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“One day, I will grow stronger, strong enough to be your Abyss Herald, your Highness.”
It was the promise his younger self, Ajax, made to the blonde princess, the leader of Abyss Order, who accompanied him in his journey from the eerie place of Abyss to the surface world of Tevyat, to where he formerly belonged.
When the 14 years old boy fell in the place known as Abyss, he was found first by a swordswoman named Skirk, who saved him when a monstrous creature beyond his imagination had tried to attack him. That woman, who became his master later on, brought him to place where he met her, the person he’ll swore his loyalty and entire self.
“Your highness,” Skirk greeted the approaching figure as she kneeled before her. Her golden orbs, which reminds him the stars above of dark sky, acknowledged the woman who saved him before turning her piercing gaze on him.
Ajax didn’t flinch from the attention he received from the blonde woman. She reminds him the stories his mother often told him and his younger siblings, a goddess who brings warm and light to the people in need, just like now with her warm gaze and petite figure that seems to emit a faint light in the dark world of Abyss. He watched her face morphed to a soft feature. A small smile was directed to him and he felt his cheeks warm.
“Skirk,” quickly as it’s appear, the soft look on her face disappears, and replaced by the cold ones she had before. Turning her gaze back to his savior, her tone was cold and reserved. “What’s this boy doing here?”
“Forgive me your highness,” The swordswoman said with her head raised to meet hers. “I found this kid when one of the monsters tried to attack and devour him.”
She, then, directed her gaze back to him. This time he stiffed on his spot, grabbing the hem of his coat in anxious. Her gaze softens again, easing the feeling he had, as he dared to return her gaze, blue eyes meeting gold. “You,” her voice was soft and warm, contrast from the way she spoke earlier. “What’s your name?”
“A-Ajax!”
“Ajax…” The way she said his name did something to his heart that he wasn’t familiar with. It wasn’t a bad thing yet it makes his chest swell in good, unfamiliar feeling he can’t describe. “Abyss is a dangerous place and merciless to everyone who dares to venture it. No living creature from the surface had ever survived in this place. If you want to live for another day, I’ll advise you stay close with us.”
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The first month of his journey in Abyss was hellish. Monsters from left to right had tried to attack him and he would be long gone if it wasn’t for the intervention of his master, Skirk, and the Princess of Abyss Order. But soon he had learned how to defend himself with Skirk teaching him how to use a sword and the blonde princess accompanied him in his training and battles.
The first time he defeated a monster with his own hands, he proudly showed his accomplishment to the Princess. His body tainted in blood, holding the head of the monster he beaten with a wide smile on his youthful face and blue eyes gleaming in victory.
“You did well.” The Princess praised him but the tone she used doesn’t match her words. The smile on her face doesn’t reach to her eyes and Ajax wondered why her eyes were filled with sadness.
“Why are you sad…?” Ajax asked in small voice as he let go the poor creature. “Aren’t you happy that I can now defend myself…?” He lowered his bloodied weapon as he sat next to her.
“That’s not it.” She answered sincerely. “I’m glad that you can now protect and defend yourself Ajax.” He felt her hand brush against the crown of his head before she pulled him closer, planting a soft kiss on his forehead. “I’m proud of you.” Ajax, in return, wrapped his arms around her, feeling at ease with her warm presence closed to him and her hand continued to caress his head.
“But I’m saddened that you have to experience all of this at a young age… Losing the light of innocent in your eyes… I’m sorry…”
Ajax didn’t understand the meaning behind of her words nor did he question it. But he did know one thing. He doesn’t like the sad look on her face, especially when he was the cause of it.
“You’re warm.”
He heard her giggled, causing him to smile and look up at her. “Then you’re lucky. No one had dared to hug me, let alone manage to get close to me.”
“No one…?”
The caress stopped as he watched her face reverted back to the one she had earlier. The sadness in her eyes is more evident and he blamed himself for making her sadder.
“No one,” she reaffirmed. “Apart from my brother and an old friend.”
