10. The Dragonspine Exhaustion Saga
"How can I still be tired today?
Even after he took me back here,
All my energy has just ceased to be.
Really have to hide it, Her Majesty
The disappointment she'll feel, she'll kill me.
She told me, one too many disappointments will
Take my life away from me
Obviously, I have to hide my weakness
No way can I let this water get any hotter
Even though I feel tired, I must not falter,
So, I will continue to work even harder."
Upon waking up the next morning of his training partner returning him to his room, immediate tiredness overtook the chimera again. As his eyes opened, all energy within his partially human body had been gone. Fatigue digging a deeper hole into him, the hyena rubbed his eyes. Why was he still feeling tired? Being forced to end training early yesterday should have been enough time for such increasing lethargy to leave the body. Slow healing bodies were a beast of burden.
Knowing his orders could arrive at any moment, Siorc rose from the uncomfortable bed. Feeling dizziness overtake him, the chimera staggered to his feet. Feeling everything around him buzz, he knew he had to shake it off immediately. The Agent could arrive at any moment; time was not a virtue within the permafrost north.
Efficiency was a fallen soldier on the battlefield. As we walked over to his uniform drawer, a pulse shot through his head. Pulse overpowering the soldier, his short body stumbled to the cold ground. Rear upon the icy floor, a labored grunt released from his throat. The room was spinning, moving; turning. But, the adolescent knew there was no time. The hourglasses' sand was about to reach the bottom. Getting his uniform on had to become of him now.
Raising to his feet seeming to be impossible, a rash, but efficient idea had presented itself within the dormant shark grooves in his brain. If walking at the moment could not happen, then crawling was his only option. Knees and arms on the ground, the hyena moved forward at a Ruin Grader's walking pace. It was almost as if his entire body had become a hyena. Such was not the case, but the chimera felt such to be the case, at the moment. Towered drawers making his acquaintance, the soldier grabbed the edge of the furniture. Furniture acting as a crutch, the young man returned to his feet. Destination finally being reached, he had begun the morning routine of dressing the body.
Head leaning against the wooded edges, the chimera put on his uniform rather sloppily. Knowing the Agent were to arrive at any moment, fixing it could not become of him. Uniform finally on, he closed his eyes for a moment. Other drawer being within his reach, the young man grabbed his second favorite hairpins and earrings. Perhaps, just maybe, they would give him the energy he needed for the workday at hand. Second favorite jewelry and accessories in hand, the hyena clicked the rabbit hairpin and earrings in place. Surely, just maybe, wearing them would work, the first wind could finally arrive.
Such first wind would never arrive.
Hearing the clacking of the Fatui Agent boots increase in volume as he finished his hindered morning routine, the hyena readied himself meekly. Removing himself from the side planks of his uniform drawers, the young budding soldier straightened himself upward. Wooziness still not leaving, he attempted to put on his most diligent face possible. He knew now more than ever after the events of yesterday, he had to work harder. If disappointment were to reach Her Majesty, his life would end, for sure. Volume of footsteps reaching zero, the hyena awaited his orders diligently.
"Diplomatic Soldier Siorc," the Fatui Agent called out on cue. "We are delivering supplies in Dragonspine today." Supply bags in hand, the masked Agent gave authoritative eye contact with his commander in arms. While looking at his subordinate, concern from the previous day graced his masked field of vision. The chimera's face looked even paler today. At any moment, he looked like he would lose consciousness. Had training yesterday reset his healing progress even further? He knew he had to say something to the soldier. "You still don't look well. Perhaps I should tell Her Majesty you can't work today." An unusual tone of concern was present again in the Agent's voice. An exhausted soldier was a useless soldier.
Siorc's heart skipped six beats upon hearing his subordinate consider telling Her Majesty about his current condition. Palace incident the other day still fresh in his brain, he knew a day of not working would place him in hot water. He had to work today, the choice was not his. He had to make up for the week and a half he was out of commission. Decision being made, the chimera placed his hand in front of the agent on autopilot.
"I am fine sir," he lied, words slurring with every syllable. He continued to hold his arm out. "I need to get to work." There was a hint of desperation in his voice. He had to keep working, there was no other option.
The Agent sighed in defeat. His subordinate was continuing his stubborn charade from the other day, it would seem. "If you insist," he replied with reluctance. He placed the bag of supplies on his back with due diligence. Bag secured on the soldier's back, the Agent gripped the young man's arm lighter than he normally did. Just until this passes, he would reduce his grip a small amount. "Let's go." The unwilling escort to Dragonspine had begun.
Today would be a day that would not end well.
***
"Brains? Ha! Who needs that? I'm pretty.
Eyeshadow is much better than math,
Ah, right? Did I mention yet? I'm pretty.
Unless your eyes are broken, you'll see my beauty!
Take time out of your day, look at me!
Instead of brains, have beauty!
Flying? No, I can't do that, silly.
Uprising wind will ruin my hair! How ugly!
Look at me!"
