya let out a chuckle. "Of course, you don't have to worry. This is only a 'test' after all."

Tayden took a look at the commission again, noting the location as Whispering Woods. That is a scary ahh name. He looked at Kaeya again but it seemed the man already knew what he was going to ask and handed him a map.

"Thanks" Taking the map in his hand, he observed it for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I think I got it. I'll head out now then."

Offering no response, Kaeya simply nodded and watched as he walked past him. As he turned a corner, he could feel Kaeya's gaze lingering on him. And somewhere in the distance he had this inkling feeling that, hidden in the rooftops, another pair of eyes watched as well.

Let's see what this 'commission' is really about.

Tayden stood at the entrance to Whispering Woods, staring into the dark mass of trees ahead. Mondstadt's presence was nowhere to be felt, as if the city had vanished the moment he stepped past the tree line, swallowed whole by the thick, looming forest. The woods were mostly silent, but the rustling of leaves and the occasional scurry of animals made it feel as if the forest itself was whispering.

"Yeah, this isn't ominous at all," he muttered under his breath.

He lingered there for a moment, staring into the darkness. He had walked through forests before, even stayed in multiple dark and scary caves, had stumbled into unknown places since arriving in this world, but something about stepping into a forest at night felt different. The depth, the way the trees stretched high above him like silent watchers, the fact that anything could be in there. It was unnerving.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, feeling the shift in air as the dense canopy swallowed him. The cold night pressed against his skin as he carefully stepped over fallen branches and thick undergrowth. The deeper he went, the quieter everything became, or atleast it seemed like it did. He was very thankful for his enhanced senses because it was reassuring to know that he would be able to sense anything unusual around him.

He exhaled sharply, adjusting the grip on the map Kaeya had given him. He already had his suspicions that this commission was too convenient. No nation with an ounce of common sense would throw a complete outsider at a monster that had supposedly killed multiple adventurers.

Could this entire commission just be a fake?

Kaeya did say that it was just a test, but now that he was here, walking alone through a dark forest toward an unknown threat, he started to wonder if it was more than that. The signs were too convenient, the commission too perfect to test his physical abilities.

Could they have orchestrated the entire thing? Fabricated the reports, placed clues along the way just to watch how he reacted? Was there someone in the forest with him watching his every move? The thought unsettled him, and for a brief moment, he seriously considered the possibility.

But no. That was ridiculous. There was no way they would go to that much effort just to test him. Right?

Still, he had agreed to this. Might as well see it through.

Even though he was somewhat scared at the idea of fighting monsters, especially with how his first encounter with one turned out, a part of himself was excited at the prospect of fighting something inhuman. Which was strange because he definitely wasn't a battle junky before coming to this world.

His eyes scanned his surroundings, looking for any clues that might indicate what he was dealing with. His enhanced sight and night vision were able to find something. A tree with deep claw marks gouged into its bark. Tayden ran his fingers along the ridges, frowning at their depth.

Whatever made these marks must have been strong.

A few feet ahead, a half carcass of a boar lay on its side, ribs exposed to the cold air. The kill was fresh, probably killed around two hours ago based on the decomposition of the meat. And yet, no scavengers had touched it. The meat was left almost entirely intact, as if whatever had done this had no interest in eating.

It took him a moment to realize what he had just thought. How did I know that this thing was killed around two hours ago? He definitely did not pay attention enough in biology class to know that. It did unsettle him a little, but he chalked it up to being another weird side effect of his powers.

He took a slow step back, looking at the carcass in its entirety. This definitely doesn't feel like normal hunting behavior. A chill ran down his spine, and instinctively, his senses sharpened, scanning for anything watching him. Nothing.

He pressed forward.

A faint glow flickered in the distance, barely visible through the dense tree line. Tayden narrowed his eyes, watching the small, shifting light. A fire? He hesitated, considering his options. If something—or someone—was out here, it was worth investigating.

Keeping his steps light, he moved toward the glow, weaving between trees until the woods thinned out ahead. As he neared the source, he saw the forest open into a clearing, and immediately, he ducked behind a fallen log, his breath hitching.

It was a camp and there were creatures up ahead.

Those are definitely not humans.

Masked figures shuffled around a bonfire, their guttural voices speaking in a language he didn't understand. It was an unsettling sight, their movements mimicked that of humans but just in a way that felt wrong, each one engaged in a task, tending to the fire, sharpening weapons, or repairing makeshift armor. They communicated in short, guttural phrases, not just noise but a language with meaning. They can speak to each other?