“Where are they now?”
“I don’t know.”
Ajax leaned more on her. His arms tightened the hold on her, earning a surprise gasp from the blonde princess.
“Ajax-“
“I won’t leave you.” He swore, voice containing nothing but conviction of his words to her. “I won’t leave you, your highness.”
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“What did you just said?”
“I want to be your Abyss Herald, just like Master Skirk, your highness.” Ajax told her one day after two and a half months he stumbled in Abyss and his fateful encounter with the Princess of Abyss Order.
He was strong enough to kill a dozen of monsters in his wake compared when he first stumbled in Abyss with nothing but his weak self. He had also managed to defeat some of Abyss Mages from the Abyss Order.
Though to the eyes of the Princess, she watched him descended from a gentle young boy full of curiosity to the one that lost its innocent and whose blood screams for the thrills of battle.
Somewhere at back of her mind, she knew that she was to blame for him to turn and become like that.
A frown made its way to her face and her golden eyes narrowed at him. “You can’t be my Abyss Herald.”
“Is it because I’m not strong enough?”
She sighed.
“Ajax,” the usual warm on her face that she reserved for him was gone, replaced by cold and disdainful look she often showed to her people.
“You can’t be my Abyss Herald, no matter what you do.”
“Why?”
“You’re a human.” Was her harsh answer. After all, you’re not supposed to be here in the first place Ajax-
“Then I cast away my humanity for you, your highness!”
His proclamation made her snapped back from her thoughts. The look on her face grew colder.
“What a ridiculous idea.” She sneered. “You don’t know what you are talking about kid.”
He was about to protest, seeing the anguish look formed on his face caused by her words broke her heart, but stopped himself. Teeth biting his lower lip with unshed tears forming on his blue eyes, fists clenching and unclenching before she turned her gaze away from him.
Don’t fall more to the Abyss Ajax, even though you were already-
“I don’t care if I’m a human!” He blurted out, which made her stopped on her track and turned her gaze back at him. “I’ll show you! I can be your Herald!”
She watched him take his leave as she called out his name to stop. His small figure disappeared the moment she reached him far too late.
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After the hours of searching for him, she finally found him. He stood alone, surrounded by piles of dead bodies on the ground, his clothes were stained in blood and some of his body was covered in blood. His blue eyes, those orbs that reminds her the color of deep blue ocean, was staring at the bloodied sword in his grasp with a blank look.
“What should I do…?” As if he sensed her presence nearby, he turned to look at her. Anguish still swirling in those deep orbs of his. “Do I have to kill a human to become your Abyss Herald…?” She stopped on her track once she was within his reach.
“Why do you want to be my Herald Ajax?”
“Because I’m no longer the same Ajax I was before.” He answered softly, his weapon fell from his grasp. “I’m no longer the same third son of my family, the one my mother always tucks in bed before sleep, the one who accompanied my father in his ice fishing, and the one my older siblings doted at.”
He, then, lifted his face to meet hers.
“Abyss had taken that away from me. Now, my blood screams for nothing but for the thrills of battle. I feel alive when I toy those large creatures when they tried to take my life. I feel more excited when I face far stronger opponents than I am. And now, I want nothing but to become stronger. To conquer the world as mountain of piles of bodies lie scattered under my feet.”
But soon his face morphed in a small, genuine smile. Very much contrast to his current appearance but it doesn’t deter her. The young boy she accompanied those months ago still exist in him.
“But when I’m with you, I feel at peace, just like I used to be. I don’t hear the screams for battles within me nor the thrills of facing strong opponents when I’m close with you. But I don’t want to stay with you because of those reasons. I want to be the one who had the right to stand next to you. The one who is worthy to call as your equal. I want to be your equal. I want to stay at your side. I want to be with you, your highness.”
“Are you a bit too young to confess a something like that to me?” She jested softly, drawing smaller steps closer to him.