Upon reaching a secluded area in Dragonspine through the Teleport Waypoint, the chimera looked off into the distance weakly. In his weak distance field of vision had been a dome of ice with a light blue cube in the center. Being in this area multiple times before, a quick feeling of relief washed over him. He had to deliver supplies by the lake today. Having done such task multiple times, the soldier would not falter. Perhaps, just maybe, task being familiar to him, the lethargy inside would not eat him away.
Having been removed from the softer gripping prison, the hyena was ready for his usual delivery duties to begin. Camp being to the northwest area a slight distance away, the young man had begun walking. Such walk forward was met with difficulty, however. With every step he took, his head continued to pulse. Cold air not helping matters, the weakness inside him only continued to grow. But, he knew, he had to keep going, there was no choice in the matter. Adrenaline being the only thing keeping the soldier going, the hyena kept walking toward the camp.
Icy lake almost upon him, Siorc halted his walk. Heat source adjacent to him, the adolescent tapped the button with due diligence. Despite such temporary warmth, the chimera could feel his energy continuing to deplete. Heat from the artificial flame taking the shivering away for a moment, the chimera readied himself to travel to the Fatui Camp. Heat source closing, he continued walking to the northwest side by the lake.
As his low energy walk continued, a peculiar, unknown sound could be heard from behind him. With every step he took towards the tents, a strange waddling sound resounded in the cold air. Figuring the sound was just his lethargy playing tricks on him, the chimera continued walking. Whatever sound was behind him, there was no time to investigate. Patience was not a virtue for the Dragonspine stationed Fatui.
The tricks would not cease, even for a moment. Waddling getting louder, the young man kept walking. Being numb to hearing odd footsteps at this point, the soldier would not falter. The camp he had to deliver to was nearing. Ignoring the possible imaginary footsteps was the only option at his currently cold hands. With every continued step he took, the waddling only continued to get louder. Stepping towards two wooden cages, a voice could be heard through the chilly wind.
"You there," the windswept voice said. "Why are you ignoring me? I'm beautiful!" The voice on the wind sounded flamboyant and exaggerated.
Having no time to look behind him, the hyena continued walking. Surely, the voice behind him was not real. Continuing to tell himself such, the chimera sauntered onward. Wooden tower near the tent almost upon him, he kept walking straight despite the pulsing in his head not ceasing.
The camp was almost there, thirty more steps.
His continued steps were halted, however, by the sight of a person stepping in front of him. What could this person possibly want from him? The chimera did not know, but there was no time for such distractions. Not even batting a singular eyelash at the person, he stepped around the possibly not really there body. The Fatui camp was almost upon him. But, just in case, he knew he had to get the possibly not really there person hindering his progress to leave.
"Please, sir," he said weakly, words still slurring. "I need to work." Stating such, he continued walking forward to the tents inching closer to him. Real or not, there was no time for dawdling. Her Majesty could be watching thousands of meters away.
"And ignore the beautiful me?!" the voice behind him again called out obnoxiously. "I, Kaiser, will not stand for this!" But the words did not reach the chimera.
Voice of aggravation playing on loop, Siorc kept walking. The voice, illusion or not, was the most grating sound in all of Teyvat. Tent finally being within two meters of him, a tall masked woman in a light blue opened jacket with a strange lantern in hand yanked the supplies off his back like a Treasure Hoarder pickpocketing a civilian. Supplies being delivered, the chimera motioned the second part of his routine. Turning his heelless shoes, the chimera walked to the northeast direction he came in.
As he continued walking towards the waypoint, his body again grew colder. Waddling still following him, going to a heat source was out of the question. With every step, he felt even more frigid. Agent being in his field of vision, his legs broke out into a tiny sprint. Agent finally being adjacent to him, he halted his sprint. Head still pulsating, sound around him had begun to fade away.
Seeing his subordinate finally return to him, the Agent's boots tapped onto the white snow with a militaristic roar. While his commander in arms had successfully delivered supplies, a pesky fly had been buzzing behind the chimera. Whoever such person was, they needed to be dealt with now.
"Just who is that behind you?" the Agent cried, irritation in his voice. "Do not let anyone hinder your progress, soldier!" His boots continued to tap onto the snow with a ferocious roar.
Realizing the person behind him was not an illusion if the Agent could see him, the chimera turned behind him. Vision dimming, he studied the person with any amount of energy that remained. The figure before him was tall, and male looking in appearance. The person had long bright yellow hair pulled back into a ponytail, and light orange eyes decorated with red eye shadow. The hair had reached down to about the person's shoulders. On top of the head and off to the sides had been strange looking golden strands of hair sticking out like a sore thumb. Such thick hairs were an oddity to be had, for sure. Unusual hair barely registered to his unfocused eyes, the chimera continued his examination. On the ground had been orange webbed feet. Was this person a penguin chimera? He did not know, but cared not at the moment in time. Looking up for a second, the person's outfit graced his dimming field of vision. The person's outfit was extravagant and ridiculous looking. Pink striped outfit with sequins spilling all over the snow, the hyena ended his examination. Looking at such blinding outfit drained his energy further.