He had seen these things before, the scary masked creatures that had put an arrow through his skull the first time he encountered them. He hadn't gotten a good look at them then, but now, crouched at a safe distance, he had time to really observe them.

What the hell are these things? They're kinda like primitive humans, or cavemen... Freaky stuff.

The clearing was a mess of broken carts and shattered crates, the remnants of multiple merchant supplies raided and tossed aside. Scattered amongst the wreckage were rusted weapons, scraps of cloth, and shields with Mondstadt insignias.

I need to get a closer look.

He slowly, carefully, circled around the camp, keeping low to the ground. There were about seven of them, each doing their own thing. He took a deep breath and prepared himself, after the battle with the Treasure Hoarders he finally got an idea of just how strong he had become. He had confidence that he could handle them if he needed to.

Well, that was until he saw the giant behemoth of a monster.

Near the bonfire, standing taller than any of the others, was a monstrous figure, at least ten feet tall. Its broad shoulders rippled with muscle, and its mask was more elaborate, with bone-like protrusions curling over its head.

It held an axe- no, a massive slab of metal shaped like an axe, too large for any normal person to wield. Yet, this thing held it effortlessly. After closer inspection, he realized something. Is that axe glowing?!

Tayden felt sweat bead on his neck.

That thing? No way in hell was he fighting that.

Until, of course, everything went to shit.

A sharp, guttural cry rang through the camp.

Tayden's entire body locked up.

The masked creatures all turned in unison, their postures going rigid.

And then, the giant's head snapped toward him.

For a moment, there was complete silence. The world seemed to hold its breath. Then, as if responding to an unseen command, the massive creature roared a deep, bone-rattling sound that sent every smaller one into a frenzy.

Tayden noticed the giant shift before he heard it. A heavy stomp, then another. The ground trembled beneath his feet, each step of the massive creature sending vibrations through the earth. It was coming straight for him.

And then, with terrifying ease, it lifted its glowing axe and hurled it toward him.

Holy shit!

Tayden barely had time to react. His body moved before his mind did, instincts kicking in as he threw himself to the side, rolling just as the massive weapon crashed into the ground where he had been standing. The impact sent dirt and debris flying, carving itself deep into the earth.

Tayden scrambled to his feet, blinking in shock. He had dodged that? He had actually dodged that? That thing moved like a freaking track athlete, and somehow, he had reacted in time.

Not the time to think about that!

He turned his attention back to the creature and saw that it was heading for its weapon. The creature pulled its weapon free with a deep grunt, its white eyes gleaming through the holes in its mask, locking onto him with what he assumed to be hate.

Tayden clenched his fists, swallowing hard.

Oh fuck my life.

The moment the giant moved, Tayden knew he was in trouble.

It was fast, faster than something that big had any right to be. The massive axe came down like a falling meteor, slicing through the air with a whining shriek. Tayden's body moved on instinct, throwing himself to the side just in time for the weapon to carve a deep gash into the earth, sending a shockwave of dirt and rock flying in all directions.

He barely had a second to breathe before it attacked again.

The giant lifted its axe with ease and swung horizontally, aiming to bisect him in one fluid motion. Tayden ducked, feeling the wind pressure rush over his head. He could hear the axe tearing through tree trunks behind him, the splintering sound of wood exploding apart filling the air. 

The fact that this thing could destroy trees with one swing was terrifying, but it also made one thing clear. It was far slower than him.

I can dodge this thing. I just need a plan.

He moved, weaving around the axe as it kept swinging at him, keeping just out of the big one's reach. Every swing of that weapon could flatten him into paste, and he wasn't about to test how much damage he could actually take before his healing factor would be useless. He needed to be careful and take his time with this.

It swung at him again and this time he dodged forward to fight the beast in close range. This shocked it and made it jump back in surprise, but Tayden was ready for that. He ran forward and prepared his fist to punch it directly in the stomach. 

"Klink!"

Only for it to be blocked by the axe that the beast somehow was able to bring in front of it to stop his attack. Though his counter wasn't exactly useless as his punch -even when blocked- was able to send the beast flying back with some speed, forcing it to slam its axe into the ground to stop the momentum.

Alright, not bad. Just have to keep this up!-

Then he heard it—multiple footsteps. A sharp whistling sound cut through the air.

I know that fucking sound!-

Tayden barely managed to jerk his head to the side as something flew past his ear, embedding itself into the tree behind him with a solid thunk.

An arrow.