Ajax thrown himself to her, which she complied by pulling him closer and his arms wrapped around her. Both of them didn’t mind nor paid their attention at the blood that covered most of his body was staining her clothes. He felt her warm hand caressed his hair, just like the number of times she had done it to him from those past months. He knows that she treated him like a child but one day, once he’ll come back to her, he will make her see and treat him like a man. A man who will forever stay at her side, faithfully follow her commands with no hesitation.
“Then I’ll grow taller and old enough that you will no longer see me as a child but a man that will follow you until the end of the world.”
Her caressing stop, which prompt him to glance up and his eyes widened at the sight of her soft smile, that particular smile that tells him she’s considering his proclamation.
“I’ll wait then Ajax.”
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They were now near at the entrance to the surface world, the path the leads to Tevyat. Ajax could feel the harsh winter winds of his hometown nearby. His three long months journey in Abyss have comes to end. And he wasn’t particular happy for his return to his peaceful life in Morepesok.
“Ajax,”
He turned to his back to face the blonde princess, his princess, who came and crouched down to his eye level. She was holding something on her palm and he recognized the object. It’s a foul legacy, just like the one from his master.
“Take this.” He reached the object to take from her palm. Confusion was writhing on his face.
The Princess giggled at his reaction. “It’s my gift for you. A proof that I do recognize your skills to be fitting for the position of Abyss Herald.”
His eyes widened at the news, holding her gift over his chest with utmost care. His face split in wide smile.
“I’m sure Skirk had already taught you how to use the power of foul legacy. Use this once you are strong enough to handle the unimaginable power it contains and fully embrace the role I given to you. When that time comes, I will personally welcome you as my faithful Herald of Abyss Order.”
“I swear my loyalty to you, your highness.” Ajax vowed to her, his small figure kneeled to the princess he swore to serve his whole self when that time come.
“I promise, one day, I will grow stronger, strong enough to be your Abyss Herald, your Highness.”
When he lifted his head to meet hers, he was graced by her gentle, genuine smile and gold eyes showed proudness to him.
“Go.” She urged him.
“I’m sure your family is very worry for you.”
With a last nod, Ajax turned his back to her. Heading straight to the bright entrance leading to the surface world without looking back at her.
Watching his small figure disappears, an Abyss Mage flew to her side. Head bowed to show respect. “Your highness,” she turned her gaze to her mage. Gold eyes that was filled with warm for the young boy earlier, now it displayed its usual aloofness.
“Keep an eye on him.” The Abyss Mage nodded at her order before it head straight to the entrance of the surface world.
She was done with her task. She had successfully returned the boy to where he belongs, or he was formerly belonged to. It was such a long time since she had encountered a human in Abyss, let alone a human who managed to survive long enough to return to Tevyat. It was unfortunate that the Abyss had already corrupted him. Nonetheless, she will welcome him when that time comes, the day the Abyss Order will rejoice for the return of its Princess’ Abyss Herald.
With a last look at the pathway to Tevyat, she turned her back and returns to where her followers waited for her.
“I do hope that you will keep your promise Ajax.”
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Many things had happened to him since the day he left the Abyss and returned to the bright world of Tevyat.
He learned that he was gone for three days in Tevyat which contrast to his long, survival travel of three months in Abyss.
His father had noticed and learned the changes he had and put him to the Fatui to control his unhinged interest for battles, after he caused too much trouble on the small village of Morepesok, his hometown. During his days on Fatui, the Tsaritsa and the 5th Harbinger saw his unbelievable raw strength he developed from his travels in Abyss.
And now, as a young adult man, he’s the 11th Harbinger, known as Childe/Tartaglia, of the Fatui Harbinger. He’s now serving under The Tsaritsa.
But who he was kidding? His loyalty forever remained to the Princess of Abyss Order, not even the Tsaritsa can take that away from him.
How many years had it been since he last saw his princess?
There’s not a single day when he didn’t think of her. How could he not when she was the one only who can tame the beast inside of him. He often ponders if she still remembers him and mulls the thoughts she would have once she see him. Would she punish him for serving the Tsaritsa? Would she still considering him as her Abyss Herald after the years of being separated from her? Or had she long forgotten him as she deemed him worthless to serve by her side? He shook his head away from the last thought.