Turning back around, the pulse in his head only got stronger. Feeling his body sway downward, an apology had begun to form inside him. The Agent, surely, seeing such a person behind him had to have disappointed him. Swaying not ceasing, the apology broke from his lips.
"I'm sorry, sir," he replied, words barely audible. As such words escaped him, a loud buzzing echoed throughout the area.
Words barely being able to release from the chambers of his throat, weakness made a meal out of the adolescent chimera. Body sinking into the snow beneath him, blackness overtook the hyena. As the world of unconsciousness was about to take him away, one final thought shot through him like a sniper on the battlefield.
Her Majesty and the Agent would be disappointed in him.
***
"Why am I still tired today?
Even though it is a new day,
Barely any energy is within me
But I know that is no excuse,
Even though I am tired, I need to keep working,
Diligence is key.
Feeling like this, should not be happening to me
Even so, it matters not, I cannot disappoint Her Majesty,
Even so, I cannot disappoint anybody.
Take all of this away from me, please."
Waking up the next morning, weakness continued to eat away at him. Raising from his bed within the military barracks, an immediate horror graced his partially human body. Fatigue pushing him into the hole dug out for him, the chimera pushed forward regardless.
Dressing into his uniform had been another battle on the floor warzone. Dizziness persisting, the edge of his furniture housing his uniforms became his new best friend. Such issue had not been the only one at his currently human hands. His heart was beating hard, and rapidly. Despite such fuzziness and pain, the chimera could not falter.
Agent eventually arriving for the day, another day of supply delivery in Dragonspine awaited him. Teleport Waypoint taking him to the same area, a wave of relief hit him. Heading to the same area two days in a row, perhaps, just maybe, would reduce the fatigue roaring inside him.
Luck, and the Archons were not on his side. With every step he took, his heart continued to beat at a hard and rapid pace. Head pulsing as well, every single step onto the snow was a battle to behold for the young budding soldier. Although, such weakness was not the only aggravation gracing his presence.
Webbed feet waddling behind him again, everything around and inside him was quite the stubborn burden, indeed. Sound of waddling increasing in volume, the chimera drowned out the noises around him. Giving the cold shoulder to the obnoxious person following behind him, the hyena continued his pained walk to the tents across the river with due diligence.
Still getting no reaction or praise from the person in front of him, Kaiser let out an exaggerated gasp. Ignoring him, was he? How could he ignore such a beautiful looking person, such as himself? Who did this person think he was, continuing to just walk away and not look at his gorgeous, beautiful clothes, and pretty made up face? Such crime against his beautiful person could not go unpunished.
"How could you walk away from me?!" Kaiser screamed at the top of his lungs. If he were to shout any louder, an avalanche would surely befall. Such would be an ugly sight, for sure. "I'm pretty! Quit ignoring me!"
But such words did not reach the chimera. Words bouncing off his ears, the soldier continued walking. Sound of snow roaring on the wind being the only sound he focused on, he would not let the absolutely ludicrously loud person from behind him win. Never providing the appeasement he wished for, the tent he had to deliver supplies to was nearing.
Fatui still ignoring him, Kaiser's red eyelid twitched. How could this person just keep ignoring him and his beauty? What ugly behavior from the soldier. Pyro vision on his waist glowing, a flame, a luscious blue flame glowed around him. Surely, if the cold and heartless man in front of him smelled fire, praises would be sung his way. Blue fire swirling into an inferno, the show of absolute gorgeous notoriety began.
Heat coming from behind him removing a slight smidgeon of fatigue, Siorc's legs erupted into a sprint. No matter what the ridiculous person was doing from behind him, the adolescent would not let the pest of a penguin win. Whatever he were to do, and say, turning around and giving in were never going to come into fruition. The shoulders would remain cold.
Tent finally two meters away from him, a shorter Fatui with a red uniform and a long range weapon grabbed the supplies from his back like it was a piece of candy. Supplies being delivered, and heat still radiating from his backside, he turned his heelless shoes to the direction he came in. Heat slightly helping his symptoms vanish a smidgeon, walking back to the Agent would be an easy feat.
Not getting any reaction from the Fatui yet again, another exaggerated gasp dragged out from Kaiser's throat. His beautiful fire show was being ignored? How could he? This soldier had quite the poor taste in beauty. If the fire show would not work, then perhaps claiming he will stop following him if he called him what he was: pretty would work. Flames from around him dissipated, the gorgeous penguin of Dragonspine tooted his horn.
"Say I'm pretty," Kaiser exclaimed, voice even more exaggerated than before. "Then I'll go."
But no answer ever came. Heat having vanished from the back of him, he could feel his body return to its frigid state. Agent tapping his boots within his darkening field of vision, his legs again broke out into a quick sprint. Subordinate finally being one meter of him, he ended his sprint. Heart beating harder than before, and head pulsating sharper, everything was beginning to fade away.
Seeing the pesky fly from behind his commander in arms yet again, the Agent's boots slammed onto the frozen ground. This person was still following his subordinate around? If he were to continue to hinder the soldier's work, Her Majesty would be alerted to him. If this bug were to keep buzzing around, violence would be blown upon him next time they meet.
