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Every step I took caused my injured leg to hurt even more, but I had to get going. I was thankful that I still had my claymore, which I now used as a cane to lean on. But still, I walked too slow. I bit back my tears, thinking about the events of previous hours.
Stupid treasure hoarders.
I barely escaped, injuring a few in the process. But I myself wasn't able to come unscathed. So my current objective was making my way to Bubu Pharmacy. They could help me there. That is, if I could reach the place.
However that goal became impossible, when much to my horror, my good leg gave in beneath me.
“No, no, no,” I repeated, trying to get up, but it was no use. Dark scenarios immediately flooded my head, thoughs about me not making it...
I slapped myself, before they could get worse. I always made it, so this time couldn't be diffrent. I dragged myself to sit, leaned on a wall and took a few deep breaths. Rest might be a good option. And besides, it was already way past dusk, so there was a slim chance that someone would spot me. I closed my eyes and it wasn't long before sleep took me.
“Would you look at that? You will certainly fetch a high price,” a masked man stated, his gaze piercing my small figure. My voice was stuck in my throat, as a shiver ran down my spine. I had to calm down. One… Two… Three breaths. Before the thought even rose in my mind, I was already sprinting. Liyue Harbor wasn’t too far. Even if I had a bunch of treasure hoarders on my tail, I still had the chance to make it.
And it wasn't long before something prodded me awake.
At least it seemed like this to me, but the chirping birds told me it was near dawn. I slowly opened my eyes and a groan escaped my lips. Maybe sleeping in a sitting position was not a great idea.
“Yes! You're still with me!”, a voice a bit too loud for my comfort exclaimed, making me freeze.
A child. I tried backing away, only to remember that I was already leaning on a wall. A child was with me, a child touched me, a child…
“Please don't be scared. I just want to help you.”
A child was concerned for my well being. I allowed myself to slightly relax and tried to focus on the situation before me.
“I can see that you hurt your leg badly,” she said, her voice quieter, making me weakly smirk.
“I have treasure hoarders for this to blame,” I stated, glancing down at my injury. Either I was going nuts, or it seemed worse than before. Or maybe both, since I was currently breaking one of the few rules of my species (albeit changed slightly to suit my lifestyle better) that I actually tried to hold on to.
Unless accompanied by someone trusted, don't interact with children. They're noisy, unpredictable and it's hard to reason with them.
But she seemed... diffrent than others her age. Kinder. Speaking of her, she slightly perked up upon hearing me.
“I heard that the Millelith took care of a band of treasure hoarders that just appeared near the city gate,” she said and I sighed with relief.
They won't be causing any trouble for now.
"So? Can I help you miss?", she suddenly asked, her hands twitching nervously on her knees. If she wanted to pick me up, she would already do so.
“Maybe trusting a child is not a bad idea,” I thought while glancing at her eyes. They looked so innocent. A heavy sigh escaped my lips, before I asked “What's your name?”
“It's Yaoyao,” the girl replied, which sparked recognition from me. I heard that name before.
The child favored by the adepti. I hit the jackpot.
“And I'm Lapis,” I introduced myself and said “They know me at Bubu Pharmacy… Can you take me there?”
“Of course,” she replied and moved her hands towards me.
I reacted with a flinch, which was so violent that I groaned with pain. As I eased myself using the cryo of my Vision, I apologized
“Sorry for that... Can't think straight.”
“It's alright,” she replied. Then she glanced at her hands and asked “Can I?”. I still wasn't eager to be near human hands, however, with no other option, I slowly nodded. Her hands also moved slowly, fully aware of how easily I can get startled. However, when the dreaded moment came, Yaoyao's fingers didn't surround my tiny form. Instead, she placed a palm next to me, waiting to hop on.
Archons, she really is a sweet child.
I placed my hands on my claymore and with a grunt, I forced myself up. Then, I got over to the offered hand, where I slowly walked on. With no support from my weapon, I basically jumped on one foot. But with the support of the girl's thumb, I was able to place myself in the middle of her palm.
“Are you ready?”, Yaoyao asked as I sat down. After a nod from me, she slowly lifted her hand up. Using the other one, she picked up my claymore and placed it inside her basket, after which she asked “Can we go?”
“Please hurry,” I simply replied, fighting to stay conscious. It was certainly not a good sign. Thankfully, the girl took my answer to heart and ran towards the Pharmacy. I was already close to it, so it took her barely a minute to reach the place.
“Herbalist Gui!”, she called out to the man behind the counter.
“Yaoyao? What are you doing here so early in the morning?”, he asked her in return, before taking notice of me. He was about to say something, but I interrupted him by saying
“My leg… I need help.” When the initial shock passed, he cleared his throat and said
“Dr Baizhu is currently in Chenyu Vale, and Qiqi is out collecting herbs, but I should be able to help you.”
