Who is the real Creator?
-TW: cult, yandere, impostor au, mentions of hunt
-Gn reader and darling (please tell me if I mess this up message me and I will fix it)
plot idea (This was inspired by another post but i can't find it ToT):
Reader is friends with Darling. Sometimes Reader helps Darling with dailies, grinding and building the characters.
Somehow reader ends up in Genshin Impact but it's in Darlings world.
Reader is mistaken as an entity that is trying to take over and harm Darling as they have been controlled by Reader before and do not like it.
The Reader is hunted down and shunned it all comes to a stop once Darling descends and stops the hunt. Misunderstandings are cleared and Reader is finally safe from the crazy Acolytes.
All should be fine now except it was the Reader who created Darling's account and gave it to them.
This is part 1, Part 2, part 3, part 4
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Reader wiped the sweat on their forehead with the sleeve of their robe. The Sumeru weather was rather hot this midday as the sun was at its peak. With nothing better to do Reader decided to dust off the front of their house.
It was more akin to the size of a cabin and rather isolated yet Reader loved it as it gave them the privacy and security of four sturdy walls. A place entirely of their own *they could control* and it was far enough they did not have to suffer the company of people.
Reader was rather thankful for the Dendro archon to gift them this place.
After what they have been through it was more than deserved, no?
They did not really know what to think of Nahida. On one hand, she had not tried to kill them or hurt them, she was one of the few people who did listen to their side. On the other hand, she was an archon and Reader's experience with the other was not. . . They had no words to describe it. It was plainly a negative horrible experience that still haunted Reader as they slept at night. Their only solace was that the mess of the events that happened months ago was over and that they were a Free person once again.
It does not help that occasionally the archon would give them an intense blank stare that did not suit her young face. Whenever she stared at them like that Reader wanted to bolt through the nearest exit but the stare was gone as quickly as it came.
Reader continued to dust off the porch collecting the dust and dead leaves on a pile they had left the dustpan inside of the house. Just when they were about to head inside to grab it they saw two familiar figures. There was no doubt that the floating figure and golden hair belonged to the Traveler and Paimon, the latter already giving a wave.
Reader gave a small smile and returned the wave.
"Reader! Long time no see how have you been?" said Paimon.
"Hi Traveller, Hi Paimon sorry you had to come and see this mess, I have been fine hopefully you guys kept out of trouble?"
Paimon answered with a sheepish smile.
The Traveler greeted them and Reader ushered both of them inside the house towards the kitchen and made them sit while they prepared some tea.
"It looks like you settled in nicely Paimon is happy for you Reader."
"Thank you Paimon, yeah it's been really nice here."
Reader put the kettle on the stove and almost forgot how to be a proper host.
"Oh right, I have some leftover cookies! Let me grab that."
"You don't have to overexert yourself Reader," said the Traveler with a gentle smile.
"No- no it's fine I was trying a recipe the other day and I made too much, you guys have to eat it all by the way or else it's rude"
"Well, then we would be bad guests if we don't eat right traveler?"
The traveler did not reply and gave his floating companion a deadpan expression. It was rather amusing to see how to see in real life rather than the game - this is not a game anymore stop that.
Eventually they bought over the cookies and poured the tea. Reader was rather proud of themselves for once. Paimon did not hesitate to dig in and they were rather delighted that their cookies were being enjoyed. The Traveler sipped his tea calmly. Reader smiled and blew on the hot tea before also drinking it.
"I see you have been reading about the history of this world?"
"Yeah it gets rather boring just cleaning here, the Dendro Archon dropped by and gave me some books, she's smart since I don't really know much about this world."
"Yeah! Despite looking so young Nahida is really perceptive and wise, Paimon is kind of jealous."
Aether looked at his companion with a playful look and Reader knew he was about to tease his companion. They tried to hide a smile behind the teacup as they took a sip.
"Ohh! Paimon almost forgot! Darling asked us to deliver a letter!"
Reader's smile tensed a little. Aether's previous playful look was gone and he looked at them with concern. Reader held the teacup more harshly than necessary. It was fine they did not need to be babied. They gave Aether what they hoped was a reassuring smile.
Reader was still confused about how to behave around Darling. That person was their best friend, they had been friends since before Reader could remember and all the way to adulthood sharing an apartment. Yet knowing that the person you trusted the most was behind your suffering, even indirectly? It hurt like shit. Reader could not even meet Darling properly since one of their cursed "acolyte" or whatever the hell they called themselves always trailed behind Darling and Reader refused to be near any of those acolytes who actively tried to kill them before. So both were at an awkward standstill.
Isn't it supposed to be bros before hoes? What the hell Darling.
Paimon gave them the letter and Reader tried to thank them without sounding off.
Looking at the letter Reader wanted to scoff, what were they a 1800s paramour?
They looked at Aether they did not want to be rude and read the letter while they were in a conversation. Reader thought it would be the equivalent of reading chat messages while in front of friends, which was impolite. Aether gave them a smile and a nod, and Reader felt a bit at ease.
They opened the letter.
Huh.
They were a little taken aback by how normal this letter was. Reader looked up and Paimon was looking at them rather curiously but tried to hide it by staring at her tea.
"Darling says they are a bit overwhelmed being the creator and all otherwise they are fine it seems."
"Ohh Paimon would bet it would be super stressful taking the position of the creator like that, Alhaitham was so busy as acting grand sage," she brings a hand to her head mimicking it as if it was heavy, "Paimon imagines there is a lot of paperwork."