"Quit following my subordinate around," the Agent scolded, voice higher in volume than yesterday. "Or there will be dire consequences!" His voice was loud enough to push snow off a tree nearby.
Sound clouding around him as the Agent's voice echoed, the pulse in his head had reached its climax. Feeling his body sway downward, having no energy remaining to issue an apology, the weakness sounded a victory horn. Body sinking into the snow beneath, blackness overtook the hyena for the second time. As the world of unconsciousness was inviting him back, a thought broke through him as he faded away.
What was so great about beauty, anyway?
***
Waking up the next morning, the cycle of weakness continued. Raising from his bed within the military barracks continued to be a war on the battlefield. Fatigue dropping him to the bottom of the hole, everything had begun to hurt unceremoniously. Wooziness and painful heartbeat accelerating, getting ready for the morning was still a fight to behold for the young man.
Switching to rose hairpins and earrings for the day, the chimera prayed to the Anemo Archon he had formerly worshipped. Would switching his accessory and jewelry to the flowers he loved so much give him the first wind he needed for the day? The hyena hoped such would be the case. Such convenience never came; the fatigue continued to eat away at his partially human body.
Supply delivery being upon him for the third day in a row, nothing had been out of the ordinary. Being instructed by the Agent to deliver supplies by the red grass cave again, another wave of relief flowed through him. The Archons were on his side today. Cave being a large distance away from the lake, there was no possible way the obnoxious penguin chimera could possibly hinder his work today.
The Archons had not received his prayers in the slightest.
No matter which side of Dragonspine he was instructed to traverse through, the webbed feet from behind him waddled with an obnoxious, flamboyant shriek. Not giving the ridiculously vain person the time of day, the chimera continued walking. He would not give in to the person constantly following behind him. Attention would never be awarded to such self centered man.
Fatui ignoring him again, Kaiser's glossy lips twitched about. How could such a fellow not masculine male like himself keep ignoring him and his beauty? Who did this soldier think he was, always walking away from his beautiful, gorgeous self? He would pay for this crime against beauty.
"Your eyes must be broken if you won't look at how beautiful I am!" Kaiser said, puffing out his chest. "I'm pretty, and you're blind if you can't see that!" Maybe insulting the soldier would finally have him sing praises his way.
Penguin chimera rambling on, the hyena continued walking. Insults never reaching the adolescent's ears, the young man turned to the left. Head pulsating as the obnoxious man's nonstop gibberish bounced off him, red grass cave nearing in his dimming sight and freezing body, the young soldier sauntered onward. Voice from behind him being on a different continent, all other sounds dimmed with every step he took.
Cave diagonal to him, Siorc turned to the right. Fatui he had to deliver supplies to being hard to make out as his vision got fuzzier, his heart beat faster. Blurred figure of a purple jacket in his barely there field of vision, the adolescent handed the supplies to them with due diligence. Energy dropping at lightning speed, he could feel the world of unconsciousness calling out to him for the third time in a row. Why was he feeling even worse today? The chimera did not know, but walking back to the Agent was the only option that remained.
Agent waiting for him by the Teleport Waypoint like always, the chimera sunk to his currently human knees. Everything around him was getting darker. The sound of the wind and webbed feet from behind him were accompanied by the cacophony of buzzing in his shark eardrums. The sounds, the colors; the atmosphere, everything was fading away.
Pesky fly following behind his subordinate for the third time was the final straw. This time, for sure, threats of violence would be provided to the obnoxious bug buzzing about. Raising his gloved hand, the Agent twisted the fly's sparkling pink collar as tight as the gripping prison had always been on his soldier behind him.
"If you continue to pester my subordinate," the Agent said, harshness vibrating throughout the area. "I will tell Her Majesty to take care of you." He gripped the collar of his extravagant shirt even harder. "Did you hear me? Quit getting in his way!" His words were seeping with anger. What an absolute pest this person was.
Threat of violence being thrown his way, Kaiser let out an overdramatic gasp. How could this person get his ugly gloves on his gorgeous, handmade godly outfit? His gloves were soiling the beautiful collar. He would correct such a crime to beauty right this instant. Raising his smooth, silky hands, the Archon's gift to all of Teyvat ripped the wretched gloves off his wonderful collar. Royalty dealing with him, would they? Not on his pretty nonexistent watch, they wouldn't.
"And get my clothes dirty?!" Kaiser screeched like an extinct animal. "You Fatui are quite disgusting." He was smirking as such words were said, gorgeous, silky hands waving about. "Your jobs are ugly!" He puffed out his chest. That would show him who was God's gift to all of Teyvat.
As the arguing flamed about between the Agent and the pest, the fuzziness swallowed the chimera whole. Feeling his head hit the snow, blackness overtook the chimera for the third day in a row. Consciousness slipping away, he closed his eyes in defeat.
Subordinate on the ground again, the Agent stopped any animosity at the pesky fly immediately. Three days in a row of this, it was clear to the Fatui. This could not go on any longer. His commander in arms needed medical attention right away. Placing the vegetable hyena on his back, and highlighting the waypoint to the military barracks, the return to Snezhnaya began. Placing the soldier back into the bed, the Agent was resolute on his decision.
