Genshin Impact: Fatui's Resplendent Sword

Soon, the noon passed and the luncheon came about. It was as usual, though Heins's prior overreaction proved to be a significant deterrence, saving them from the troubles of the cafeteria.

In the schedule, combat training came next. It was held in the training ground, a vast flat meadow. Who knows how much the Fatui gave out to the nobles in order to have such a vast land under their name in the Court of Fontaine's jurisdiction.

Heins watched as the combat instructors kicked some children who were not up to their standard, their masked face cold and unforgiving. Some cried, some remained unresponsive, while few stood up.

He also watched as Mervien, Yhamin and Clervie met up with their sparring partners. Fortunately, their opponents were not those bratty kids, so the atmosphere was tense purely by clash and not by personal enmity.

Their sparring was smooth to watch, since most of their matches were relatively in par, with neither holding the advantage. It was clear from the rhythm of their clash that the result would not be easy to be determined.

This time, Heins wasn't worried about Peruere. In the training ground, he could see how the little girl solemnly swung her wooden sword with agility and precision. It seems like he was right, she was indeed a warrioress in the making.

The boy she was dueling with couldn't keep his sword in his hand, the strain of taking Peruere's swift and relentless assaults proved to be too much for him, and he was forced into submission, Peruere's sword straight at his throat.

The boy casted an unwilling look, his eyes full of hatred towards Peruere, but perhaps she was swept up by the fierce combat, but the usual innocent gaze was no more, replaced by a pair of intimidating, sinister crimson X.

As if instinctual, Peruere, regarding the boy's gaze as a lack of surrender, harshly swept the wooden sword on the boy's throat. The supervisor remained rooted on his spot as the boy foamed from the mouth.

"Winner, Peruere."

As soon as the announcement was made, little Peruere trembled, her eyes widened as she began to realize the deed she did. The sword she so gracefully wielded was cast aside like an used toy. Her eyes frantically looked around until she found the visage of her most beloved person.

Unhesitatingly, she ran with her little legs, jumping into Heins's arms. She murmured, her tone laced with pure fear, "B-Big brother, what happened to me? I was so cruel to that boy. A-And I felt nothing from it."

She looked at her own hands, her crimson Xs glimmered sinisterly. Heins narrowed his eyes when the white fringe on her head began to spread, turning her obsidian strands into snowy white ones.

It seems like putting her in such an intense situation awakened the mysterious lineage. Heins couldn't help but feel somewhat worried.

Peruere seems to not notice, her eyes fixed on Heins with sadness, "Big Brother Heins, I am scared... Am I turning into a monster?"

"No, little Peruere. The decisiveness you showed proved of your exceptionality in combat. Not many could be so skilled in their first attempt of wielding the blade. It is a gift, a blessing you deserve."

Heins brushed her now white hair, with only a third of it shaded with onyx, "This is a weapon, a blessing, and a responsibility. Do not be afraid to wield it, but always remember your heart. As for that boy..."

His warm eyes turned cold, "Remember that a battlefield is a place where you couldn't afford to show mercy. It was also a place where a person must know their limit, and concede when they're overpowered if they were given the chance to do so."

"Overstepping boundary is a dangerous thing, and should not be initiated carelessly. The boy clearly couldn't discern the situation with clarity, had a chance to concede, yet did not take it, so do not beat yourself up."

Peruere tried to be cold like her big brother, but a hint of fear and sadness could be seen flickering in her eyes, "I... I understand, big brother. But was it wrong for me to see my deed as something evil? The boy looked so miserable because of me..."

Heins bobbed her little red nose and whispered gently, "Who said you must discard your conscience? The thing that judges the actions of yourself and others is called a moral compass, and wasn't it I who told you to be a kind person?"

"But big brother told me to be merciless. Big brother is so confusing, I hate it..." Peruere looked down and let her index fingers touched, her lips pursed like a wronged child. Heins smiled widely, drawing some surprised gazes.

The scary boy was smiling so gently?

"Situations, Peruere. You can't be so rigid. An evil person should be judged with no mercy, while a good person should be given a leeway. Do you understand?"

Little Peruere narrowed her big eyes, trying to understand Heins's words. The boy was worried she would come up with an outrageous conclusion like she did this morning, but he found himself proud when she smiled happily, "I got it! Evil does not deserve mercy, while good deserves mercy!"

At the same time, the wood-like instructor called out his name, "Fool."

Heins put down little Peruere, and after patting her head, he slowly walked up to the clearing where the instructor was standing. His crimson gaze was fix on his opponent, his right hand perfectly etched itself onto the hilt of the wooden sword.

His opponent, a wheat-haired, determined boy, returned his gaze with a look of fear and resoluteness veiled beneath his eyes. Heins nodded slightly. That's the gaze of a survivalist.

"Begin."

The wheat-haired boy widened his eyes when the menacing figure that is Heins disappeared. He knew Heins didn't disappear. He couldn't understand it clearly, but he assumed Heins had perfectly calculated his blinking pattern in order to create a show that he truly disappear, taking advantage of that insignificant factor.

The wheat-haired boy shivered. Just how truly terrifying the crimson-eyed boy called Fool was? He himself was also a fighter who had fought with those in the sewer of Fontaine, so he did have a share of his experience.

Still, how was he supposed to defend against that?

"I surrender!"

As soon as the wheat-haired boy decisively threw his wooden sword as a sign of surrender, a shockwave hit the back of his neck like the whisper of a devil, scaring him to his core.

He braved himself to glance back, and the sight of Heins's crimson eyes suffocate him. The way those eyes eerily looked down upon him through the shadow of the charcoal bangs was too intimidating, too terrifying, like a gaze indifferent to his life and death.

"You are a worthy warrior," Heins acknowledged as he gently placed the wooden sword and left the clearing. At the same time, the instructor, as if unmoved by the shocking showcase of prowess, announced, "Winner, Fool."

The wheat-haired boy immediately collapsed on spot. The fear was overwhelming, to say the least. The treatment was evident due to his worth, however, as the instructor took an immediate resort to bring him appropriate aid, unlike the boy Peruere defeated.

It could be seen that the Fatui treat unworthy ones like dirt, while they treat competent ones with sufficient respect. In some circumstances, those cold agents may even try to curry favor.

"You're so powerful and awesome, big brother!" Peruere giddily clapped her hands, her face litting up joyfully. Heins playfully patted his chest and smirked, "Well, who could be so awesome but me, Peruere's big brother!"

The little girl giggled happily.