He’s no longer the small child she accompanied and trained in that hellish place. He’s a beast that no ordinary human can handle his monstrous strength and wields both vision and delusion in his grasp together with foul legacy. Maybe he was strong enough to have his master use both of her hands against him.
Childe can’t contain his excitement to see and tell her the things he done in Tevyat. That he had met and fought her brother, Aether, and used the power of foul legacy, a badge of honor she had given to him, against the blond traveler. Caused havoc in Liyue Harbor, drowning the city itself to near extinction, but, ultimately, he failed.
A knock on his office door interrupted him from his thoughts, snapping him back to the reality, as he called for them to enter.
“Master Childe.” It was Ekaterina who had entered. “We have received a group of reports from the Fatui Skirmishers assigned on the area of Stormterror’s Lair.”
One eyebrow cocked at her. “Should that report goes to the Fatui members located at Mondstadt?”
“It was Sir.” She affirmed before passing the reports on his desk. “But it was said that it must be deliver to you. According to them, they had encountered a young woman with blonde hair, wearing an exotic white dress and a sword in her hand, who demanded to deliver a message to you before they attacked her for assaulting them and found themselves defeated by her.”
The pen he was holding fell on the table, blue eyes widened and mouth gaped in shock. There was only one person who fit perfectly from her description-
“This was her message before she left. ‘I’ll be waiting for you at the top of a cliff on Stormterror’s Lair. Don’t disappoint me.’”
“Ekaterina,” The receptionist stiffed on her spot, his gaze directed on her. “Prepare the things I needed for my travel to Mondstadt. Tell to the Fatui members assigned there that I’ll come to investigate this matter myself, alone.”
“Very well, I’ll do inform them Master Childe.” And after the end of her report, she left, leaving Childe alone in his thoughts. Fingers intertwined over his forehead and smile full of excitement made its way to his lips.
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It had been so long since he had last seen her. Years of longing for her soft smile, gentle eyes and warm presence. The Princess, who, protected him and helped him to hone his skill in fighting. How he missed her and now she was there, her petite figure basking from the sunset. So close yet so far. She settled on the palm of Ruin Guard, gazing at the ruined field of Stormterror’s Lair with melancholy look.
“Princess…”
She turned her gaze to him, pair of gold eyes staring at his blue ones. He was greeted by the familiar smile of hers.
“Ajax,”
The way she uttered his name, tone with familiarity and longing, made him feel things. The fast beating of his heart, the warm heat rushing to his cheeks, and his breaths being taken away as he drinks up the sight of her, his princess. As if the moment he took his gaze away from her, even for a second, she would disappear and he wouldn’t see her again.
“I see you have grown to be a fine man.”
She gracefully landed on the ground while he stood there with dumbstruck look, unable to speak as she drew closer to his spot. She hasn’t age at all nor her appearance change. She was still the same woman his 14 years old self met in Abyss.
“And you’re now taller than me.” She mused, glancing up at him when before it was him who used to look up at her. “I’m sure you have grown stronger too, hmm?”
“Yes.” He shuddered, voice shaking in overwhelm. She was here and if it was a dream, which he hope wasn’t for the love of the Tsaritsa, he rather stay asleep for the rest of his life just to be with her.
“I heard you have joined the Fatui. Are you serving for the Tsaritsa?”
“Yes I am.” Remembering who he was speaking to, he kneeled before her. “But I swore my loyalty to you, your highness. It always has been yours since that day.”
Childe looked up at her. Fondness swirling in those golden orbs of hers, fondness that was reserved for him and him alone. “You always had been in my mind. There was not a day I didn’t think of you.”
“Ajax,” he felt her hand brushed against his cheek, caressing him. He leaned to her touch. How much he had missed her soft touch, her warm presence, her sweet voice. He missed her, he missed her so much and now that she was here, he won’t leave her. Never again.