Enough was enough, he had to tell Her Majesty.
***
"Even now I feel guilty for not doing more, if that
Note from Her Majesty had not come, I could have
Done something to prevent this from happening,
Obviously, I didn't do enough to help him, as a medical Fatui,
Siorc, really, I am so, sorry,
Cruel reality in it all, if
Only someone told me.
Please, honey, I am so incredibly sorry. As a medic, as a chimera, I failed
You in so many ways. I'm sorry."
Finding himself in bed again with no memory of getting there had become a familiar feeling to the chimera. Fourth day in a row of this charade, the hyena attempted to leave his bed. Such attempts to get up were halted at the sight of oddities presented before him in the corner of his tired eyes. Wishing to examine such oddities, the young man raised his body upward from the bed.
To the side in the spacious room of nothing was Loba. What was the medical Fatui doing here, he wondered? But such question would not leave his lips. Next to her had been an odd device he had never seen before. Situated by her was a large silver box with a screen inside it. What purpose did the silver box serve? Seeing such technology beside her, the young man let out a labored gasp. That box in the corner, nothing good would come of it, surely. Just what had Her Majesty ordered Loba to do? Sweat formed at his brow as dread planted itself further inside his partially human brain.
Hearing the quiet gasp, Loba sprinted over to his bedside. Placing him back down on the pillow in front of him, she knew she had to explain the situation to him. Placing his hand within her own, she readied to tell Siorc why she had been here.
"You've come back to us, thank goodness," Loba said, relief evident in her voice. "Her Majesty told me you haven't been feeling well lately. But I'm here for you now, so don't worry." Her words had barely any energy, but still had feminine charm, nonetheless.
Siorc squirmed upon being placed back into a laying position. The Agent told Her Majesty about his current condition? His current state of weakness being known, he knew his life was about to be over for sure. Laying in bed like a vegetable would only provide him with a swifter death, for sure. He had to get back to work, there was no other option. He had to tell Loba there was work to be done.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, words slurring even worse than before. "I have to get back to work." He could feel himself twitching about laying in the bed. He couldn't stay here, Her Majesty would be disappointed in him. Thought crawling around, he covered his unfocused eyes with his currently human arm.
Loba heaved a sigh at the chimera thinking of returning to work in his condition. Being told by Her Majesty he had been fainting during work for the past few days, such would not be happening today. Why were the Snezhnaya Fatui always so eager to work no matter what condition their bodies were in? The phenomenon was a mystery to her.
Being ordered to take a look at him, Loba placed her rubber gloves on her currently human hands. Walking over to the medical devices in the corner, she pulled out the tools necessary for the procedure to begin. Metallic instrument and pill in hand, she returned to Siorc's bedside immediately. Placing him into a sitting position, the time had come to explain what she was about to perform on him.
"I cannot let you work in your condition," she said, her words were absolute. "I'm here to do a medical examination. Her Majesty requested I do so." Opening her left hand, she placed the pill in front of him. "I just need to see what's wrong with you. It's going to be okay." Would reassuring him work? Loba hoped for such to be the case.
Seeing a pill in Loba's left hand, the young man let out a labored wail. The pill in her hand, was Her Majesty ordering Loba to poison him? Already receiving lethal doses of poison from the mad malpracticing doctor, the thought of someone else doing such was a no brainer for the soldier. Capsule still in front of him, his body shook on repeat.
Soldier shaking and crying in front of her, it was obvious what had been on his mind. Fatui being unconventional as they were, toxins disguised as medicine must have been a common sight within the military barracks. The Fatui were wicked creatures.
"I assure you, honey, it isn't poison," Loba said. Her voice was soft, but absolute. "It's just a tiny pill so the procedure doesn't hurt." Her voice was getting softer and lower with every word being spoken. "I need to look at your heart." If both her hands had not been occupied, she would hold his. But, consoling was all that she could do, at this point in time. "I would never feed you poison. It's going to be okay."
Words of reassurance reaching his tired eardrums, Siorc took the pill in Loba's hand with due diligence. Swallowing the pill as instructed, he blinked as the pill travelled through his body. Shot of numbness pulsing through his body, he focused his attention on the jackal's right hand. Feeling within him dissipating he had to focus on something, anything to distract him from slight feeling disappearing.
In her right hand was a strange device. Watching as she uncoiled it, he watched carefully. The device was a strange metallic instrument with a tube at the end. On the other side of the device had been odd looking shapes he had never seen before with unusual buttons and coils littered throughout. What was that device about to do? The chimera did not know, but he knew he had to comply no matter what.
Pill being swallowed, and device being ready, Loba turned to the patient. "I'm going to insert this into your throat," she said, holding the tube in her left hand. "But, it will be okay. It's not going to hurt."
Siorc tilted his head at such remark. How would such a tool be inserted into his throat? The hyena did not know, but he knew he had to remain diligent. Diligence was key to successful living as a Fatui Soldier. Reassurance leaking throughout him, the soldier nodded.
