Genshin Impact: The Admiral of Fontaine

(Chapter 15 Hilichurls)

"Musket~ Churls~ and you~ Got some Churls~ and a Musket~ and I'll bring em home to you~"

Two people on horseback strolled the winding roads of Stormwind, their destination a distant village to leave their horses for now, as they will venture to the nearby forest. These travelers were none other than Tempest and his teacher, Constantine. For some reason, Constantine was singing a song Tempest had never heard before, and he hated it. The melody was off-key and grating, causing Tempest to wince with each note. Perhaps if a talented bard had sung it he might actually like it.

"Flintlock~ Aberrants~ and you~ I got a Flintlock~ and aberrants~ and I'll bring em home to you~"

Constantine continued singing his horrendous song, each note more torturous than the last. Tempest couldn't take it anymore. He turned his head towards his teacher, his face grim and full of frustration.

"What in seven hells are you singing? Teacher? It's horrendous, and the way you sang it, is hurting my ears."

Tempest spoke with exasperation. Constantine stopped his singing and turned to Tempest, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"What? It's a classic sailor's song!"

"Never heard of it before, and the way you sang it is horrible."

Constantine simply smirked at his words.

"Okay, how about this one?"

Constantine cleared his throat before starting to sing again.

"What do we do with a drunken sailor~ What do we do with a drunken sailor~ What do we do with a drunken sailor~ early in the morning~"

Tempest simply sighed, he was deeply familiar with the song, but the way Constantine sang it was a grating assault on his ears.

After a few minutes of riding horseback, they finally arrived at the village. Tempest was relieved that he had survived the short journey enduring Constantine's horrendous singing all the way.

"Well, we're finally here. Stay here for now, Young Master. I'll rent a spot in the stables for the horses to wait."

"You do that."

Tempest got off his horse and patted her mane shortly before Constantine took the lead on both horses and went inside the village.

Tempest waited outside the village gate and gazed at the distant forest ahead.

"Egeria's shrine is also close from here..."

Tempest muttered to himself.

"I heard from Mother that an Oceanid guards the place, as its waters are among the few places in Fontaine where purity remains. They say Egeria once wept there..."

"Young Lord Tempest!"

"Hm?"

A villager approached Tempest.

"It's an honor to have you here, Young Lord."

The villager bowed his head.

"No need to bow, raise your head."

Tempest told the villager.

"What brings you here to our village, Young Lord? If you don't mind me asking that is."

"I'm currently waiting for my friend, we're going to be departing on the forest later on."

The villager nodded at Tempest's answer.

"I see, are you not going inside? Young Lord? The villagers would love to see you."

Tempest contemplated for a while before shortly answering.

"Maybe next time, I have some important matters to attend to right now. I will bring gifts the next time I'm here."

The villager smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Young Lord. I just want to express my gratitude for bringing medicine to the village last year. Without it, my daughter would not have survived."

Tempest nodded, and the villager bowed before quickly entering the village.

'I remember last year vividly. Father refused to provide medicine to the village during the harsh drought season. I took matters into my own hands and instructed Constantine to deliver medicine I had taken from the infirmary. For that, I faced punishment from Father... It should be his responsibility to look after the people of Stormwind, but that will soon be changed...'

Tempest thinks to himself.

"Let's get going, Young Master."

Tempest turned his head to see Constantine.

"Mhm."

As they began walking down the road that led towards the forest, Constantine turned to Tempest and asked him a question.

"Young Master, I must advise you once more not to overuse your Delusion, in fact, I would advise against using it at all. I've seen what those things can do to people, and it was not a pretty sight. We can still go to the forest so you can breathe some fresh air after being cooped up in the mansion for so long."

Tempest stopped in his tracks after hearing Constantine's advice once more, he turned to him.

"Constantine, we've spoken of this before, and my answer is still the same. I will use anything that would help me take down my Father, even if it costs my sanity."

Tempest resumed walking, Constantine sighed in response and followed him.

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Shortly after a brief walk, they arrived in the forest.

"This looks like a good spot to test your Delusion. Just make sure to not burn down the forest, Young Master."

Constantine said while taking a few steps backward.

Tempest took out his Pyro Delusion from his pocket and took a deep breath, then closed his eyes, the memories of his Father's cruelty flooding his mind like a torrent. He recalled being locked away in his closet, his Mother's sacrifice that left her crippled, and the relentless emotional and physical abuse. Each memory was etched vividly in his mind, fueling the fire within him.

As expected, the Pyro Delusion in his left hand glowed brightly, while in his right hand, a fiery Pyro sword materialized.

"Ya ika kundala!"

"Young Master!"

Suddenly, three Hilichurls emerged from the bushes and ambushed Tempest from behind.

Without hesitation, Tempest swiftly turned around and unleashed a fierce slash, cutting down all three Hilichurls in one clean motion. Blood splattered as his fiery blade sliced through their forms, leaving them sprawled on the ground in defeat.

Tempest wiped the small blood that splattered on his face with his thumb.

"Augh..."

"Young Master! You alright?!"

Constantine immediately ran to him.

"Yeah... Hilichurls here?"

"Strange... There haven't been Hilichurls sightings in Stormwind for months."

Constantine said while inspecting the Hilichurl corpses.

"Nice cut."

Constantine said.

