✧ Lonely Qingxin | 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬 ✧

Diluc: The Dove & The Phoenix Pt.2

However, to your dismay you yet again ran into Diluc. He stood atop the staircase turning on the chandelier, staring right at me.

"Lurking during this hour seems a little strange (Y/N)." He said calmly.

"I could say the same thing for you" Is what you wanted to say but you bit your tongue and held back your words. 

"Care to explain yourself?" He folded his arms as he walked towards me slowly.

"Master Diluc, I was just feeling restless. I couldn't sleep so i decided to just roam around." You hung your head low, not meeting his eyes. It's not that you were bad at making eye contact, you were always taught to bow your head down before your superiors and not look at them in the eye. 

"No need to be so formal. You're a guest, not a maid or a worker. Sometimes, i even ask my maids to not be so formal." He replied

"He wasn't polite like this in the morning, what's going on?" You wondered.

He sighed, sitting down on the leather couch.

 "If you're going to stay, there are a few things i need to know." He began. "Answer me this (Y/N), Those injuries, the ash on your clothes implies that you had escape from some sort of accident. What happened?" 

You hesitated at first but you answered him anyway, "Well, You see. The people back at my hometown see me as nothing more than a witch, since i was far from normal. I was ostracized by my family and the people didn't accept me."

 You swallowed a lump in your throat

 "they tried to..Burn me alive claiming it was to cleanse my impure spirit, I barely escaped. In an act to stop me, they pelted rocks and stones or whatever they could find, at me." 

He was speechless, he merely stared at me wide eyed, he shook his head. 

"Abhorrent." Was all he said, in disgust. 

You held back your tears as all the old memories and taunts from the people came back to your mind ringing in your ears. 

"Do you know why I agreed for you to stay?"

Your head perked up to his direction, you shook your head innocently. 

"You reminded me of my younger brother when he first came here...vulnerable, afraid, and lost. Though he was very young at the time.." He cut off in between and shook off those thoughts

 "Whatever, I digress. Listen, I'll ensure that you seek the refuge you sought out to find when you escaped your hometown." He spoke with sincerity in his voice

"T-Thank you, Master Diluc." 

"But there's one thing you failed to mention."

"I did?"

"Why did they treat you that way? You said they saw you as a witch, something must have planted that thought into their minds." He added

"Right.."

you sighed looking at the moon that shone brightly outside, you held the pendant's charm tightly and shut your eyes. You were worried about the reaction he'd express but you decided it couldn't be kept a secret anymore, better late than never. 

"I'll show you."

Diluc's sight was hindered by a large white spark, your eyes turned gold, your body was no longer a humanoid figure rather you has transformed into an animal. A bird more precisely, pearl white feathers that faded into a deep shade of caramel towards the end and a silver ring around your neck. 

Diluc stood up from his seat to see you as a dove fluttering your wings infront of him. You flew up to his shoulder and sat there gently digging your tiny nails in to his black coat. 

He looked astonished.

"You have the ability to morph into any animal. Intriguing." 

You transformed back with ease. Shaking your head at his statement

"No, not any animal. I can only transform into my spirit animal, a dove. But it takes a lot of energy, draining my life force everytime I do so, so i use my ability sparingly." 

He nodded, "I understand, Do any of your family members have the same ability?"

You chuckled out of sadness, 

"If they did, they wouldn't have ostracized me along with everyone else." 

You always felt out of place, like your real family was somewhere else out there. Perhaps you were adopted? That would explain several things.

"I think i've heard enough, (Y/N). Rest assured your secret will be safe with me. I promise you I wont let you get hurt. You have my trust." 

You smiled and bowed down to express your gratitude. Though this only made him cringe

"...Please No need to be so formal, (Y/N) it makes me feel..uncomfortable at times."

"Sorry, Master Diluc." 

He nodded and gestured his hand towards your room. 

"Get some sleep, maybe tomorrow i'll take you to Mondstadt, after what you've been through. You need some fresh air." He stated as he breezed up the stairs.

"Oh.."

 Being an outcast at your own hometown and being neglected by your peers and family, you preferred staying away from people. Particularly crowds, going into the city and meeting new people, it seemed overwhelming to you. 

But you also thought that it would be a nice change of focus. Feeling tired after all of this, you decided to oblige. 

"..Alright, Master Diluc." 

You earned his trust and You were on good terms with him, this lifted some weight on your shoulders. You thought about everything that happened as you laid under the warm cotton duvet, and smiled to yourself as you drifted off to sleep. 

Wonder what will happen tomorrow?

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