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It was 3 weeks 2 months of Ajax's stay in the Abyss, when the whole worldview of a young boy changed. Perhaps the fact that he remembers the exact date of this event shows his idiocy, because counting time in a place like an Abyss is a meaningless occupation. It only shows that he still has hope, which is nothing more than a weakness in this world. As his master Skirk said, "As soon as you get into the Abyss, your mind becomes your weapon, and emotions become a hindrance that prevents you from surviving." Therefore, he tries to extinguish all his hopes for salvation, so as not to suffer again.
But it hurts. It hurts from the fact that he has to ignore his feelings, his desires, personally trample on his dreams. After all, the Abyss does not spare anyone, it takes into its arms everyone who comes too close to it and never lets go. As soon as you get here, you become a part of it, completely losing your past life. And if you refuse, it devours you, leaving nothing about your existence. To survive, you must either merge with the Abyss or be killed by it. This was explained to him during the first week of his stay here. And looking at Skirk's face, he immediately realized that she had accepted the Abyss within herself, fell into her arms, thereby never seeing the sun again.
And most likely it will happen to him. Looking at her face and listening to her melancholic voice, he immediately understands what fate awaits him. But he does not prevent it. He sees no point in a fight that will bring him nothing. Yes, he likes to fight in battles with monsters, but this is not what he usually fights. There is no body, no head, nothing where you can aim and hit, this enemy is invisible, intangible, but stronger than all the monsters in this place. So the only thing he does is wait. Waiting for him to become part of the Abyss himself.
However, it is for 3 weeks 2 months that he feels it. The Eyes that are fixed on him, who greedily watch his struggle and wait for what he will do next. It was different from how the Abyss looks at him, her gaze is always sad with a hint of softness and so charming to succumb to her temptation. And this fact scared little Ajax. To know that there is something so terrifying in this darkness as the gaze of the Abyss itself makes his still small body terrified and nervous. It seems to him that at any moment he will be attacked. This is noticed by the Eyes of something that he cannot understand, which makes their already terrible looks even worse, they become even more attentive, studying him as if he were some kind of exotic insect. But besides them, Skirk also notices this. She asks him about it when they made a pass for the night while traveling to another water source.
A small fire burned between them, from which small sparks flew off from time to time. On this fire, pieces of the meat of the Abyss's monster, which he had killed a few hours earlier, were fried. These pieces emitted a terrible smell of sulfur and sewage, which made him sick. But he did not, during this time he had already got used to this terrible smell and no less terrible taste. So he just shuts his nose and continues to eat the already burnt meat. He has already learned the lesson that food in this world is a terribly valuable resource and it cannot simply be wasted.
- What happened, brat. You haven't been yourself lately, which even made me curious- her quiet voice cut through their silence.
Usually neither Ajax nor Skirk got into each other's affairs and problems. Both had their own secrets and thoughts. Which he did not want to voice out loud. However, as soon as it concerned their survival, all this takes a back seat to face a new danger. This was the policy between them that suited him and his master. But now …
- Master, is it possible for something as powerful as the Abyss itself to exist in the Abyss?
In response to this, Skirk did not say anything, but simply continued to shift the coals so that the fire would not go out.
- I do not know what exists in such a place as the Abyss, but I am assuming that you are talking about the Eyes watching us now.
In response, little Ajax looked at his master in shock. She immediately found out what he wanted to ask her, which is just incredible
- Do you know what is it, master?
To this, Skirk just shook her head and with a deep sigh, the same as when she started another survival lesson, sat down comfortably on her cobblestone.
- Do I know what it is? Maybe yes... maybe no… Tell me Ajax, have you ever heard of the Observers?
Ajax only slowly shook his head at this. Seeing this, Skirk just muttered something to herself and continued
- Then let me tell you something. Maybe you won't understand it now, but over time everything I tell you will make sense. Tell me who are the strongest gods in our world?
Ajax just looked at her in bewilderment. Why would Master Skirk ask such a thing when she herself said that she despises the gods of Celestia and the main Archons. She immediately said that it was pointless to pray to the gods here, because the gods above did not care about the creatures wandering deep in the Abyss. No god will help here, the only one who can help is himself. So Ajax did not understand the meaning of this question.
- Em.. gods of Celestia and Archons?