Taking the nod as confirmation, Loba prepared herself. "It might be a little uncomfortable," she replied to his wordless confirmation. "But, I won't hurt you, I promise."
Device completely uncoiled, Loba placed the tube in Siorc's throat in a precise and careful manner. On the screen behind her had been images of the body. They were oddly realistic to an eerie degree. Other end of the device being in her not dominant hand, she continued pushing the tube down as gently as possible. Tube eventually reaching its destination, images of the inside of the heart could be seen on the screen behind her. As the inner chambers had been present upon the screen, a frown graced her partially visible face. In his heart had been two stones living inside it. They were big, and volcanic ash in color. She knew, seeing those, it could mean one thing, and one thing only. They needed to be removed. But, the tools to remove such were not with her. Knowing if such stones were not removed, it would lead to permanent damage or death, she had to tell the patient right away. Removing the device from his throat, a dark shadow covered her face.
"She marked you," she exclaimed, somber tone in her voice. "Your heart has suffered internal damages, it's just as I've feared." She could feel herself shaking slightly, but stopped herself from doing so. Shaking ceasing, she continued explaining the situation to the patient. "I need to take further action, but I must discuss this with Her Majesty." She placed Siorc's hand into her own. Guilt had begun to feast inside her with every minute passing.
Information being presented to him, the chimera's eyes grew wide. The Pyro Archon marked him? What did any of that mean? If he had not been so tired, tears would stream down his face. No energy being within him, no words could escape his lips. All the hyena could do was stare into Loba's eyes. Nothing about what he had just been told made sense. His heart was damaged? She needed to take action? No matter how many questions swam inside him, he knew he was not allowed any. Keeping his mouth shut, his quiet stare continued.
Soldier's eyes meeting her own Loba turned her head to the side. Guilt continued to tap on her shoulder on endless repeat. If Her Majesty had not requested for his return, the situation at hand could have been prevented before it had progressed to this stage. Tools for surgery not being present in Natlan, everything was falling apart like a Hilichurl tower in the open wilderness.
"I'm putting you on strict bed rest for two days," she said sternly. "I need to discuss the next step with Her Majesty." As she said such, she walked over to the door of his room, preparing to exit. "I'll see you soon."
Bed rest order being forced upon him, the hyena slumped downward onto the pillow. Closing his eyes, everything Loba had said to him echoed throughout the chambers of his partially human brain. She marked him. His heart was damaged. Her Majesty would be alerted of this. Fatigue burying him in the sand further, he closed his eyes begrudgingly.
Fire was terrifying, indeed.
***
Two days had passed into nothingness. Being ordered to stay in bed, the chimera laid about like a vegetable. Forty-eight hours being behind him, the hyena was ready to return to his duties. Praying to the Archons his forced upon duties of rest would remove the fatigue from him, the chimera rose from the uncomfortable prison of a bed.
The Archons were still not on his side.
Two days of laying like vegetation had still not removed the feelings of tiredness within him. Surely, by now, Her Majesty had to have been disappointed in him to an extreme degree. He had to work hard today, the choice was no longer his. Uniform being on, he put the most diligent face on possible.
When the Agent had arrived that morning, an odd and ominous order had been delivered to him. Being handed a Claymore, he had been instructed to attack the pest of a penguin chimera if he were to bother him again while delivering supplies. Weapon being on him, a labored gulp got caught in the esophagus. His subordinate had told Her Majesty everything. Was she ordering the death of that obnoxious man? The chimera may have been a thorn in his side, but death was not the answer. He knew such to be the case, but Her Majesty's orders were absolute.
Teleport Waypoint taking him to the first area in Dragonspine he had ever been taken to, relief washed over the chimera for the fourth time. Remembering where the camp he had to go had been, the young soldier sauntered onward. Surely, from this direction, the obnoxious and vain pest would not be able to find him this time. Confidence breaking through him, the chimera walked to the northwest direction.
Luck had been a dead soldier on the battlefield. As expected, after a few minutes of walking, the webbed feed from behind him made their waddle known to him. How in the world did this man always find him? What an obnoxious and aggravating person. Chimera or not, this game had to end now. Turning to the person, he knew he had to use what he solemnly ever did. He had to use his words. Fatui mode turning on inside him, the soldier was ready.
"I've had enough of this," Siorc said coldly. His voice was seeping with irritation. "Stop disturbing and hindering my work." Reaching for his bag, he grabbed the greatsword inside it, holding it tight. "Quit following me around, or I'll have to use force." Even if Her Majesty ordered his death, he would not enact upon such. Scaring this person had to have been enough.
Seeing the hideous weapon in the disgusting Fatui's hands, an exaggerated gasp left Kaiser's throat. Use force? On his beautiful body? Absolutely not. No weapon or monster was allowed to get anywhere near his gorgeous, silky, godly skin.
"And get my face dirty with ugly blood?" Kaiser screamed at the top of his lungs. "No way, goodbye to you, sir!" A blade touching his beautiful, gorgeous, Archon gift of a face? Never, in a million years. Climbing up a cliff nearby, the penguin vanished at lighting speed.
