Neptune glanced over to her, he was still sitting in the same place
Zephyr had left him at. "Yes of course.." he didnt have anyone else
to interact with ... He didnt even know anyone here except for his
brother.. Well He knew her name. but nothing personal . Akane did
seem alright though. Quite friendly. He seemed to like that, his
icy glance seemed to soften very shortly as he got up and walked
over, claymore fastened around his waist
"See you two later." Xin Sui says, dipping her head and walking
away. Akane spins the Jade Winged Spear again before it disappears.
The two leave the camp and head up the mountain. "I hope you like
the cold. This will be a chilled-to-the-bone walk." she says,
smiling a bit.
"The cold.. Its nice.. As long as there are no fatui to face there
shouldnt be any issues..." Neptune nodded a little, he looked at
her, he Wolf´s Gravestone seemed to shimmer shortly as well, he
prefered carrying it around with himself, instead of having it
dissappeared suddenly. "So.... whats up with the mask.. if I am
allowed to ask such personal questions."
Akane stops. "You saw that?" she asks, sounding slightly terrified.
"You weren't supposed to see that!" she exclaims, looking as
shocked and as terrified as she sounds. "You told Xin Sui you
hadn't seen a mask." she says quietly, trying to act casual.
"Seeing as though she was rather secretive about the topic.. and
that Zephyr hadnt seen one I went along with it. Better than him
knowing as well... He can be quite a lot when he´s curious about
something.. or interested in anything he doesnt know" he shrugged a
little "no need to answer my question if its too personal or
unfitting in this place and time."
Akane pauses, as if steeling her nerve. "I suppose I should tell
you." she says. "Have you heard of the Adeptus Xiao? The conqueror
of demons?" she asks, leaning against a rock. Her hands are
slightly shaking. She unclips the mask at her hood. She stares at
it, forcing the pooling tears out of her eyes.
"Xin Sui lost some words about him.. You dont get to hear much in
Sumeru or Springvale so I'm afraid I dont know much of him, yet I
am aware of his existance and what he has done.." Neptune nodded,
ha kept standing straight, yet he noticed that She seemed to
supress her emotions, which confused the Silverish haired male.
Akane continued her story. "25 years ago this very day, the first
battle was fought." she says. "So many lives were lost in that
battle." she shivers. "Among the casualties was the acting grand
mast of Mondstadt, you should know her, several other knights of
favonious." she says. "It was the scariest thing I have ever seen."
she whispers. This is a confusing statement, as she appears to only
be 16.
He just listened to her, eyed her shortly then narrowed his eyes,
rather confused "5 years.. How´d you know." He wondered, asking
rather quietly, maybe He´d just ask the question to himself, he
just didnt know. He decided to shake it off at first , well for the
mean time while she told the story
"He gave me this." she says quietly. Akane flicks her wrist and the
Jade Winged Spear appears. Upon closer inspection, it is the weapon
Xiao was so famously known for using. "..." she pauses. "He was
speared right in front of me. I promised him I would avenge him."
she murmurs, shaking slightly. She looks at the ground. "I don't
know how to explain karma." she admits. "I just know what I did
that day created a lot of bad karma." she says.
"I apologize for asking such private questions-" Neptune muttered
"I didnt want to ... make you remember such things.." He felt a
little bit of guilt rise up in him, his gaze wandered towards the
ground for a short period of time "I think I can think of a meaning
for Karma."
Akane looks up. "Good, cause I sure as heck can't." she says with a
snort. "You wanted to know how I was there right?" she asked. She
closes her eyes. "Xiao was like a brother to me." she says sadly.
"You've probably already guessed my secret." she says with a sigh.
Looking at her, realization hit him like a punch to the face "Youre
one of the adepti-?" He asked, his eyes widened shortly, yet he
seemed to regain his composure relatively quickly "well... Its..
truly an honor standing face to face with one of the adepti.. yet
Formalities are rather unsuited in these times right.?" His silver
eyes glanced at her once more after he bowed shortly, as a sign of
honour, as well as again apologizing for personal questions
"Don't." she says. "Bow I mean." she adds. "Formalities aren't
necessary. I don't like when people make special allowances for
me." she says. Akane stares at the mask in her hands. She hugs it
close to her chest. "I am an adepti." she whispers to herself.
"err... look I dont know... how this feels. I havent lost anyone so
close to me.. yet" he shrugged softly, yet it didnt seem like he
did not care, it just seemed like he wasnt sure how to try and
comfort her "All i could try to do is .... give you company?" he
smiled shortly
Akane smiles. "I like that idea." she says, and the Jade Winged
Spear disappears. The two walk a little bit farther before Akane
stops. "Why do I feel like we're being watched?" she asked
casually, looking around a bit. She clips the mask back onto her
hood.
"Watched...?" he tensed a little, hand immedeatly wandering to the
handle of the heavy claymore that was clasped onto his belt. "I
dont really know." he shrugged shortly "I dont think I do.." //Her
senses could be keener than mine// "Which direction do you think it
comes from...?"
"It feels like there are eyes everywhere." she says cautiously. Her
eyes turn red for a moment. "That's weird." she murmurs. There are
elemental traces here." she murmurs. She draws her tongue across
her upper lip. "It kind of feels like... Fatui elemental energy."
she murmurs. Akane pauses.
Neptune draws his claymore, getting ready for a battle, if he had
to fight. He wondered if zephyr would be alright, After all he
hadnt seen him since he limped off. "Why would they be here. so
close. there shouldnt be elemental traces around here.. We´ve made
sure there are none havent we-?"
"Yeah. We've been careful." Akane agrees. Suddenly like they fell
out of the sky, two electro cicin mages appear in front of them.
Akane draws her polearm immediately. She spins the Jade Winged
Spear and positions herself for attack.