Genshin Impact: Fatui's Resplendent Sword

"Attention!"

The instructor harshly tapped the legendary steel ruler against the whiteboard, his face forming a mean frown. Sitting beside the nervous Peruere, Heins leaned forward, curious. What exactly did they teach to the children? Procedures of operation? Top Ten Cruelest Torture Methods? Most sensitive nerves?

"Today's subject will be alphabet. You! Tell me the seventh order of the alphabet!"

"Uhhh... J-Ji!"

"Too slow, but passable. You! Twenty-second order of the alphabet!"

"Oh... Uh, um... Fi!"

Heins was dumbfounded. So even a subject as innocent as alphabet was taught. But on second thought, it was somewhat applicable in the Fatui.

After all, orphans came from numerous backgrounds, to which 99% of them were unpleasant, not to mention those adopted by the Hearth. Fatui couldn't afford its agents to be oblivious to the literary.

It's not like a parentless child could teach themselves to read.

Thus, Heins was forced to watch as the instructor threatened the orphans to answer the right order of the alphabet. It wasn't until he glanced at his little siblings and saw their anxious countenance did he realize how nerve-wrecking this must be.

Even Peruere fidgeted in her seat and darted her eyes around nervously.

The subject, for Heins, was as smooth as a flowing water. It was stale, unchanging and pretty much flat. It's not that he's arrogant, but this subject was taught to him long ago. He pretty much recognized those alphabets as long as he remember.

Unfortunately for Peruere, it was the exact opposite.

She got an answer wrong.

In the end, a mean mark was etched on her little white hand. Heins tried to ignore her pitiful look as she whimpered, clutching her red hand.

There has to be some ways for a child to be taught, and while the Hearth's method was quite harsh, it's not unacceptable. Heins may protect Peruere, but she will shed her immaturity in one way or another, and she could not be a sheltered, weak child.

She has to be strong. Strong enough to gaze the world with indifference. A mere gash on a hand was not even a millionth of the pain the world could inflict on her.

Fortunately for the other three, they could answer with quick precision. Clervie even got a nod of acknowledgement from the instructor.

Peruere casted her an envious look, making Heins chuckle a little.

As soon as the lesson ended, Peruere immediately bawled, her face etched with an unwilling look, "Big brother, teach me the alphabets! I got hit because I can't answer!"

Heins lifted her up like how he did it when he fought at the Fatui's Stronghold and chuckled, his face bemused and somewhat playful, "Ah, so my little sister couldn't even read. I have failed!"

"Nooo! Big brother, I-I'll try my best to study it! Please don't be disappointed!"

Now she really looked like she was about to cry. Heins's playful heart turned into mush as he sighed, clutching the little thing to his chest, "I'm just joking, just joking, okay? Even if Peruere failed every day, I would never be disappointed."

At the side, the three looked at each other speechlessly. That's not how you comfort a child, right? The thing is, Peruere actually cheered up. Fortunately, her words still make sense, "But big brother couldn't possibly have a dumb little sister! So please teach me the alphabets!"

Heins cupped his chin as the little Peruere dozed off on his chest, clearly exhausted by the tensity of the lesson. Actually, the lack of cognitive ability showed by Peruere came as a shock. After all, the little girl appeared very mysteriously, and she looked like she came straight out of a fairy tale.

Subconsciously, he assumed that she was already skilled in numerous mandatory skills. Heins suddenly felt guilty. Peruere was just a little girl, yet he expected something much more from her merely because of her unique traits.

Hell, perhaps she couldn't even wield a small knife and would tremble like a defenseless chick if she was attacked by a group of greedy men if he hadn't brought her back from that shimmering lake.

He tenderly rubbed her soft face, his crimson eyes shone with guilt and concern, "I'll teach you everything you have to know, don't worry."

"Umm... Big brother, can we join?"

Heins blinked and turned to his little siblings, who had gathered around him. Clervie unanimously casted an envious look on Peruere. She could dozed off so comfortably on big brother's strong arms...

Mervien excitedly hugged his waist and exclaimed, her tone jumpy and drippy, "Big brother is so strong and smart! The instructor had yet to finish his question when big brother cooly answered with cold precision. Please teach me the way!"

Her next words are somewhat eerie, however, "I'm so beautiful, I feared irresponsible boys would dare to touch me. If I had big brother's skills, I want to see whether their little stones and birds could survive my kick!"

Heins and Yhamin involuntarily shivered, but it can't deter the latter's excitement to express his true heart. The warm-toned skin shone under the sun as the boy clenched his fists,

"Indeed. I have yet to understand what it means to be a strong man until I saw big brother's assured, dependable demeanor, unassuming yet undeterred by the lesson. That... Is who I wished to be!" Yhamin screamed excitedly to the sky, with magical tears streaming out of his face, "This is what masculinity meant!"

Clervie, the only one with an actual common sense, stood serenely before Heins and looked up at him with her shining eyes.

Ignoring the other abnormal kids, the older boy's face involuntarily softened as he laid his gaze on her innocent face. He recognized that look, since Peruere always showed the same gaze every time she jumped into his arms

With adoration dripping from her voice, Clervie placed her hands on her chest like a devoted nun, "Big brother, please teach us the ways to survive in this world. Your scars are the reminiscences of your struggles, and I believe in you. I hope... Big brother would stay with us forever."

She asked not for hers, but for him. The scarred boy looked down, his gaze full of thought and sentiments. He understood her words.

The girl... She was desperate to survive, but her heart inclined to save those she held dear. It reminds him of those big sisters in the alley who would hug their little siblings as they froze to death, protecting them from the cold with their thin, weak body.

Heins's hand suddenly found itself on her head. Clervie froze like a caught deer, her face flushed and nervous. He slowly stroke the soft strands, his eyes veiling the cold they had as they turned warm, "I'll be here. I'll make sure you would not be subjected to her trial."

Before, he merely wished to deprive the entirety of the orphans' trial due to his willfulness, receiving Crucabena's look of ridicule and disdain. Back then, even he was unconvinced of his own unrealistic proposal. This promise, however, was perhaps more acceptable.

It was quite a possibility.

Heins's heart rose like a blazing flame, his will strong and undeterred. It was conveyed through his resolute crimson eyes, for they shone with light. The three orphans were awed and dazzled as their big brother's visage was distinguished by the warm sun.

"You will not suffer. Remember my words."

It's not only Peruere who has her willfulness. He, Heins, also has his.

Perhaps it was an impossible promise, and served more like an act of comfort rather than a believable conviction. The three thought that way too, their trust and hope cracked due to their respective history. But their heart wanted to believe it.

Their soul resonate with his words and covet them. Their being feel the goosebumps and the inexplicable excitement and hope as Heins uttered those words.

Only Peruere seemed to be unaffected as she rubbed her face against his chest, her mumbling silly and amusing, "Ehe~ Big brother is so strong!"