Pest being gone, the chimera rolled his eyes to the sky. Major obstacle no longer being in the way, he returned the blade to the bag on his backside. Show finally being over, the soldier resumed his walk over to the tent in the corner. Tall purple Fatui with a large hammer ripping the supplies off his back like paper, everything had been like it was on his first day of work. Supplies being delivered, he prepared his return to the Agent.
As he walked towards the Teleport Waypoint to meet with his subordinate, the feeling of fuzziness had become unbearable. Adrenaline from taking out his weapon leaving his body, everything within his vision had begun to fade for the fourth time. Agent being three steps away from him, he could feel the ever familiar feeling of his body sinking to the snow beneath him. Consciousness slipping away, a suppressed thought broke out as he faded away.
Everything hurt so bad, he wanted to see his family.
***
"Please take all this pain away from me,
All I want is for everything to be normal, easy
I'm so tired of being tired, please, can someone help me?
No way can I say something like this, I need to remain silent. Silence is key."
When he had woken up, he had been in an area unknown to him. In front of him had been a bed slightly more comfortable than his own in the military barracks. Rows of such beds being within his field of vision, it had become apparent almost immediately. He had been placed in a medical barrack somewhere. Realizing such, anxiety nibbled on the cartilage on his ear.
Laying down in the bed like a vegetable, he could see Loba walking into the medical barracks. As she came closer, he knew he had to tell her that he had to return to work. Being kept in bed would disappoint Her Majesty for sure. Medical Fatui by his bedside, he had to relent such news her way.
"Ma'am, please," he pleaded, voice hoarse. "I have to go back to work." There was a tone of desperation in his barely audible words. He could not stay here, there was no possible way the Cryo Archon would allow it.
Predictable line being uttered by the young bedridden soldier, Loba heaved a heavy sigh. The Snezhnaya Fatui were quite the stubborn bunch. Her Majesty allowing her to remove the stones inside him, the truth had to come out now, before it was too late.
"No, Siorc, absolutely not," Loba said sternly. "I shouldn't have let you go back to work yesterday in the first place." Sitting on top of the bed next to him, she reached for his currently human hands, holding them tight. "I found stones in your heart. I almost found them too late." Her words were shaking as more came out. She knew it was unprofessional of her, but emotions would not leave. "If you keep working like this, you're going to die." She could feel tears about to stream down her face, but she shook it off. Professionalism had left the building.
Witnessing how emotional Loba looked, tears streamed down the young man's face. Stones were in his heart? Had such stones been the source of all his fatigue lately? Feeling the tears stream down harder, not a single word could leave his throat. Everything around him had been crashing, and burning.
Patient crying in front of her, Loba placed her arms around the hyena. While such acts were still quite unprofessional, she cared not at the moment in time. Holding him tight, guilt continued to rip her apart on the inside. Regardless of such, she knew she had to continue explaining the situation to him. Removing her arms from around him, she returned to the edge of the bedside in an instant.
"I'm going to remove the stones inside you," she replied softly. "But, even if I remove them, the damage cannot be undone." Her tone dropped into a somber one again. "Removing them will help you to mostly recover, but, as you get older, you're going to suffer from arrhythmia." Guilt tapping her shoulder, she averted her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't find this sooner."
Apology being given, tears had returned to his face. All of this happening had not been Loba's fault. Nothing about the situation had made sense to him. The guilty look on her face; her turning away, and averting his gaze. If she had felt responsible for such, he wanted to tell her it was not. But, no words were able to escape his lips. Tiredness from crying had overtaken him. Closing his eyes, defeat resounded within the chambers of the human parts of his brain.
"The operation is tomorrow," she whispered to the hyena. "It's going to be okay."
Eyes being completely closed, Loba placed the blanket back onto the chimera's body. Exiting back into the room she came in, guilt continued to roar inside her like her hormonal imbalance screaming out to her before being open about her identity.
All of this was her fault for not finding it sooner.
***
Waking up nearly a day later, slight discomfort graced his body. Achy and sore all over, the chimera had come to wonder: the stones, had they been removed from inside his heart already? Still feeling tired, he wondered if such were the case. But, the tiredness he felt, it was of a different variety. Being the only one within the medical barrack, the hyena closed his eyes again.
Opening his eyes again after a few hours, an odd, but familiar face had been within his tired field of vision. By his bedside had been a generic man with blond hair in a high ponytail. Seeing multiple people with such appearance throughout Teyvat, the chimera had been none the wiser to who such person could have been, but he had an idea.
Loba being on the other side of the room, he could see mild disgust on her face. Remembering questions had not been allowed for him, the hyena kept his lips shut. Still feeling tired and sore, a subdued sigh released into the medical barracks.
"Your training partner wanted to visit you," Loba explained, bitterness present in her voice. "So, I unfortunately let him." She turned to the human with a cold look on her face. "Why don't you make yourself useful, and give him his medication?" Fatui mode had been on, there was no softness to be had for a human.
Orders being given, the practice partner stepped into the office in the corner. Medication being handed to him, he returned to his bedridden subordinate immediately.
