Genshin Impact: Fatui's Resplendent Sword

The agent brought Heins and the snoring Peruere inside the fortress, inciting envy and fear from other registrants.

Due to their pragmatism, the fortress lacked ostentatious decorations. The wall was pure gray, flat pillars, reinforced with a hard substance, clearly displaying Fatui's caution in keeping their operation in discreet.

It was cold inside, not by temperature, but by the tensity. The soldiers and agents of Fatui could be seen operating orderly, their forms tense straight and ready. Heins coldly observed it all as he sat on a hard stool.

Fortunately, Peruere was asleep. He feared her little form would tremble by these Fatui men.

Heins furrowed his eyebrows as he watched the operation. The Fatui is not really something novel, so his interest dwindled the moment he saw this gray scene.

It was as if all colours were shedded, leaving the scenery of black, gray and white, with occasional other colors from the crevices. Only some of the agents with particular elements could be seen wearing different colors, like Pyro Skirmishers with their bright colour operation outfits.

Heins remained silent, occasionally whispering comfort words if Peruere grumbled uncomfortably. It was a good thing he was quite big for his age, so carrying little Peruere was no problem. It didn't took much of him.

Of course, Heins couldn't veil the bleakness of the world forever. Peruere would find it all out on her own eventually. However, he wished she would be ready to face it all by the time it occurred.

"Life may be dark the moment we live in the jurisdiction of the Fatui, little Peruere. But at least, we live in the truth we believed in..." Heins whispered as he held the little bundle that is Peruere close, his crimson eyes shone a bit.

"The life the world owed us may not come to fruition for the rest of our lives, but what matter is not the outside, but the inside. Keep your heart high and open, and be ready to take whatever the world has to offer. Haven is not made by materialistic matter, but it came in form of a gift. A priceless gift woven by our destiny and memories."

Peruere giggled in her sleep. Heins chuckled as he rubbed her head. The little bundle happily nudged his hand in her sleep.

"The Queen may be cruel to her people, but she guaranteed those she deemed capable. Do not resent her, since over indulgence would make the people weak."

It kept the Snezhnayans on edge, hence Snezhnaya is feared. Its strength does not rely on a certain group of people like Liyue's Adeptus or Mondstadt's Favonius Knights, where the power was tilted heavily to a certain group. It's firmly all-rounded. A hexagonal force, a Liyuan would say.

The Fatui Harbingers, the top combatants of Snezhnaya, are specialized each in their field. Their influence could be said to be prevalent and all-rounded. They are strong in all aspects that make a nation strong. They're not determined just by strength, but by wealth, power, and influence.

In a head on confrontation, it may lose due to the vicious nature of the Harbingers, who always took leverages on their fellow's weaknesses, which break off the nation into several parties. But in terms of influence, they could be said to be number one or two in all aspects.

In all, Snezhnaya is a place where there's barely a burden, unlike Mondstadt where there are many freeloaders. Of course, Heins learned this all from the books of Snezhnaya, which may contained bias attitude and opinion.

Nonetheless, even if they were tampered, some claims are indeed true. After all, many Fatui soldiers have rifles produced by Snezhnaya's technology, and other scary weapons of war. It may not be a deterrence for Eye of God users, but not everyone is a Genshin.

In a thousand people, probably only a dozen are Genshins.

So unless the top combatants joined the battlefield, the Fatui could dominate the armies of other nations with rifles alone, not to mention the powerful mages, Dottore's experimental fearsome subjects, and Sandrone's automations.

Even Fontaine's technology couldn't be compared to the magnanimity of Snezhnaya's manufacturers.

Perhaps only the Natlians could equalized their ferocity in the battlefield due to their resilience and independency from their God, since their Archon is no special being but pure human blood. Heins heard that their society was extremely developed.

They even invented some powerful interesting gadgets that could support the power of the Eye of God. It was as expected from a nation that could survive without the intervention of gods, since human was inherently curious and innovative if their path was not decided.

(Eye of God = Vision)

Although they are severely lacking in high-end combatants, it was still impressive, considering their imperfect ley lines, according to a worn-out book he read from his father's study before he lost everything.

Heins's thought was interrupted by Peruere's sneeze, her little nose red. He chuckled lightly as she whimpered in her sleep, diving into his chest further.

"Defying the circumstance is bravery, but making do to amend the situation in our favor is wisdom. I hope little Peruere wouldn't be entrapped by either path, and could transverse both simultaneously."

He may not know what she'd become in the future.

With Peruere's mysterious lineage, she would definitely be a fearsome foe, a warrioress without equal. He believed she would be a powerful Genshin, a graceful element wielder.

As of now, however, he would give her a temporary shelter where she could be a whiny, needy child...

"Fool, is it?"

Heins's coaxing attitude froze like a sudden winter as he looked up, noticing the woman before him. Her hair is pink-brown, her eyes dark grey. She wore a nunnery outfit with a light black cape draped over her narrow shoulders.

She radiated compassion and kindness, her motherly figure commanded warmth and gentleness.

Her voice, gentle and drippy, asked, "And who might that little girl in your arms be, hmm? Such a cute child. It would be a pity for her to waste away in the cold streets of Snezhnaya."

Heins maintained a neutral attitude. Disrespecting her would be a game over for him, thus despite the voices of ridicule snorts and scoffs in his head, he smiled politely, "I heard of your preceding reputation, Mistress Crucabena. I wish to seek refuge to the Fatui exactly because of this matter. I always admired the Fatui, and after hearing there was a recruitment here, I quickly rushed out with my companion to take this opportunity."

Crucabena inexplicably narrowed her eyes, her eyes veiling the judging gaze as they bored deep into the boy. Heins deliberately bowed his head, showing his obedience, taking the opportunity to unveil his ridicule gaze to the floor.

I admire the Fatui, of course. But that's all.

No need to extend it.

"I heard of your feat, killing four men with your little girl in your left arm. You live it quite rough, aren't you, my dear boy?"

Crucabena leaned down and traced his face. Her eyes lit up, noticing his handsome boyish face.

Surely he would be a charismatic man that would make girls fell over heels with but a glance. In other words, a very good addition to take leverage to gain favor in diplomatic operations and a very skilled intelligence gatherer.

Also, he's very skilled in combat. Crucabena's eyes glimmered secretly as she cupped the boy's face.

Ohho, even she was tempted... The darkened scars only make him more ferocious and rugged, just the way she likes it. Crucabena's dark thoughts prevailed inside.

Heins coldly observed the changing mood of the Hearth's Director. Survival brought more than just strength. It also set as trials for his wit, intelligent and wisdom. However, he merely smiled, his eyes blank and stared straight at her.

But Crucabena doesn't mind. She chuckled gently as she whispered, "Let's go to the House of the Hearth. Let's start our new lives... Okay?"

As if frightened, little Peruere in his arms trembled. Heins rubbed her head softly, effectively calming her down. Then, he looked at Crucabena and bowed deeply, "I'm in your care, Mistress Crucabena."

The lack of mention of his little companion compelled her to harbour suspicious thoughts. But if she does so to but a boy, wouldn't she feel embarrassed in the future?

In the end, she turned around and craned her neck, her eyes meeting his, beckoning him, "Well then, let's go."

They seem to glint cruelly as she smiled softly, "I am delighted of your decision, little Fool. You definitely won't regret it."