To this Master Skirk only grinned devilishly
- Wrong. There are beings who are much stronger than all these pathetic excuses for the gods who inhabit the human world above. These beings stand above all and decide the fate of the gods and people who were under their care. And their name is Observers.
At this point, she fell silent, allowing Ajax to understand the new information for him. After a while, Skirk continued.
- These creatures are beyond our understanding. They do not obey any laws of this lying world…
Ajax stared at her in shock. Yes, he had already heard the story that the sky above them is actually fake, which the gods of Celestia themselves are silent about. That in fact there used to be 3 moons, but the gods decided to remove 2 extra ones and make stars out of them. He had heard about it. But he had never heard of the history of the lying world
- What do you mean by the "lying world" master?
In response, Skirk just laughed
- Remember Ajax, our world is one big fat lie. Nothing here is unreal, we ourselves are unreal, all the people you know are also unreal. They are just fictional figures who perform some function in the main story. You'll see for yourself. We were created only to satisfy the desires and curiosity of Observers. All your desires and dreams are all lies. Everything is done just to see how we behave in this or that situation. Our story, written from beginning to end, has been lying for a long time and is ready for its execution. For them, we are just actors, puppets that they can watch. And when they get bored, they will abandon us, leaving us to die.
She paused there
- So remember Ajax, everything you know is fake. And right now, the Observers are listening to our conversation and know that you know about their existence. Most likely they wanted it for some stupid reason, but know Ajax. They are always here. And now I think it's time for you to go to bed.
The last part was said in a voice implying not a request but an order. Ajax, who was still slightly shocked by such a revelation, immediately obeyed.
Later, when Ajax was asleep, the meat was finished, and the fire went out, Skirk was still sitting in deep thought. She didn't understand the meaning of her role. Yes, she realized that she had to take care of the little brat next to her, but for what exact reason she does not know.
- Why did you want me to tell him? Why burden a child with such terrible knowledge? Do you really want to make him the main character for one of your sick plays?
Skirk didn't know who exactly she was talking to. But she knew that now she was being watched and listened to her every word. She can still feel the stares that were previously directed at Ajax, and now at her.
- I know that he is important and that he will not stay in the Abyss like me. But tell me why should he know that this world is just your sick imagination?
But no one answered her. After all, Observers don't talk. They only look and distort history to please their own whim, despite the feelings of their puppets. They need drama, adventure, something that catches their attention. It doesn't matter that lives are lost, they can always create new ones. And people like Skirk are left wondering what will happen next and whether they will get out alive.
***
Now Tartaglia (Ajax) Childe is located in Liyue, according to the plan of the cryoarchon Tsaritsa. He still managed to get out of the Abyss, as predicted by his now former master Skirk. But even when he came out of the Abyss, he never forgot the most important thing. Their world is one big fat lie. It wasn't easy, but soon he began to notice the non-docking that Skirk was talking about. About how the clothes of some people were radically different from the simple clothes of other people, but no one noticed or paid attention to it. About how people said a lot of phrases with the same meaning, but in other words. About how the vision was given only to the main characters and no one else. They were reminders that everything that even he knows is unreal. And it made him sad. To know that all your actions are meaningless no matter how hard you try to lead to only one result. But he learned long ago not to pay attention to it. He learned to put on a mask and deceive himself and the people around him.
Once he even tried not to follow the story that was prepared for him. But he didn't succeed. No matter how hard he tried, his mouth was saying words he didn't want to say, his body wasn't doing what he wanted, and his head was filled with thoughts that weren't his. But he's used to it. He learned to follow the right script of his character even if he just wanted to hide somewhere and die. For a moment, he wanted to return to the Abyss, the place where he learned the truth and in which he got more freedom. But he knew he couldn't do it. No. After all, he is the 11th Harbinger of Fatui and the main character in Liyue, and he must obey to this. However, whatever he said, his loyalty was only to himself and his master, the only ones who know the truth.
But now, looking at the Traveler and his companion, he again felt the power of the gaze of the Observers who carefully watched them. And at that moment, he realized that what was going to happen in Liyue would only be part of something bigger, which would definitely involve the person in front of him. And standing there, saying nothing, he prayed in his head that the Observers would take pity on them. But he knows they don't care.