Chapter Text
You feel the warmth of the Sumeru desert sunlight on your body, it's light shining bright and making your face scrunch. You stretch your arms before sitting up, yawning and opening your eyes. It was a warm day, despite it still being winter season. Though you didn't mind the heat at all—even when your clothes stuck tightly to your body uncomfortably with sweat dripping down your temple.
The deserts were more better than being in Sumeru city..a place you've only lived in once. And never again. You scoff to yourself, wrinkling your nose as you reminisce all the terrible memories You created at the village you lived at in the city.
You wish you could complain about that to your parents...but you wouldn't say they'd be the most active parents in the world.
You've been parentless for as long as you remember. At age 5, you were placed in a small village in Sumeru, though you chose to run away years later because of how much you were mistreated. Now, your home is the Sumeru deserts...even though it isn't the most comfortable place on Teyvat, you make it work.
One weakness you'd say you had? It was definitely grasping basic knowledge. Your "parents" didn't even bother teaching you the most easiest things with math and reading. You're not sure why. Could it be the accent you had trying to say a word as simple as car? You're not sure. But it was only once did they ever try teaching you.
So you could say you were self taught. Reading outloud to yourself, writing with terrible penmanship, and trying to keep your accent out of the way? It was a journey. You can completely agree though with that your writing is as legible as a scholar in the Academyia. Your accent—well..not as strong as before?
Many had assumed you were native to Sumeru when you were a child with a beaming golden honey like skin tone and sharp eyes, but immediately knew once you spoke.
"Why do you sound like that?"
"Pfft–you can't say car? Say it again!!"
Many kids would mock and taunt you as you stood there, tears forming at the corners of your eyes and said nothing back, only trying to talk like them. Smoothe. But your voice was nothing like that.
"You think they're from Inazuma? They have that Inazuma accent.."
"Then what the hell are they doing all the way here in Sumeru??"
"Parents are gone. Think they were an accident?”
The elder's voices blurred in your head as you'd tug on their sleeve, looking up at them with doe-like eyes.
"M—mama?" you slurred, the words coming out broken and not very audible.
"What? Go play, the adults are talking." they'd shoo you away with their hand, like you were nothing to them. It made your blood boil.
Of course, you had to leave eventually. You were only 14 before you ran off with no clue on where you were going. If it was far away from them, then who cared? Definitely not you.
And that was how you ended up at the desert..
"Hm..this water should be enough for the rest of the week."
You stare down at the big bucket you had placed while camping inside a ruin. The bucket might've been a bit rusty, but it was good for bathing and brushing teeth. Speaking of brushing teeth; what were you gonna eat for breakfast?...
"Well...better enough to start the day now.." you strip your multiple layers of tunics and skirt, hiding in the temple ruin from view from any nearby travelers. You run your fingers through your hair. It was soft to your touch even after using water straight from the rivers. You've heard many stories of people loosing clumps of their hair after bathing in the river. Thankfully, you were never one of those people. In fact, it looked as if your hair shined more than ever every day.
What else do you need to get for today? You put a hand to your chin, thinking about today's groceries for your journey onwards. Today you'd visit the middle of the desert. It was known for having many monsters, fatui, and emerites, but you figured it wouldn't be much of a problem.
Well...you knew already you couldn't fight...like at all..but staying quiet and just minding your own business should do the trick, right?
The closest village in the desert would be Aaru village. You knew the closest route would be over 2 hours, groaning as you wipe sweat off your forehead.
"It's fine.." you told yourself, sighing. "you'll get there during lunch and grab a bite while you're there."
Before you start walking, you grab a small pouch from your travel bag. It had multiple things in there like homemade soaps for washing, toothpaste to brush your teeth along with a toothbrush, a brush, and many more cluttered items..this small pouch was special in particular. It was where you had your money to spend on all these items.
Right now, you barely had enough to buy your groceries and lunch. You sigh, staring at the half empty pouch of Mora. In the past, you would take jobs in Aaru village to make money, but right now...you couldn't find yourself even wanting to even go there for your groceries.
You start to walk, and you're thinking about the village. All nice people...but not to you. You're not sure why, but you're always treated with fear, caution..you don't know why. It was a sudden switch up when you were 16 and when you arrived in Aaru village for the usual was when everyone in you way backed up, holding their little ones closer, their eyes filled with fear.
Even the shopkeepers who've known you since you were little treated you like someone with eleazar, not even daring to touch your arm. It's been 3 years dealing with weird treatment, and you're not even close to figuring out why. You just keep to yourself and stop with small talk, but it does make you feel more lonelier and hurt your heart...
Through your journey to the village, you could've sworn you felt something following you. You turn around and see nothing.
“Told you…”
You mutter to yourself.
Though there was someone watching..two eyes, their color a deep Violet..
~~~
The sun was shining brightly in your eyes as you finally got to the village. You wince, squinting your eyes from the bright sun as you walk straight towards the supermarkets. Your feet felt so sore…
“Ughh..”
You groan, lifting up your foot and taking the sandals off, rubbing your feet to relieve some of the tension before you put the sandal back on and continue walking, wincing every now and then.
Of course, the usual happened. Many locals nearby gave you looks, either immediately getting out of your way or just staring in horror as if you had just killed their family. You felt tempted to ask what was wrong, but you knew that would do no good.
They’d probably brush it off..but it does a really good job at pissing you off.
You enter the bustling market, many people rushing throughout the shops, arguing or chatting with the shop owners with their little ones grabbing the ends of their sleeves and begging to go home.
It would’ve been an adorable sight if it wasn’t for the next second they’d grow silent seeing you and finish their chats, leaving with a tight grip on their children’s hands. You watched, feeling as if a hole was burning through your heart. Although it could bother you less now, it still hurt..
You walk towards one of the vendors, looking at all the fruit. “Hey, are there any more henna berries in stock?..” the shopkeeper looks up, shaking their head and immediately look back down.
You sigh, picking a plastic bag and start picking the fruit to take bed you hear someone behind you.
“Could you go anymore slower?”
The voice was rough, yet felt as smooth as velvet; and as soon as you turn around, what you see sends a shock throughout your body. There’s a set of eyes—the most gorgeous violet eyes you’ve ever seen. They shine like orbs in the sunlight, although right now—they’re glaring at you menacingly with impatience. The mysterious stranger was tapping his foot quick, and you quickly realize he isn't local. His outfit screamed that he wasn't from here and his hat?
You've never seen someone with a hat as big as his. His face was scrunched up as he had his arms crossed, letting out a "tch".
"Are you deaf or something? Stop gawking and go back to getting your stupid fruit."
He also wasn't a local base off his attitude towards you. No one dared to look at you the way he was—or talk the way he was talking to you. You cock your head at him, your eyebrows knitting together.
"Excuse me?.." you mutter out, but the stranger rolls his eyes.
"Can you stop wasting other people's times and just get your fruit?"
The shopkeeper looked worried, although not for you. They stared at the stranger as if he had just woken something dangerous up. You take your fruit and pay, taking one last glance at the stranger, who was staring right back at you..with interest.
You got your groceries in a rush, not even being able to think properly with that stranger just clouding your mind fully..who exactly was he?..and why couldn’t he just leave your mind?..