He snapped his head toward the direction it came from and felt his stomach drop.

More masked ones had arrived, it was the other seven from the camp. Each held a crossbow-like weapon, their eyes gleaming behind their grotesque masks as they reloaded in unison.

There were two red ones, two purple ones, and two blue ones. The red ones' weapons crackled with what looked like some fire magic, the purple ones' bolts hummed with electricity, and the blue ones seemed to radiate an unnatural cold.

The fire ones, the lightning ones, and the ice ones... What the fuck is this shit?! Am I fighting the Avatar?!

Just as he finished his thought. They fired.

Tayden twisted his body, dropping low as bolts whizzed past him. He swiped one of one of the fire ones away and into another tree trunk, it detonated on impact, sending a fiery blast into the air. The force of the explosion nearly throwing him off balance.

The big one took advantage of the distraction.

Tayden barely caught the blur of motion in his peripheral vision before the axe came down again. He rolled forward, feeling the heat of the fire one's explosion on his back as he barely avoided being cleaved in half.

This was bad. He was dodging, but there was too much happening at once. His mind was being pulled in too many directions. The big one's swings and the 7 archers shooting arrows at him, his brain was working overtime to process them all. He couldn't counter like this, couldn't even think straight. He might have been able to see the attacks coming and dodge them, but he has no idea how to counter! He was reacting, not fighting, and that realization sent a fresh wave of panic crashing through his chest.

He scrambled, shifting his movements as arrows kept flying, forcing him into a constant sprint. He was dodging, but it was taking everything just to keep moving, to keep from being impaled or crushed. His mind was spinning, his thoughts slipping away as pure instinct took over. He was focusing too much on reacting—dodging the axe, avoiding the arrows, keeping track of eight different angles of attack all at once. It was too much.

He clenched his fists, forcing his mind to slow down, to gather himself.

Focus! Think of a way to fight back!.

He took a sharp breath, forcing himself to analyze. These creatures won in numbers and possibly strength. What trait did he have that would be able to give him an edge? Speed? Definitely, he has been able to dodge all the attacks with little difficulty. Strength? Maybe the archers would be easy to take out, but the big one was definitely stronger than them and he didn't want to risk being too over his head that he underestimates its strength, it was too risky.

Stamina? Wait, that just might work!

He wasn't tired. He had been running, dodging, reacting yet his body wasn't fatigued in the slightest, his lungs weren't burning. 

Thinking back, he had wandered the wilderness for days on end almost without stopping, without feeling the need to rest. He wasn't like before. It was as if He didn't get tired.

That realization hit him hard. If he could outlast them, then he had the advantage here. He just needed to turn this into a battle of attrition. His grip tightened, his eyes darting between the small ones and the big one. They could get exhausted. He couldn't. He just needed to outmaneuver them, wear them down, force them into mistakes.

Alright. I just need to turn this into a battle of attrition.

Well that would have been the plan until the big one swung another slash at him that turned out to be a throw, catching him off guard and forcing him to jump to the side to dodge it. The axe flying through a tree behind him. He put too much strength into the dodge that he couldn't control his footing, landing on the ground unbalanced.

Then just as he was regaining his footing, he saw the big one get its axe back.

Sadly, he put too much focus on the giant that he neglected to check on the archers. Suddenly another sharp whistling sound cut through the chaos. One that was already far too close to dodge.

A single ice one's shot hit its mark.

"Agh!"

Tayden felt a sudden, biting cold explode in his side as the bolt pierced into his shoulder. An unnatural frost spread instantly, crawling through his veins to his entire body. The cold was unlike anything he had felt before, his muscles locked up, his movements becoming stiff. It was like his own body was freezing from the inside out.

What the hell?!-

Tayden suddenly heard loud footsteps and saw that the giant one was running towards him again. He tried to run back, but the ice attack had somehow slowed his movements. I can't move!

That slower speed was all the big one needed.

The axe swung down.

Tayden barely had time to react before the weapon tore through him.

There was no time to process, no moment of realization, just pure, searing pain.

His entire right shoulder and arm were gone.

Blood splattered across the dirt as his severed limb landed several feet away, fingers still twitching. He fell to his knees, a strangled, choking scream ripping from his throat as pain overwhelmed every fiber of his being. His vision blurred, his heartbeat a wild, panicked drum against his ribs.

Not wanting to waste this opportunity, the big one raised its axe for the final blow. 

Just as it swung down at him, time seemed to slow as he felt his life in danger. This moment, is when he just stopped thinking.