Reader laughs, it was nice to hear Paimon light-hearted take.
"Yeah Darling mentions that."
Reader does not mention the worries of their friend(?) in the letter or their stress that is something private between them. Things change yet Darling still confides in them Reader is not sure how to feel about that as they sip their tea.
The rest of the day goes smoothly as they all converse about Paimon and the Traveller's adventures in the newest nation, soon it was time to say goodbye and Reader did it with a smile.
.
.
.
"Come on where did I put it?"
Reader said in a frustrated tone as they barrage through the books on their shelves. They know they had the book somewhere for the class. The professor on that topic was someone who always made snide comments on the failure of students and whatnot and Reader did not want to have to deal with that.
"I hope I did not come at the wrong time?"
"Lord Kusanali! I did not see you there, sorry for the mess."
It felt like deja vu when the Reader said that, remembering the time the Traveler came to visit them.
Nahida smiled and shook her head. From the open door they could see Wanderer standing outside. He looked a bit grumpy then again he usually always looked grumpy, a shame for someone with such a beautiful face.
"Please call me Nahida Reader I like to think we know each other well enough now."
Reader gave Nahida a sheepish smile and wrung their hands together it was a nervous tic.
"Sorry everyone calls you that or well Dendro Archon I did not want to disrespect you I sort of owe you a lot"
"No it is we who owe you a debt -," She looked rather sad, and seeing Reader's expression she changed topic rather quickly, "I came to talk about your recent activities I am very happy to see you being more active and joining classes."
"Ohh, Thank you," Reader paused a bit before answering, "I used to be a student. . . before I came here so it's nice having something familiar."
Nahida looked at Reader with a beam and they continued to talk about the classes Reader took and whatever they taught about officially joining a darshan. As Reader turned around briefly they missed the glossy and contemplative look the Archon gave them.
They finally found their book and with the Archon (and Wanderer) in tow headed towards the Akademiya. Turns out they did not need to find the book the moment the professor saw the tiny Archon he went pale faced and Reader had to hide a smile. Wanderer was not so subtle as he loudly snickered.
.
.
.
It's been so long I hope you are doing okay I do miss you. . .
Reader folded the letter and looked out the window. The night skies here were clear no city lights and pollution that distorted the view. The stars shined without care, Reader felt a sudden chill and headed towards bed covering themselves in the blankets. They still looked out towards the sky.
"Miss. . . I guess I do miss you."
.
.
.
After everything was said and done Reader laid in the bed alone in the infirmary. There was a nurse and a doctor and whenever they came Reader would shake like a flame about to be put out easily by a gust of wind. They could not handle human interaction anymore. Once Darling came they were alone. Darling had cried and Reader had cried before an acolyte Came over and Reader looked at Darling horrified.
Why was Darling with those psychopaths did they not know what they were capable of? They might hurt Darling she needed to get away-
Reader must have gone into hysterics because soon the nurse came and injected them with something.
It was later told to them by the Dendro Archon herself in person that Darling was the creator. The cause of the hunt was because of Darling their childhood best friend.
Reader hugged themself.
Reader asked if they could speak to Darling but the Dendro Archon said the acolytes would have to follow them, they did not trust Reader in this condition.
As if they were not the psychopath who tried to kill an innocent person Reader thought.
Reader did not want to meet Darling if it meant having to meet the acolytes.
Reader was so so tired and just wanted to sleep.
.
.
.
Sumeru's climate was rather weird to Reader who never lived in a tropical climate before. It seemed to rain and while hot at the same time. Reader who grew up in the north much like Snezhnaya's climate was confused as it only rained in the cold autumns rarely do you get rain in summer but they adapted quickly.
Yet something felt off this particular day, they tried to distract themselves by doing dishes. Outside the rain was still going on but Reader noticed how eerily quiet there was no rustling of the winds or a single bird finding shelter in the trees. They quickly wiped their hands and strode towards their desk.
Reading was always a good distraction nothing beat reading while it rained, they remembered how they would sometimes turn on a raining asmr video as they read fanfics. The silly memory brought a smile to their face. But just as they saw down they heard a loud knock. Reader jumped up from their seat.
Their chest felt heavy. Unless it was Nahida, the Traveller or the Wanderer who in the early days delivered groceries to them, no one came to visit them they doubted it was a robber why bother knocking then? Maybe it was someone lost or seeking shelter from the rain both options sucked they did not want to entertain people yet, they wrung their hands together. When someone was in need they could not look away anymore.
They ran towards one of the dressers and bought a spare towel and scurried for the entrance door. With hurried and clumsy motions they opened the door and there-
Was Darling.
Darling looked. . . distraught, they were a mess from the last time they saw each other. Gone was the intricately styled hair and neat robes instead their hair was a mess and their clothes wrinkled. Even their face looked pale and it looked like Darling had not slept in days. Most notable was the lack of acolyte trailing after them, Reader almost expected to hear Zhongli's "I will have order!" followed by a meteorite striking Reader down and their cabin.
"You- Wait are you alright what is going on? Why are you alone? Did something happen?"
Darling still looked distraught and everything seemed really wrong, perhaps they should have been calmer when they asked their questions they did not need two people who were on the verge of panic.
"R-reader I-I," they paused before breathing in, "I bleed red," they said as if that single revelation could destroy them.
"Huh?" Reader replied dumbfounded
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