"Here you go, Ingne," the practice partner said. Unscrewing the prescription cap, he placed two pills into his hands. "You need to take two of these a day." Explaining the situation, his voice was stern, despite the generic timbre.
Instructions being given, Siorc downed the pills like they were candy. Being too tired to care if they were poison or not, he stared at the white walls to the other side of him lifelessly. If he were to be cooped up here for too much longer, Her Majesty would certainly end his life. Whenever Loba were to come over to his side, he would tell her. It was time to return to work. The stones had been removed. It had to have been safe for his activities to resume. Resolute on his decision, he attempted to raise from the bed.
Such attempt was an immediate failure. Loba and the practice partner placing him back down, and covers placed back upon him, his bed prison was inescapable yet again. Both Fatui looking like they had something to say, his face changed into an irritated expression.
"I know what you're thinking, honey, but you already know the answer is no," Loba exclaimed. Her voice was soft, but stern. "You just had a surgery. I'm not letting you go back to work yet." She allowed a sigh to release from her throat. "You're on bed rest and medication for a week and a half. I need to monitor your condition in case they come back." She again took his hands, holding them tight. "It's going to be okay. Her Majesty wouldn't make someone work if they're in here. I promise."
After Loba had finished speaking, he could hear the practice partner saying something to him as well. Being forced into a bed prison, he had no choice but to listen to all the words being said to him. Hands no longer being held, he covered his eyes with his arm while his training partner had begun speaking to him.
"I know this is hard for you, Ingne," the training partner said. His words were slow, and soft. "But, it's going to be okay." He placed his hand onto his shoulder. "After you get your rest, everything will go back to normal." If there had not been a mask on his face, there would be a serious look on it.
Words of reassurance from everyone around him, a heavy sigh released from his throat. Loba and the practice partner having it their way, the medical barrack would remain his prison for awhile. Her Majesty, she truly wouldn't make him work while stuck in the medical ward? He supposed, if such were the case, he would accept the current fate laid out before him.
Training partner eventually leaving, and Loba departing to the room towards the back, Siorc closed his eyes. Sleep beckoning him, a thought graced him as the world of tormented dreams possibly awaited him in the land of his subconscious mind.
Kind people were monsters.
***
"Finally don't feel tired anymore,
After all this time, I finally feel more capable, more like me,
To be honest, almost everything from the past to weeks is
Utterly a blur to me, relatively speaking.
I'm not sure what happened was real. Maybe it was a dream.
Something tells me it was not one,
Or so, that's what it would seem.
Loosely speaking, all of those recent feelings, are
Dim. A blur within my memory.
I'm not sure why I was so tired
Even that escapes me.
Regardless, I will keep working, dutifully."
Two and a half weeks had passed since the incident had occurred. Such incident had quickly, but assuredly become a blur to the chimera. Had what happened truly been real? The hyena did not know, the memories were beginning to fade for eternity.
He had remembered seeing a penguin chimera, but that was the only memory that remained within him from the past thirty days. He supposed, if such were the only memories from the past month that had remained, nothing that happened had to have been important enough for him to recall.
The chimera could recall other memories from before the blur of the current month at hand, but no matter how much he thought back to after being returned to his room by his training partner, nothing came into being. Everything apart from that partially human person the hyena had encountered had remained missing.
Barely remembering why he hadn't been at work for awhile, the chimera awaited the Agent's footsteps with due diligence. Although the blur of a month still reigning strong, multiple memories would never leave his head. His childhood had still been stolen from him. He had still been a Diplomatic Fatui Soldier. Her Majesty could still end his life at any moment if he were to disappoint her too many times.
Agent exclaiming he had looked much better was puzzling to be had, for sure. Had he been ill? The young soldier did not know, the memory would not return, no matter how many days were to pass onward within the two and half weeks since his apparent return. It was almost as if his brain would not allow for such apparent incidents to replay in his mind.
For the first week of the seventeen days, slight tiredness roared within him. Dragonspine deliveries returning from his informed absence, the hyena worked to the best of his ability. With every passing day, the lethargy would lessen a tiny smidgeon.
For the second week of the seventeen days, the lethargy was almost no longer a problem for the chimera. Adorning his rabbit hairpins and earrings again, the jewelry and accessory had given him imaginary power. Or, so the adolescent thought. Convenience was a dying breed.
The final day of the seventeen days being upon him, a realization had poured into him. For the first time in awhile, or from what he could currently remember that had not been gone, tiredness was a corpse in the casket. All energy returned to him, supply delivery had returned to complete normalcy for him. Finally feeling partially human again, his forced upon situation had gone back to the way it had been before.
Life being back to the way it had been, however, some other deep seeds of memory would still never leave the chambers of his complicated brain. The horrific incident in Natlan, the scars upon his body, the Doctor doing as he wished with him. He knew now more than ever, and knew one thing for certain.
No matter how much time were to continue passing in the permafrost north, he had to stay diligent, and as silent as possible if he were to wish to continue living. Questions were not allowed, desires were forbidden, complaints could never be voiced. Past month being a blur, or not, such convictions would never leave.
Diligence and silence were key.