Chapter Text
1: Collei
Collei's eyes flicker open, tied to the laboratory table after a long experiment, she hears the door open.
"No more... please..."
Her voice is barely audible, a weak plea that she knows will fall on deaf ears. Archon residue drips out of her wounds, soaking the table in patches of darkness. Her limbs are tied to the table, not like she could move anyway, the pain from countless tests has left her half covered in bandages and almost unable to move.
A disambodied voice comes from the dark, echoing into her brain as a hand is placed gently on her restraints.
"Shhh... It's going to be okay, just go back to sleep."
This isn't the voice of Dottore; it's softer, yet still firm with intent. It comforts her as she feels the tension disappear from her limbs, the belts that previously held her down are now gone. She lets her eyes close, barely noticing the warm embrace as she is carried out of the lab.
When she wakes up her wounds have been closed up and she has been left leaning on a tree overlooking a city that she will later learn is called Mondstadt, whoever saved her is long gone with only a bag with some mora and food to show they ever existed, but she will never forget that voice even if its a long time before she hears it again.
Years later, Collei works as a trainee forest ranger after the overthrow of the corrupt sages. Her adoptive father, Cyno, and Master Tighnari invite her to hang out with their friends for a few rounds of TCG.
She follows them into Lambad's Tavern and sits down next to her father, then she hears a voice she never thought she would hear again.
"Tighnari! Sorry, we're late someone took forever to get out of the house!"
A blonde comes around the corner and stops suddenly, eyes widening as she locks her gaze onto his. However, the man quickly composes himself as he sits down next to Master Tighnari. She is aware that he knows who she is, but as she starts to say something, she is cut off by the man.
"Ah, I don't believe we have met yet. I have heard that Tighnari has an apprentice, he speaks very highly of you. It's nice to finally meet you, I'm Kaveh, and you are Collei, yes?"
She flinches. Why is he acting like he doesn't know her? He saved her, and yet from his tone of voice, he seems to completely disregard that. Everyone has their secrets, and Kaveh saved her. It's not her place to pry into matters that don't concern her. She owes him a lot, and if not bringing up the past is what he wishes, then who is she to judge?
"Mhm! Nice to meet you as well!"