After that, the man took us to the back. As Yaoyao helped me get down on a pillow prepared by Gui, he asked
“Can you tell me more about the injury, Lapis?”. I needed to pause a few times due to exhaustion, but, I was able to reply
“Yesterday, I received a big cut during a fight... I mostly stopped the bleeding using my vision… but it’s far from healed.” I moved the leg so that the wound would be visible to the man, making him gasp from the sight. The cut went from my knee to nearly my ankle and it was… infected?
“Yaoyao, watch her for me!” the herbalist told the girl, and although startled at first, she quickly moved to stand beside the table on which I sat.
“Archons. This looks horrible,” I muttered, while glancing at my leg.
“It’s good that I found you,” Yaoyao stated, to which I nodded. It was really hard for me to focus right now. It was also at this moment that I noticed Gui disappeared.
“Where’s Gui?”, I asked, glancing around.
“He probably went to get medicine,” she replied and I nodded again. It was good to hear. Even though Doctor Baizhu was absent… wait. Absent?
“Where’s Baizhu?”
“Herbalist Gui said that he’s currently in Chenyu Vale. Qiqi is also not at the Pharmacy,” the girl explained and even though I did that already a few times, I once again nodded. It was easier than talking. “Maybe you should rest?”, Yaoyao proposed. I answered with a nod. Then, I moved myself, so that I was lying rather than sitting and closed my eyes. Before I drifted into sleep, I heard some voices talking about ‘medication’ and ‘treasure hoarders’. But, I paid them no mind. I just wanted to sleep.
“Got her!”, someone exclaimed, his hand already stretching towards me. I jumped onto his arm and with the help from my Vision, I ran up to his face, where I took a swing from my claymore. The scream that followed, as well as sputter of blood, accompanied me in my landing, from where I began running again. The adrenaline kicked in and I actually felt excited. I could really make it.
When my consciousness returned, I felt dizzy, but not in a nauseating way. My injured leg was slightly throbbing, but not in a painful way. Overall, all seemed fine. Still tired, but fine.
I slowly pushed myself to sit and glanced around. I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw that someone was watching me, only to calm down when I realized it was just Qiqi.
“How are you feeling, little gemstone?”, she asked with her ever calm tone. And with a nickname instead of my name, which was not unusual.
“Better than before, I guess,” I replied, to which she stood up and said
“I’ll tell the rest that you woke up.”
“No need,” Herbalist Gui suddenly stated, as he appeared in the doorway.
“I hope my leg didn’t cause you trouble,” I said while he walked over to me, but he simply shrugged it off with a simple
“Your well-being couldn’t possibly cause us trouble.” I tilted my head slightly, before a sudden wave of sleepiness took over. The last thing I heard was a panicked “I think I gave her too much…!”
Another one tried to grab me, but I returned the gesture with a deep cut on his palm. I wasn’t sure for how long I ran, but my legs were slowly giving in. I forced myself to keep going, since I could already see the gate. And it seemed that the treasure hoarders were giving up on the chase.
Until the whistle of an arrow reached my ears.
I tried dodging. But it was no use. Fortunately, it was not a direct hit, but the arrow scratched my leg, leaving a deep cut in the process. It was only thank to the sheer determination alone and the remaining bits of adrenaline that I was able to keep dragging myself towards safety.
I sprung forward, heavy breaths escaping my lips.
It was just a dream. A dream that already happened.
“She’s up!”, Yaoyao exclaimed, as I calmed myself with deep breaths.
“It seems so,” Herbalist Gui agreed and inquired “How are you feeling?”. I massaged my temples, the dizziness and unpleasant memories still at the back of my head.
“Overdose? Again, Gui?”, I asked in return, while glancing at the man. He seemed embarrassed by this, much to the girl's confusion.
“Again?”, she repeated, glancing between me, the man and Qiqi for an answer. In the end, it was Gui who explained
“Lapis was here a month ago because of a cold. I prepared some medication for her according to Doctor Baizhu’s prescription, but it seemed that I accidentally made it stronger than I intended, because as soon as she took it, she passed out on the spot.”
“I know it’s hard to get a right dose for me, but maybe try to get it right when I come to you with a leg cut open,” I proposed, to which he promised
“I will try my best next time.” I glanced at my leg, finally able to inspect it properly. It was far from healed, I could feel it, but the bandage was wrapped neatly.
“How long will I be staying under your care?” I inquired, knowing well that I couldn’t possibly go out on my own in such a state.
“Doctor Baizhu will return soon. He should be able to specify,” Qiqi explained, to which I nodded. I could trust his judgment.
“So this means that you will be fine?”, Yaoyao asked.
“She certainly will,” Gui assured her, to which she brightly smiled.
“You can visit me if you want. I don’t mind the company,” I told her and her smile grew even wider. I knew deep in my gut that I could trust her. I generally tend to avoid children. They're noisy, unpredictable and it's hard to reason with them. However, there are exceptions. Yaoyao is such an example. Qiqi as well. She's forgetful, but still dependable, especially as doctor Baizhu's assistant.