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"It's time, wake up."
Collei couldn't say she had the most restful sleep in her life. She spent the night thinking about her part of the plan (the plan in concept was insane but effective in practice), and also trying and failing to get up and applying more ointment to her wound to increase the chances she may be able to participate without straining herself too much. Dehya ended up watching her like a hawk after the fourth time she tried to stand up, and she subsequently went to sleep herself.
Before everyone went to sleep, she requested a sewing kit from Nilou.
"I need to patch these things up." She was glad that the Traveler brought Tighnari's belongings along. Even if she could create new ones, they can never replicate the original.
After that, she got a few hours of sleep at most. She wasn't sure what would happen the next day, but she was determined to fulfill her role.
She opened her eyes, finding Cyno standing over her, his usual serious look appearing more serious than ever.
"Are you feeling well? Do you think you can stand?" Cyno asked, then continued before she could answer. "Remember, Dehya or Nilou can take your place if you're not up to the task."
Collei didn't want to be left out. She wanted to correct her mistakes.
So she pushed through the remaining pain that still lingered, using the wall for support as she got up, feeling the bandages stretch across her chest from her movements. Her legs nearly buckled multiple times, but tenacity got her through, the pain wasn't appreciated but she was willing to endure it. It wasn't fatal in the grand scheme of things.
"Don't think I can't see you grimace in pain." Cyno said, narrowing his eyes at her. "Are you absolutely sure you can do this?"
"Yes. It doesn't hurt as much from before." Collei nodded, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "I remember everything with perfect clarity. I'm ready."
"Then try to walk, or run. That is crucial to this plan." Cyno took multiple steps back. "I am not doubting you, but you're an injured person with Eleazar. Your well being comes first and foremost."
"I appreciate your concern, Cyno." Collei responded. "But nothing you say will persuade me. Tighnari is important to the both of us, and the seal getting broken is not an option. Azar will only cower to you, what can I do?" She summoned a small smile, braving to take a step forward, nearly stumbling. "If he's really in confinement, then the Traveler will come to aid me soon enough, Dehya too. I'll be fine."
Cyno let out a sigh. "Fine. But remember, if you're in mortal danger, you must take a step back. Don't charge head first into dangerous situations regardless of the benefits." She swore she saw a hint of a smile on his face. "Though you are hurt, I don't suppose you can give any staff involved some justice?"
"They've messed with my mentee. It's only fair I get to mess with them." Collei summoned her bow to her side for emphasis. She smirked at the thought of making the Fatui, regardless of their involvement in the attack on Gandharva Ville, face some of her unrestrained wrath.
"Good. Now then, let's depart. Alhaitham and the Traveler should already be on their way to the Akademiya. Paimon will accompany you."
-
"Wait. Me, accompanying Collei?" Paimon's eyes were wide.
"Correct." Alhaitham stated. "Collei's current condition doesn't allow her to properly scout out the Akademiya for the secret entrance, much less do much in the grand scheme of things. You are going to be her eyes and ears, and keep her from getting caught."
"But I don't know where the confinement chambers are!"
"I have a solution to that, however that requires you both to be very careful to pull that off. If either of you are spotted, then it could end badly for Tighnari."
"Paimon won't let that happen! She accepts this role!"
-
Collei was involved in rescue missions before. Her duty required her to save others from dangerous situations. There were times when she had to rescue loved ones from those very situations as well.
But never in her life would she ever expect to infiltrate the Akademiya to pull off this stunt. But here she was.
Paimon was flying over the Akademiya, in search of the best route to break in while she was resting on the wall that surrounded Sumeru City, right behind the Akademiya.
It was morning now. By this time, the Traveler and Alhaitham should be enacting their side of the plan. Once it was completed, her and Paimon are supposed to follow where the Traveler went when they get inside.
Soon enough, Paimon came back to her. "I found that secret entrance Alhaitham talked about. Let's go!"
Collei nodded, pushing herself off the wall, one arm wrapped around her stomach, while the other steadied her as she tried to catch up to Paimon, who was flying off to where she found the secret entrance.
Secret entrances were never known to the students or professors, only to a few trusted staff. She was glad that the Scribe was amongst the staff who were trustworthy enough to know of that.
They soon reached the location, and that was proven when Paimon disappeared into the wall. She followed immediately afterwards, finding two guards chatting up a storm.
"Leave it to me." Collei whispered, grabbing her boomerang and carefully aimed for the perfect angle to knock them both out. Once she was certain, her Vision infused the boomerang with Dendro energy and she threw it.
They fell to the ground.
"Nice work!" Paimon praised. "Come on! We need to find the Traveler before the guards put them in confinement!"
They searched the Akademiya, avoiding the guards and security until they found a group of guards surrounding the Traveler as they escorted them to the confinement chambers.
"Be very sneaky now." Paimon advised as they slowly followed the group, making sure to stick to the shadows to avoid being seen.
Soon enough, they managed to successfully enter confinement without being detected.
The guards forced the Traveler into a cell, locking the door before walking back up. Collei and Paimon waited until they were completely gone before rushing over to them.