Tayden's left arm instinctively shot up and caught the axe mid-swing, his fingers closing around the sharp edge. But strangely, as his bare hands held the axe in place. The axe didn't cut him. His grip was firm and unyielding, having enough strength to start cracking the metal head of the axe. Somehow the blade felt dull against his skin, as if his body had hardened in response to danger. 

The big one pushed against him, trying to drive the axe further down, but the weapon didn't budge, not even an inch.

Then, the monster's body tensed. Its white eyes locked onto Tayden's face. Even through a mask, it was clear as day to see what the beast was feeling at this moment. 

Fear. 

It didn't see a human anymore. Staring straight into his eyes, Tayden's pupils had turned into slits.

Suddenly, a sickening squelch echoed through the clearing. In under two seconds, his entire right arm and shoulder regenerated. Flesh knitted together at an unnatural speed, muscle forming in layers, veins crawling beneath his skin . His torn shirt was still slick with his own blood, but beneath it, his body was completely restored.

The big one didn't have any time to process what had just happened when Tayden moved in a blur. His now regenerated right arm veins suddenly turned a dark red, as the color spread to his fingertips, his claws grew and sharpened like that of an animal.

Before the creature could react, his claws swiped through the air. The motion was so fast yet so effortless. He barely felt the resistance. The attack made the beast stumble backward. It hadn't even registered the attack until it looked down. Its arm was missing. The axe-wielding limb fell to the dirt with a wet slap. The creature let out an inhuman, agonized roar, staggering backward in shock and pain.

The masked archers recovered from their shock and fired at him again, all of them at once. As he stared at the incoming arrows, his eyes focused and the world seemed to bend. 

For some reason, all of their attacks seemed… so slow. This time, he didn't move to dodge. Instead, he winded up, and swiped the air in front of him.

A violent gust of wind exploded outward, sending the incoming projectiles flying off course. The force of the sudden wind rattled the trees, shaking leaves loose from their branches. The counter leaving the archers frozen in place.

Tayden exhaled slowly. His fingers twitched at his sides. Something inside him had changed. He turned his gaze toward the masked ones, but his expression wasn't something one would expect in a life or death situation. It wasn't anger, hate, or even fear. It was an expression of disgust and annoyance.

The archers hesitated, shifting uneasily. Even the injured big one staggered backward, its remaining hand clutching its bloody stump.

Tayden cracked his knuckles and stared directly at all of his opponents. Now for some reason, there was only one word going through his mind when he looked at them.

Insects.

Tayden's focus immediately snapped to the archers. They were already reloading their crossbows, he noticed that their movements were all over the place.

They were afraid. Afraid of him.

In a blur, Tayden closed the distance instantly, his body a streak of motion too swift for their eyes to follow. Before the archers could react, he was among them. His fists, aimed directly at their heads, tore through flesh and bone with terrifying ease.

The first two —the fire ones— barely saw him approach. Tayden's hands plunged straight through their masks, the brittle material shattering upon impact as his fingers pierced cleanly through their skulls and his arm appeared on the other side. Blood exploded into the night air, spraying upward in gruesome arcs.

The lightning ones turned to fire their bolts point-blank, but Tayden had already moved. He appeared behind them like a shadow, swiftly severing their heads in a single fluid swipe. Their bodies toppled forward, necks spurting crimson fountains into the air.

He turned toward the ice ones next. They hastily tried to reload their weapons, panic evident in their jittery movements. But Tayden didn't give them the chance. Without even blinking, he lunged forward, his claws cleaving through their throats, sending their heads tumbling to the dirt with sickening thuds.

All of this carnage in just under 10 seconds.

Blood was everywhere now, raining down from the sky in a grotesque drizzle, splattering against his face, soaking into his clothing. Tayden stood amidst the carnage, panting softly despite not feeling exhaustion. He was exhilerated, he could feel the warmth of blood coating his skin, sliding down his fingers in thick trails. For some inexplicable reason, the metallic scent stirred something deep within him.

Why does it smell... good? His tongue flicked against his teeth, a strange urge compelling him to lick the blood from his hands.

Before he could act on that unsettling impulse, a furious, anguished roar shattered the eerie silence. The giant charged at him once again, axe lifted with its remaining arm, eyes wild with desperation and rage.