“Care to exchange some stories with me? I heard from my faithful mages that you have caused some havoc in Liyue.”
Bubble of laughs erupted from his mouth as he stood up, taking her hand away from his cheek and planting a kiss on her knuckles. Blue eyes never swayed from hers. “I have also met your brother during my stay there, Printsessa.”
“Oh?” She contemplated. “Did my brother surpass your expectation?”
A pleased smirk on his face was his reply to her question.
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“Ajax,”
“Hmm?”
He would never get tired of hearing his name from her, now that she was with him, secured in his arms as the stars above them served as their witnesses to their long-awaited rendezvous. The evening winds of Mondstadt was cold against his exposed skin, a thing he didn’t paid mind until now as it serves as an excuse to feel closer to his princess, the woman he devoted his life. She leaned to him, her head resting on the crook of his neck.
“The Abyss Order brings nothing but chaos.”
He brought his gaze down to her. Her eyes staring at the starry sky above. “It will kill anyone who dares to oppose it and make its enemy.”
She, then, pulled away to get a proper look on his face. “Knowing all of this, you still desire to join the Abyss Order?”
“Printsessa,” he sighed softly. “You, of all people, should know the answer to that question.” He caressed the soft skin of her cheek. “I will be there with you as we watch this world crumble to its demise.”
“Won’t you?” He recognized that tone, the one she used when she was speaking with her subjects.
“I’m your Abyss Herald.” His tone was serious, blue eyes gleaming dangerously. “I will follow you to the deepest of this world until the very end. If you want destruction, I’ll give it to you in a heartbeat. Just say a word and I will do it.”
“My Herald…”
He drew her closer, planting soft kisses on her crown as he felt her grabbed for his jacket. Childe realized he can’t get enough of her, now that she had accepted him as her Abyss Herald. He will never let her go from his grasp. Even it means he had to abandon everything he has. The things he’ll do for this blonde woman in his arms.
“I have tasks prepared for you, my faithful Herald.”
He glanced down at her, deep blue eyes gleaming in excitement for the tasks he will receive from her.
“I want you to keep an eye on the Tsaritsa. She could a big asset to Abyss Order’s plan.”
“Consider it done, your highness.”
“And I want you to accompany my brother in his journey.”
The second task caught him in surprise. Lifting an eyebrow at her, she smiled in melancholy. “Someone had to keep an eye on him, after all I was doing all of these for the two of us, and my mages weren’t doing their jobs properly at that one.”
His face softened. Of course, he knew the reason behind of her actions. He remembered his three months journey with her. The sadness she tried to conceal for missing her twin brother.
“Can you do that for me?”
“Considering that the Tsaritsa has her interest on your brother, I can make a few excuses for her to accept my suggestion to join in Aether’s travels. After all she believed it will benefit her.”
His words seem to satisfy her, as she nuzzled her face on the crook of his neck.
“Ajax,”
“Yes, my princess?”
“I planned to officially meet my brother after the celebration of Windblume Festival in Mondstadt. Will you accompany me there as my Abyss Herald?”
Oh who he was to deny his princess’ wish? A grin made its way to his lips.
“I will, you highness. I will be there to bear witness to your reunion with Aether.”
Childe brought her face up to face him, tilting her chin upward, as he let himself drown in her stares. Bringing his face closer to her, he could feel her breath kissing his lips.
“Your highness,” he murmured softly, blue eyes boring at her in anticipation. “This humble Herald of yours had something he wanted from you. May I allow to call you by your name?”
He felt her fingers brushed against his cheek. Affection swirling to those gold eyes of hers as her gaze softens. “Only if you accepted to be mine Ajax.”
“Lumine…” Childe didn’t waste any seconds as he captured her lips, savoring the sweet taste of his princess he longed for.
I won’t leave you, Lumine. For I am yours and you are mine.
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The Abyss Order rejoices when their Princess returns with her faithful Herald by her side. And this time, nothing can separate them. Not even the fate itself.