"Hm, we should investigate this, let's go deeper in the forest."

"Agreed."

Constantine nodded in approval. Tempest dismissed the fiery Pyro sword, watching it vanish into thin air, though his Delusion continued to glow ominously. He placed it back into his pocket, before turning back to his Teacher.

"Follow me."

Constantine said, and Tempest nodded in agreement. They then ventured deeper into the forest, keeping their eyes open for any unexpected Hilichurl ambushes. The dense foliage and the eerie silence heightened their senses, as they moved cautiously, aware that danger could lurk behind any tree or bush.

"Young Master, over here."

Constantine crouched down, gesturing for Tempest to come closer. Tempest knelt beside him, curious about what had caught Constantine's attention. As soon as he saw it, his eyes widened.

"Hilichurls... And so many..."

Tempest said quietly as he saw the Hilichurls marching in a certain direction. Their numbers seemed to be reaching a hundred.

"That path leads to Egeria's shrine... What could they possibly want from there?"

Constantine said quietly.

"Ika!"

Both Constantine and Tempest immediately turned around, their eyes wide open in shock, to see a blueish Hilichurl wielding a scythe.

The Hilichurl swung its scythe at them. Both Tempest and Constantine jumped backward to avoid it, only to find themselves in the midst of the Hilichurl march.

All the Hilichurls turned their heads toward them, their weapons poised and ready for combat.

"Ika!"

"Kundala!"

"Buka! Buka!"

"Upa! Upa! Upa!"

The Hilichurls shouted at them. Tempest and Constantine found themselves in a sticky situation, both of them covering each other's backs.

"What in seven hells are they saying?"

Tempest said.

"Don't know! Don't care! Get your butt ready for combat! Young Master!"

Constantine said with a wicked smile on his face as he reached out to grab his scimitar and rapier, wielding both in his left and right hands, eager to start a bloodbath.

"Hmph, don't slow me down, old man."

Tempest said as he manifested the fiery sword in his right hand once more.

"Heh, just like old times."

Constantine said.

"Ika... Kucha... Kundala!"

The blueish Hilichurl points his fingers at them, signaling the other Hilichurls to attack.

Immediately, all the Hilichurls charged at them.

Without hesitation, both Tempest and Constantine welcomed them with their swords.

"Yes! Come and fight me! Hahahaha!"

Constantine laughed maniacally as he slashed his way through the horde of Hilichurls without difficulty.

"So this is what he's like when in combat..."

"Kundala!"

A Hilichurl swung its club at Tempest, but he dodged flawlessly. He then stabbed the Hilichurl in the back as it stumbled from its swing.

Both Tempest and Constantine slashed at the Hilichurls with ease, their numbers dwindling with each enemy that fell. The grass beneath them slowly turned into a small pool of blood, evidence of the fierce battle unfolding in the forest clearing. As they fought on, their movements became synchronized, each covering the other's back seamlessly as they fought on against the overwhelming horde.

"Ooga Booga!"

"Mm?"

Tempest turned around to see two big Hilichurls charging at him, both wielding a giant axe.

Tempest manifested another fiery Pyro sword in his left hand and immediately charged toward the two big Hilichurls. Closing the distance swiftly, Tempest executed a knee slide that caught the two big Hilichurls off guard. With precise slashes, he aimed for their legs, severing tendons and causing them to collapse to the ground with loud thuds. 

"Urghh!"

Both the big Hilichurls screamed, Tempest then walked towards them and stabbed them in the back to end their suffering.

Tempest then turned his head to the blueish Hilichurl who was watching in the distance.

"Kuzi... Ika."

The bluish Hilichurl suddenly turned on its heels and bolted away. The sight of the golden-haired human had struck terror into its heart, compelling it to flee into the dense underbrush of the forest. Branches cracked and leaves rustled underfoot as it hurried deeper into the safety of the shadows, its breath ragged and panicked, leaving behind only the echo of its fearful retreat.

"Lawa! Lawa! Urghk!"

As the bluish Hilichurl ran for its dear life, a fiery blade struck its back, missing its heart by only a few inches. The impact sent a jolt of searing pain through its body, causing it to stumble and collapse to the ground.

"You're just gonna leave after sending your brothers to die?"

Tempest finally caught up to the blueish Hilichurl.

"Ika... Odomu..."

"I apologize, but I don't know what you're talking about nor do I want to know it."

With a swift cut to the head, Tempest ended the Hilichurl's suffering. He then dismissed both his Pyro swords and watched them vanish into thin air.

Tempest walked back to the place where the battle started, he saw Constantine standing among the Hilichurl corpses. As he was wiping both his blades clean.

"Was that all?"

Tempest asked him.

"I think so, but we should check on the shr-"

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the ground shaking beneath their feet. Without warning, a colossal Hilichurl leaped out from the dense forest, landing with a thunderous crash right before them.

"Watch out!"

Constantine shouted, as both Tempest and Constantine swiftly dodged the colossal creature's attack by leaping to the side. Towering over them, the Hilichurl was gigantic, its massive frame covered with thick stone plating that acted as formidable armor.

The giant Hilichurl scanned its surroundings, eyes narrowing as it took in the sight of its fallen allies. Fueled by rage, it let out a deafening scream, beating its chest in fury. The stone-plating-like armor covering its massive form began to glow with a menacing yellow light.