Hu Tao x Reader: Side Story: Shadow of Sumeru

Candace: "I see. So you did not find anything of use to you in that old building? I'm afraid to admit I presumed as much, but even still I am sorry to hear that is indeed the case..."

Y/N: "Thank you, but no apology is necessary. It wasn't your fault after all."

Collei: "Yeah! Don't worry about it! We basically expected this, we were just glad that we didn't get ambushed by any more mercenaries!"

Candace: "You had no reason to fret, I had my eye upon the road— to best ensure your safety. Unfortunately I cannot maintain my vigil upon you two wherever you may venture next..."

Y/N: "We're heading back to Sumeru City for now, until some new clue emerges... that or I might bring Collei back with me to Liyue. After all, I don't dare leave Collei alone now, not now that Dottore monster knows she's here..."

Collei: "Y–Y/N!? You don't have to worry about me! You have your own problems to worry about after all! o–Oh! No offense!"

Y/N: "Don't worry; none taken. And I won't abandon you either. My domain helps you, Collei. I'm not leaving until I've found a way for that not to be as important as it is for you. Even if I must wipe out all of the Fatui's Harbingers in doing so!"

Collei: "But that would put YOU in danger too! You... Nobody should be worried for me like that..."

Y/N: "Collei. I have many counts of Deicide to my name. I'm sure I can handle the Harbingers."

Collei: "Dei...cide...?"

Candace: "The act of killing a God... That is a most defying feat, indeed. And you claim to have done so multiple times...?"

Y/N: "The Archon Wars were a most deadly battleground for those at the top of the pecking order, those with the most to gain from eliminating competition. Unfortunately, I was fighting on the wrong side of history, as it were. Not that I had any real say in the matter..."

Candace: "Hm? You mean to say that you were enslaved into such things?"

Y/N: "...Yeah. Up until a year or so ago, I was under the control of a... rather unfriendly God. But now that I'm free of him, now I want to do as much as I can to help people— whether they were affected by my past or not. And that's one of the reasons as to why I want to stay with Collei, to cure her of what ails her!"

Collei: "Y/N..."

Candace: "Most admirable indeed. I see the fire within your eyes, I know that what I say will be of little deterrence. But please, stay safe. If all is going according to the Traveller's plan, then Sumeru City will be under fire by the time you arrive."

Y/N: "The Traveller's...? You mean Aether and Paimon?"

Collei: "Oh!?"

Candace: "I take it that you have crossed paths with them before, then?"

Y/N: "A few times now, yes. I would consider them friends, and I would hope they might think similarly of me!"

Collei: "And me too! I met them when they arrived in Sumeru! My friend, Amber, she told me all about them! ...although it was difficult to read the letters sometimes..."

Candace: "I see. So I would hope that you would then understand just how dangerous this situation could evolve to be, yes? Y/N, please keep yourselves safe first and foremost. Okay?"

Y/N: "Of course! I've got things I still need to do, after all! And it's gonna take way more than the evil God I freed myself from to allow any harm befall Collei whilst I'm with her!"

Candace: "Glad to hear it. I suppose then I've little excuse to keep you here. Ah, and please, before you go, take these."

In Candace's outstretched hand, there was a sizeable helping of neatly wrapped rations— both food and water.