"Traveler!" Paimon flew over first, grasping the bars of the door like she could rip them off. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
"I'm fine." The Traveler reassured. "Alhaitham swapped the Knowledge Capsules. The Grand Sage doesn't suspect a thing."
"Good." Collei murmured. "Can you contact Lesser Lord Kusanali like this?"
"I can feel something. It's faint, but it's here." The Traveler said. "If I find the right position, I can enter her consciousness."
"Alright, we'll search for Tighnari. Good luck Traveler." Collei nodded.
"Good luck to you two." They nodded back.
Paimon flew ahead to find a cell that contained their friend, while Collei tried to catch up as she observed their surroundings. For once, she decided to take it slow as to not strain her wound any further. She used the walls for support as she walked through the many, many confinement chambers.
There weren't many others in the cells, but she saw two Sages were imprisoned, surprising her as she thought that all of them were apart of the plan. Either they betrayed the project or were against it from the start.
As she was walking around, she heard a voice call out to her.
"Collei?"
"Master?!" Collei looked to her left to find him sitting in the cell, trying to reach out to her through the bars. She leaned against the bars, feeling relieved to see him. "You're okay! I thought the Akademiya had disposed of you!"
"You must've seen there were no dots on the back of my letters then." Her master sighed. "They made me write those letters so you wouldn't suspect something was wrong. I was able to outsmart them though. But I never thought you would come here yourself."
"Master, do you know where Tighnari is?" Collei asked. She wanted to free him too, but she doesn't have the keys or the time to do so. "I need to get him out of here before something bad happens to him."
"I saw him being carried by a group of Fatui the other day. I overheard their conversation that they were going to take him to solitary confinement. I believe it's down that way." Sticking his hand through the bars, he pointed in a direction that lead to the deeper parts of this prison.
Collei smiled gratefully. "Alright. Thank you Master. I wish I could free you but..."
He smiled back. "It's okay. Just go save your student. I heard they were going to do terrible things to him."
Collei nodded, pushing through the pain as she ran down the direction her master pointed. Her injury wasn't going to slow her down.
"Collei! Over here!" Paimon called out, floating beside She reached to her side and saw a door that lead to a room.
Some voices were heard.
"Please don't..."
"Shh... it'll be over soon. The seal you have is rather strong. It'll take some time for me to remove it. Completely."
"Is that...the Doctor?" Paimon paled. "Shouldn't he be in Snezhnaya? Why is he here?"
"I...I don't know " Collei quickly recovered from the shock. This was no time to dwell on unimportant facts. "But we need to stop him."
"Right!"
Collei grabbed her boomerang, Dendro energy absorbing it as the Doctor spoke again, accompanied by her student's crying. (She will make him pay for that.)
"Scream all you want. No one will hear you."
"Are you sure about that?"
The boomerang was thrown, and the door burst open. Dottore was knocked to the ground by the boomerang as it made its way back to her. Collei rushed inside, her vision turning red when she saw that bastard. She wanted to turn this man into paste, make him suffer for everything he's done.
But what she saw in the room made her retain control.
What they found on the inside were several complex looking machines, wires hooked up to a fox boy who was restrained on a metal table. Trays of medical equipment were placed on top of another table.
The boy in question was looking at them with wide, terrified eyes. Some of his clothes were discarded onto the floor, revealing lines made by a marker. He was going to cut him open.
If it weren't for other factors, Collei would be smashing that Doctor's head against the wall.
"Tighnari!" Paimon flew over to him with wild worry. "Are you okay?! What happened to you?"
"What...what are you doing here?" Collei was not expecting to hear that as she rushed over to him, wincing at her wound.
"We're here to save you of course!" Paimon tore off the wires connecting to his body, while Collei undid the cuffs. "Why would you say that?"
"Paimon, lower your voice." Collei scolded.
"I'm not in Snezhnaya?" Tighnari asked, sitting up and rubbing his wrists when they were freed. The implications of what he said didn't sit well with her. The Doctor lying to her friend made her kick his head before focusing on him again.
"No you're not." Collei embraced him, gentle yet firm in her grip, feeling tears build up in her eyes, guilt overwhelming her anger. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"If I had stayed in Gandharva Ville, you wouldn't be here. I could've protected you..."
"Collei, you came for me. That's more than enough." She can hear his voice shake.
They sat in silence for a moment. It was broken when Collei remembered she had some things to give back to him. She wiped away her tears and broke the embrace.
"Here."
She opened up the small bag she brought along and took out three items. A newly repaired cloak, a Dendro Vision and an improved and fixed Cuilein Anbar.
The stars in his eyes made her glad she brought them along.
Collei helped Tighnari put his shirt back on before handing him the cloak, his Vision and Cuilein Anbar, he clung to the doll almost immediately. She couldn't help but smile at the display.
"Come on, let's get you out of here."
They supporting each other as they made their way out of the room with Paimon guiding them. Along the way, they passed by her master's cell, who gave them a small smile, and the Traveler, who was still in the process of waking Lesser Lord Kusanali up. Paimon opted to stay with the Traveler.
Everything was going well so far. She wonders how the others are doing with their parts.
"How did you get in here?"
Collei smiled. "I collaborated with a few trusted friends."