Tayden turned to face it calmly this time, feeling an odd stillness wash over him. The giant swung clumsily, weakened and slower, its remaining hand trembling with pain. Without even thinking, Tayden raised his left arm to meet the incoming axe head-on. His hand clamped down onto the sharp edge, gripping it tightly. The axe didn't cut him, didn't even scratch his skin. His body had hardened to the point that to the monster, it was as if they were clashing against steel. Tayden tightened his grip further, and the metal blade cracked loudly before shattering into countless fragments.

Before the beast could realize its weapon had been destroyed, his hand shot out, fingers extended, and plunged into the giant's abdomen, piercing deeply through its body. A shocked, guttural gasp erupted from behind the creature's mask. Tayden twisted his arm sharply, tearing his hand free and sending a spray of dark blood cascading into the air. The giant collapsed, its final gurgling roar echoing weakly through the clearing as its massive body thudded heavily to the ground.

Silence enveloped the clearing again, broken only by the soft dripping of blood from Tayden's fingers.

-Drip-

…

-Drip-

…

-Drip-

…

He stood motionless, breathing slowly as he surveyed the carnage around him. The archers lay scattered, headless bodies sprawled lifelessly, blood pooling around them. The giant's corpse twitched faintly, its final movements fading away as it finally succumbed to its injuries. A final breath leaving its mouth before it finally went still.

He had done it, he had completed the commission.

Tayden looked down at his bloody hands, flexing his fingers slightly. He noted how his fingernails were longer now, but are slowly retracting back to normal. Looking back at the murder scene in front of him, he simply put a hand on his hips and said the only reasonable thing.

"Damn. I need a bath."

Tayden took a slow breath, eyes tracing over the destruction he had left in his wake. Broken carts lay scattered around the clearing, wheels shattered and axles splintered. Merchant goods—foodstuffs, weapons, fabrics—were strewn about, mixed with the lifeless, headless bodies of the (previously) masked creatures he had just fought. Blood splattered everything, soaking into the earth, staining the grass a deep, unsettling red.

The adrenaline from the battle had drained away, leaving unnatural calm. Tayden glanced down at his hands, staring for a moment at the crimson coating his fingers. The blood felt sticky and thick, and he instinctively waved his hands vigorously to shake the blood off, grimacing slightly as droplets sprayed around him.

He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair and unintentionally smearing blood across his forehead. What now? The commission had instructions, he was sure of it, but his mind was still clouded by the aftermath of the fight. Gathering himself, he reached into his pocket, relieved to find the commission paper still there, crumpled and blood-stained but still readable. He unfolded it carefully, squinting slightly at the smudged letters in the dim moonlight.

"Recover merchant goods," he muttered, reading the words carefully. "Right, of course, couldn't just be killing monsters. Gotta play delivery boy too."

He folded the paper again, tucking it safely away as he surveyed the scattered merchant goods. Most carts were reduced to splinters, their wheels shattered, contents spilling out like guts. Thankfully, one cart still looked mostly intact, its wooden frame cracked but its wheels undamaged enough to carry cargo.

"Better than nothing," Tayden mumbled, approaching the cart and giving it an experimental push. The wheels squeaked slightly, but it rolled without resistance. Good enough. He began collecting usable supplies, gathering scattered boxes, crates of sealed goods, sacks of grain, and barrels that hadn't burst open. Tayden secured each item carefully, using whatever ropes he could salvage from the wreckage to hold everything in place.

A sudden rustling sound snapped him out of his focused state. His head immediately jerked upward, eyes narrowing sharply as he scanned the shadowy treeline. He stood absolutely still, listening carefully, focusing on his enhanced senses. For a tense moment, he waited, expecting another attack, but after several quiet seconds passed without further disturbance, he allowed himself to relax slightly.

"Whatever it was, Its not important right now." he muttered quietly, and quickly returned to gathering the goods.

Hidden among the trees, A woman with pale skin silently observed Tayden, her crimson eyes narrowed with heavy suspicion. She had seen enough. "Kaeya," she whispered under her breath, voice laced with annoyance and exhaustion, "what mess have you dragged me into now?" Despite her words, her gaze never wavered from Tayden as she noted every detail. This person had regenerative capabilities and was able to somehow suddenly increase in strength in the middle of battle. Rosaria's expression hardened further, clearly troubled by the implications.

Unaware of his silent watcher, Tayden finally finished securing the last item and stepped back, inspecting his work. Satisfied, he wiped his hands once more, grimacing slightly at the tacky feeling of drying blood. He took hold of the cart's handles and gave them a firm tug, relieved that it moved smoothly despite its load.

"Time to head back. Boutta get myself a paycheck!"